Tagged With: Songbirds

House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)

Photograph taken on Saturday, May 30, 2020 by Henry
House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)

House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)

I was out front sitting in a lawn chair taking photos of the spiderword (Tradescantia virginiana) when one of our house wrens flew up and landed briefly in the small apple tree growing near by. Then it flew to the nesting box (for lack of a better term—it’s a ceramic bottle, basically) and posed for me before disappearing inside. The other was around, as well, singing up a storm. These are very vocal little birds with a lot of volume relative to their size and we love having them. They are a lot easier to hear than to see, as small as they are.

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Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)

Photograph taken on Thursday, June 04, 2020 by Henry
Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)

Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)

Cathy and I took a walk in the neighborhood this evening. It was quite warm and humid but it’s still good to get out from time to time. I took some pictures of a purple clematis on a mailbox that turned out pretty well but I thought I’d share this photo of an eastern bluebird (Sialia sialis). It’s not as sharp as I’d like, but all things considered, it’s not too bad. These can be seen year round in our area and it’s always a treat. Maybe we’ll put up a bluebird box in the yard next year. It would be wonderful to have them in the yard.

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American Goldfinches (Spinus tristis)

Photograph taken on Saturday, June 27, 2020 by Henry
American Goldfinches (Spinus tristis)

American Goldfinches (Spinus tristis)

There are some birds, notably the American robin (Turdus migratorius), that doesn’t really compare favorably with its European counterpart (Erithacus rubecula. While the European goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) is a lovely bird, I think our American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) is quite beautiful. This is a female (on the left) and male (on the right). They really love the Verbena bonariensis and it’s fun to watch them as they land and the stems bend under their tremendous weight. I enjoyed this couple for quite a while this morning.

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Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)

Photograph taken on Thursday, August 04, 2022 by Henry
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)

Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)

Since the last time we were at the beach, the town of Shallotte has created a small park called Shallotte Riverwalk. Cathy and I decided to check it out in the hopes of seeing some water birds. I think going at low tide would be better but it was still worth a visit. We saw an egret and a great blue heron but both a fair way off, so no pictures of those. The only bird I was able to get a good photo of was this tufted titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) in a tree.

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Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens)

Photograph taken on Sunday, August 28, 2022 by Henry
Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens)

Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens)

It was a busy day today, starting with a church picnic and service at Bohrer Park in Gaithersburg. We had to leave that early, though, to get to Poolesville for the memorial service for a long-time, family friend. It was a really nice service, in spite of the heat in the tiny church. We went to the family home and visited with folks for a while. When we left there, we stopped at McKee Beshers Wildlife Management Area and walked a little while. I only took a few photos but I think this one of an eastern wood-pewee (Contopus virens), a small flycatcher, is pretty nice.

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Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)

Photograph taken on Tuesday, December 27, 2022 by Henry
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)

Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)

I went out to visit Dorothy today and help her a little with some brush clearing that she’s doing. I cut some small trees and helped her pull out some greenbrier (Smilax species). My back was bothering me a bit so I took a few breaks and on one of those I took three photos of this northern mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos). They are quite gregarious birds and not nearly as shy as many other birds, which makes them a little easier to photograph. Nevertheless, I think I could do better than this with a little more patience and possibly a more comfortable position for my camera.

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Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea)

Photograph taken on Sunday, April 02, 2023 by Henry
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea)

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea)

We took a walk along the shore of Lake Needwood today, starting from near the beaver dam, we walked north and crossed Needwood Road. Near the end, where Rock Creek flows into the lake we saw this cute, little bird flitting around in the trees and shrubs. I was able to get four photos of it, none of which were great. It didn’t sit in one place very long and the long lens is fairly cumbersome, especially when zoomed all the way out. Still, they were good enough to identify it as a blue-gray gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea), which is not a bird I’ve seen before (at least not knowingly). I guess if I were keeping a life list, this would now go on it.

