More Bird Photo's-April 2, 2013

Here are some photo's taken today, April 2, 2013:

From my office window-Nashville Warbler-4/2/13

1/2 mile from home-Burrowing Owl-4/2/13

Brewer's Blackbird-Borrego Springs Resort-4/2/13

Great-horned Owl through the scope close to home-4/2/13
Add a newborn all fuzzy and white

Artistic owl eye through the scope-4/2/13

Birds at The Springs-March 2013

Birds found at The Springs and in Borrego Springs recently. One amphibian included: A tree frog found at Big Springs. Included is a youtube of American Pipit. Hit the address below.

 http://youtu.be/VDZbT5gSA84

Hooded Oriole-3/27/13-HC

Junco-Big Springs

Very light Black-crowned Night Heron-3/27/13

Black-Crowned Night Heron-3/27/13-HC

Killdeer-3/27/13-HC

Tree Frog-Big Springs

A Few Photo's from The Springs and elsewhere

A Verdin has taken up residence in a cactus outside the pool clubhouse at The Springs RV Parks. Check out the nest and the Verdin below. The Junco was taken at the burned out area on the trail to Big Springs.

Verdin Nest-3/6/13-HC

Verdin in the Nest-3/6/13-Jane Gamache

Junco on Big Springs Trail-3/7/13-HC

Birds from The Springs RV Park walk and Miscellaneous 3/6/13

We started out slow but managed to see some nice birds at the end. The most exciting bird was a Cinnamon Teal in the southeast pond. I also added a few birds. A woodpecker from my yard, Killdeer from the Salton Sea and Rough-winged Swallows. 

I suggest that the RV folks watch the Verdin nest. It's fun to watch a bird housekeeping. Don't forget to check out the Borregohawkwatch.blogspot.com 

We did see the following today: American Wigeon, Mallard, Cinnamon Teal, Ring-necked Duck, Eurasian-collared Dove, Costa's Hummingbird, Anna's Hummingbird, Say's Phoebe, Black Phoebe, Raven, Verdin, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Lark Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Lesser Goldfinch, House Finch, House Sparrow. 

The Say's Phoebe is named after an entomologist. Charles Lucian Bonaparte named the bird. He also named the Swainson's Hawk after Swainson. Bonaparte is Napoleon's nephew.

Say's Phoebe in flight 3/6/13-HC

Black Phoebe-3/6/13-HC

Cinnamon Teal-3/6/13

Verdin Nest-3/5/13

Ladder-backed Woodpecker 3/3/13-HC in my yard

A conclave of Killdeer-3/1/13-HC

Rough-winged Swallow-3/1/13-HC

Borrego Springs/Salton Sea 2/27/13

A full day today as the blog returns. Two hours of birding The Springs in Borrego Springs then off to the Salton Sea. A beautiful day in the 70's.

Precipitate in a lagoon near the Salton Sea with Obsidian Butte in the background-HC

Burrowing Owl-HC

Osprey with fish (probably Tilapia)-HC

White-faced Ibis  and Cattle Egrets coming into field-HC

A study in bills-Ibis and Long-billed Curlew-HC

Eared Grebes-HC

Eared Grebes and Ruddy Duck-HC

Great Blue Heron Nests-HC

Wigeon and Ring-Necked Duck-HC

Long-billed Dowitcher-HC

Barn Owl at Sonny Bono-HC

The Springs Birding Day 1/23/13

 A very nice day again. Lots of birders today, all very interested in the birds. We travelled to Borrego Springs Resort for some nice birding on the pond. Then we moved to another pond and found an adult Cooper's Hawk on a phone pole on the way. Don helped me take my first through the scope shot. Now I am hooked on scope shots and will try better next time. At the small pond we found a female Vermillion Flycatcher.

The Roadrunner walked past a few of us at the end of our trip (next to the cars parked at the RV park). It's fun to zero in on parts of the birds. Birds observed today only by the group-I didn't add birds I saw but didn't comment on such as both hummers, other doves etc. Group birds observed: American Wigeon, Mallard, Ring-necked Duck, Hooded Merganser, Ruddy Duck, Pied-billed Grebe, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Cooper's Hawk, Coot, Eurasian Collared Dove, Common Ground Dove, Greater Roadrunner, Vermillion Flycatcher (nice female), Common raven, Western Bluebird, Northern Mockingbird, Common Yellowthroat, White-crowned Sparrow, and House Finch. We did not stop at feeders so we did not see several other species (next week).

On Monday January 28, those interested will have a nice bonus day. We will leave the clubhouse (pool) parking lot at 8A and drive to Ramona for a nice hawk and eagle day.  Some can make it back by 1PM without lunch. If we have snow in the mountains it will be cancelled. I will blog on Sunday evening with some pictures of the Salton Sea and let you know if it is a go on Monday.

The Springs group looking at ducks and egrets

Great Egret-Jane G took this nice shot

My first through the scope shot-Cooper's Hawk

Roadrunner getting ready to eat

Looks like a nut

Roadrunner Feet

Roadrunner Tail Feathers

Roadrunner neck feathers

Birding The Springs 1/16/13

Lots of birders today (15) and some nice looks at: American Wigeon, Mallard Duck, Ring-necked Duck, Pied-billed Grebe, Great Egret, American Coot, Killdeer, Eurasian Collared Dove, White-winged Dove, Anna's Hummingbird, Costa's Hummingbird, Black Phoebe, Say's Phoebe, Common Raven, Verdin, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Western Bluebird, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Lark Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, House Finch, Lesser Goldfinch and House Sparrow. Look at the list, refer to your book then go out and find the birds again. 

Although we didn't spend time with the Mockingbirds, here is a puzzle you might consider. It is available at the Anza-Borrego Foundation in the front of the west mall. The sale provides funding for scholarships for local kids. The bird still comes to my pyracantha in front of my home. 

Here is some info about the Say's Phoebe. It is interesting to note that many Western birds have names for people while most Eastern birds are named by locals. As naturalists moved west they found new birds and named them after friends or other naturalists. Thomas Say (June 27, 1787—October 10, 1834) was an American naturalist, entomologist, malacologist, herpetologist and carcinologist. A taxonomist, he is often considered to be the father of descriptive entomology in the United States. Say was one of the founding fathers of the Entomological Society of America (ESA). The ESA maintains several series of publications and awards that are named after Say.

Note the feet of the Coot. On land the lobes fold back for easier movement. I didn't take the shot of the feet. All shots were taken today. The Verdin hung around my car at the end of the walk. 

Puzzle available at ABF Store in mall 2 doors down from Calico's

Wigeon in flight

Wigeon on the water

Male Mallard

Coot

Coot feet

Juvenile White-crowned Sparrow

Lesser Goldfinch Female

Say's Phoebe

Verdin beginning flight

Verdin in motion

Verdin at rest

Roberta with baby Barn Owl

Eurasian Collared- Dove