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Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris)

Photograph taken on Monday, July 31, 2023 by Henry
Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris)

Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris)

Cathy and I drove to Sunset Beach today and walked from the west end of town out onto the beach and then further west to the Bird Island Reserve nature trail. It’s a pretty good walk but not a difficult one. We had heard that there was a good chance of seeing painted buntings (Passerina ciris). As it turned out, we only saw one and he was a rather scruffy looking fellow, possibly a juvenile, just getting his adult plumage. He was singing nicely for us, though, and I was able to get a short video, as well as a handful of photos. He’s in the shadows of the twigs to the right, which makes his color pattern seem a little odd, but that’s him, anyway. There were quite a few swallows flying around, as well as cardinals and mourning doves, but we only saw the one bunting. Nevertheless, worth it and we’ll probably plan to go again next year.

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White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)

Photograph taken on Sunday, December 24, 2023 by Henry
White-breasted Nuthatch

White-breasted Nuthatch

Cathy, Dorothy and I went for a nice walk along Croyden Creek this afternoon. We started by walking east (downstream) on the north side of the creek. Shortly before Croyden Creek runs into the Northwest Branch Rock Creek, the trail goes up onto a wooded hill and then circles around to the left, eventually running into the roadbed of the old, abandoned Avery Road. We continued west from there, crossing the creek on a bridge and then returning to the Croydon Creek Nature Center across the bottom of the field beloe the Glenview Mansion. Back at the nature center I photographed birds at the feeders and got a few nice shots, including this one of a white-breasted nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis).

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Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)

Photograph taken on Friday, December 29, 2023 by Henry
Carolina Wren (<em>Thryothorus ludovicianus</em>)

Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)

We went to the C&O canal today, starting at Riley’s lock, where Seneca Creek flows under the canal snd into the Patomac River. We walked about 1​1⁄3 mile upstream. We saw a great blue heron (Ardea herodias) below the towpath beside a stream, some turtles across the turning basin, and I even got a few pictures of a golden-crowned kinglet (Regulus satrapa). Those last were a bit blurred, though, so I decided to post this photo, which is one of five I got of a Carolina wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) in the trees growing in the old canal bed. It’s a cute little bird don’t you think?

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White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)

Photograph taken on Saturday, December 30, 2023 by Henry
White-throated Sparrow (<em>Zonotrichia albicollis</em>)

White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)

We went to Meadowside Nature Center today and walked down to Lake Frank. We could see the eagle’s nest but didn’t see any eagles. It isn’t clear if the nest is in use. It seems to have deteriorated a bit, but it’s hard to know.

We returned by way of the Pioneer Homestead. On the small pond between that and the nature center we saw two pairs of hooded mergansers (Lophodytes cucullatus). As we walked up from the pond I stopped to take a few photos of this white-throated sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis). They are quite common here, especially in winter, moving north in the summer. They have a distinctive whistle, often described as “Poor Sam Peabody, Peabody, Peabody.”

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Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus)

Photograph taken on Monday, January 15, 2024 by Henry
Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus)

Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus)

Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus)

Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus)

As mentioned in the previous post, we had a nice snowfall today, last most of the day and slowly accumulating to about four inches. We walked around part of Lake Frank early this afternoon, heading down Trailways from the neighborhood. We saw the downy woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) in the previous post in the woods at the bottom of Trailways.

From there we walked towards the dam, stopping to take a few pictures on the way. There were lots of sparrows and we saw dark-eyed juncos (Junco hyemalis), white-breasted nuthatches (Sitta carolinensis), American robins (Turdus migratorius), northern cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis) and a few eastern bluebirds (Sialia sialis).

I was really pleased to see and photograph two hermit thrushes (Catharus guttatus). This is the second of those and it posed really nicely for me. It was eating the red berries in the second photo but unfortunately I wasn’t able to catch that properly. Still, I think these are pretty nice pictures and I’m happy with them.

By the time we got home my hat had a good layer of snow on the brim and my beard had some ice in it. Still, I was glad to get out and enjoy the birds.

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Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)

Photograph taken on Saturday, February 03, 2024 by Henry
Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)

Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)

As the weather was so fine, we went for another walk today, this time at the Montgomery County Agricultural History Farm Park. The winter aconite (Eranthis hyemalis) was blooming in the shade garden and we walked through the Master Gardener’s demonstration garden, though there isn’t so much to see this time of year. There is one witchhazel that was blooming and oddly had all it’s dried leaves from last year still on it.

Then we walked around a large field and saw quite a few birds. We rarely go there without seeing at least a few eastern bluebirds (Sialia sialis) like the one shown here. We also saw what we think was a Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula) although the photographs are inconclusive. We saw a few woodpeckers and a hawk fly by.

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Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum)

Photograph taken on Saturday, April 13, 2024 by Henry
Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum)

Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum)

We went to the Agricultural History Farm Park today and walked around quite a bit. I got a few nice photos of eastern bluebirds (Sialia sialis) as well as some barn swallows (Hirundo rustica) but I was especially pleased with the shots I got of this palm warbler (Setophaga palmarum). It was a lovely day and we saw this species twice in different part of the property. It could have been the same bird, of course, but less likely. We are at the northern edge of their winter grounds and they breed far to the north, so now and in the fall are the best times to see them in our area.

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Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla)

Photograph taken on Sunday, May 12, 2024 by Henry
Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla)

Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla)

We went for a walk by Sandy Spring today, heading to the spring itself and then taking a loop down to the woods below, around past the side trail to Sandy Spring Friends School and then back up to the Sandy Spring Friends Meetinghouse, where we had parked. I got a few bird pictures, including a Carolina chickadee (Poecile carolinensis), an eastern bluebird (Sialia sialis) a gray catbird (Dumetella carolinensis), and this field sparrow (Spizella pusilla). I’m pretty sure this is my first actual photo of a field sparrow, although they are not uncommon.

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Red-spotted Purple and Tufted Titmouse

Photograph taken on Saturday, August 31, 2024 by Henry
Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax)

Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax)

Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)

Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)

We went to great falls this afternoon and walked on the Goldmine Loop and then the Woodland Trail and back by the Burma Road, and finally down to the towpath and back to the parking area. The woods were quiet and it was a very nice walk. We didn’t see or even hear many birds in the woods but it was still really pleasant, if a bit warm and humid. We saw a butterfly that I didn’t recognize. Looking it up after getting home I found that it’s a red-spotted purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax). I think it’s a beautiful butterfly in the genus Limenitis, the admirals and viceroy butterflies.

When we were on the Burma Road over Widewater we saw a cormorant and then down on the canal we saw more butterflies and a few little grey birds in the cattails. At first we couldn’t figure out what it was but then one hopped up onto a blade in plain sight and we could tell that they were tufted Titmice (Baeolophus bicolor).

I would definitely walk this trail again. I think it would be especially nice in the spring.

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Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)

Photograph taken on Friday, September 13, 2024 by Henry
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)

Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)

Lisa dropped Cathy and me off at Drake parke late this morning. We walked up stream and across the wooden bridge at Mirror Pond. Then we turned around and went down stream past another foot bridge near First Street Rapids Park. In Pacific Park, just below the small power station we saw quite a few cedar waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum) and I was able to get a few half decent photos. They were mostly high in a tree when not flying so I was looking up at a fairly steep angle, which wasn’t ideal. We do have cedar waxwings at home but we don’t see them often. This is the second time we’ve seen them here in three days, so we were pretty excited.

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Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)

Photograph taken on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 by Henry
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)

Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)

As mentioned in the previous post, we visited the Lava Lands Visitor Center in the Newberry National Volcanic Monument and walked the Trail of the Molten Land trail. Back and the visitor center, there are trails in the trees and we could hear birds all around. I got just a few photos, including this one of a yellow-rumped warbler (Setophaga coronata), which is pretty good. We saw these quite a few times on our trip, so I have to assume they are quite common. Although they are, apparently, in our area on the east coast, I don’t think I’ve ever seen one before. So, that’s fun.

After this we drove up the cinder cone (Lava Butte) and enjoyed the view from the top, which was also worth the effort (especially since we were able to drive up so the effort wasn’t all that great).

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Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)

Photograph taken on Thursday, September 19, 2024 by Henry
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)

Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)

My third photo from today is also from the Sun River Nature Center. As mentioned in a post from yesterday, we saw Yellow-rumped warblers (Setophaga coronata) fairly often on our trip. This one, I think, is a better photo than the one I posted yesterday, or I wouldn’t have repeated so soon. From the area where the nature center has its captive birds, we walked part way around the pond and then out into an area of scrub. That’s where this bird was, along with others of the same species. In fact, when it comes to songbirds, this is all we saw here. But it was enough, I suppose. They’re lovely little birds.

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Orange-crowned Warbler (Leiothlypis celata)

Photograph taken on Friday, September 20, 2024 by Henry
Warbler (Leiothlypis celata)

Warbler (Leiothlypis celata)

Cathy and I parked on the Deschutes River and walked upstream today. First we walked in the west bank and that’s where this photo was taken. It is an orange-crowned warbler (Leiothlypis celata) and I’m quite pleased with the photo. We also saw scrub jays and quite a few ducks. At one point I realized I had lost my glasses and we walked back looking for them. We didn’t find them, though. Fortunately the were just drug-store reading glasses. I had brought two pairs but the other pair were broken a few days ago.

Anyway, we headed upstream again, this time crossing a footbridge to the other bank. It was a really nice trail alonv the river, especially after it went into the woods.

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Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)

Photograph taken on Monday, September 23, 2024 by Henry
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)

Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)

Cathy and I drove to Pine Nursery Park this morning and walked around it. It’s a fairly large park with softball and soccer fields, a disk golf course, pickleball and volleyball courts, as well as a small pond and the Forest Supervisor’s office for the Dwschutes National Forest. The pickleball courts were full with folks from a league playing in a round-robin tournament of some sort. We enjoyed the birds throughout the park and near the pond I was able to get a few nice photos of this adult, male red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus). He was one of a large number making a pretty good racket. The pickleball players were making a racket, as well.

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Steller’s Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri)

Photograph taken on Monday, September 23, 2024 by Henry
Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri)

Steller’s Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri)

In the late morning Cathy and I drove to Pilot Butte. We had come up here with Brian and Lisa the other day I I tried to get a photo of where they lived but I just missed it. Having consulted a map, I wanted to try again. After doing that, Cathy and I walked a little way down the trail that climbs the butte. We saw this Steller’s jay (Cyanocitta stelleri), moving from the ground, up into a tree, and then back onto the ground again. We also saw a hummingbird of some sort perched on a branch. Google says it’s an Anna’s (Calypte anna) but my photo isn’t quite sharp enough to be able to identify it conclusively. But I’m pretty pleased with this shot of the jay.

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Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus)

Photograph taken on Sunday, November 03, 2024 by Henry
Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus)

Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus)

As mentioned in the previous post, we went to the Rachel Carson Conservation Area this afternoon. We walked a fairly long loop, in a counterclockwise direction. The section down by the Hawlings River is our favorite part, along with the boulders in the previous post. I carried my long lens but we didn’t see much to photograph with that. Towards the end of the walk, though, we came across this hermit thrush (Catharus guttatus) who would move a little bit further down the trail as we got close and I was able to get near enough to get a pretty decent photo.

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Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)

Photograph taken on Saturday, December 21, 2024 by Henry
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)

Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)

We went for a short walk on the trails below Croyden Creek Nature Center today. There wasn’t a lot to be seen but it was still really good to be outdoors. Life has been a bit stressful lately and walking in the woods, particularly where there is water nearby, is good for us. This was the only bird we saw on the walk that I was anywhere near close enough to get a photograph. I did take a few of birds (goldfinches) on the feeders at the nature center, as well, but those didn’t turn out as well. This is our common, northern mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos).

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White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)

Photograph taken on Friday, December 27, 2024 by Henry
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)

White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)

We decided to go to Great Falls today. It’s probably the most interesting part of the C&O Canal that’s close enough to get to easily and since we don’t have to pay to get in (because we have an America The Beautiful, lifetime senior pass) the fee isn’t an impediment. After walking out to Olmsted Island, as per usual, we went downstream to Widewater. We saw a great blue heron and I got a few nice pictures of that, but since I posted on just a little while ago (and that’s a better picture than I got today anyway), I’m going with this nice shot of a white-throated sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis). This is a familiar bird, best known for its distinctive “Poor Sam Peabody, Peabody, Peabody” song.

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