Wildlife in a Suburban Garden

Palm Warbler, Bill Baggs State Park Florida

Warblers have been hard to come by on the trip to Florida so far.  I have seen relatively and comparatively few species so far.  Without doubt and as usual, the most often encountered has been Palm Warbler of both the Eastern and Western sub species. I made a trip out yesterday to Bill Baggs State park which is right on the edge of Key Biscayne and a good site for migrating birds.  I expected to see a variety of species and therefore, add to my tally of North American Warblers but disappointingly, the only warblers seen were Palm and even these were few and far between. In fact apart from Common Ground Doves - a couple of pairs seen - Ibis, Turkey Vultures and a solitary Magnificent Frigate Bird, it was a lifeless and desolate place! I tried just sitting quietly in a few likely spots watching for movement and this did give a really close encounter with the bird above, an Eastern - or brown Palm Warbler- quite a stunner I think and given that this is one of the less attractively marked American Warbler, then you can only imagine how stunning some of them are. I believe this bird to be a female Eastern.

Common Ground Dove perched in a tree for once!

 

One a day, Day - 15 Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)

One a day 14 Great Crested Grebe - Podiceps cristatus

I have gallery containing 680 different species and for the next 680 days I will be posting 1 image per day in taxonomic order for the next 680 days.  This is Great Crested Grebe - Podiceps cristatus photographed in Devon UK, my home county.

Eastern Screech Owl in Florida

I know, this is a stunning bird I absolutely agree.!!  Look at it's piercing eyes that stare down at you so aggressively.  This is an Eastern Screech Owl (Megascops asio) and I photographed it yesterday at Green Cay Wetlands in Palm beach County.  My best ever photo opportunity of this tiny owl. The owls were nesting close to the wooden walk way that circumnavigates the wetlands for several miles and this lovely example of the species was sat right next to the wooden boardwalk alongside another old palm tree stump that had a hole near the top - probably the nest hole?  My assumption was that this is a male and he was standing guard over his nest burrow that more than likely contained his incubating mate. 

 I have no idea if that is correct but it seemed to be the likely scenario.  Owls are usually very confident in their own camouflage and don't seem to be particularly worried when humans are nearby, this was certainly the case with this beauty but he certainly knew we were there.  From time to time he scanned the ground and had perhaps sene prey - they eat rodents and large crickets etc but no doubt small reptiles as well -  on other occasions he would look up - keeping a watchful eye out for predators overhead I am sure. Nearby, Blue Jays were mobbing something in the bushes but I couldn't see what, this could have been another owl?

 

 

One a day, Day 13 Red-necked Grebe

Florida Scrub-Jay - Jupiter Beach Florida.

The Florida Scrub-Jay is Florida's only endemic species of bird.  I have tried repeatedly over the years to find one and never had any luck but yesterday, at last I managed it.  I travelled north to Jupiter and specifically the Johnathon Dickinson State park where the habitat is perfect for them and I had been reading reports of sightings there. Within minutes of arriving at the park we walked along a track where apparently - according to the ranger at the park's main gate - they are constantly seen.  He said my chances were around 70% so imagine my excitement when suddenly, after an almost birdless 20 minute walk, there was oen on a high tree next to the road. We then spent a magical few hours with them, I say them because we saw around 5 in total.  This is the most confiding species of bird that you are ever likely to encounter.  A  pish - pish was guaranteed to get one to fly to you and almost land on your shoulders and of course when a a bird is that close its easy to study it in great detail. Some were sporting both plastic and metal rings. But this adult below was not part of the study which I found odd?

Scrub-Jay live in family groups and the birds from previous years cooperate and feed the current fledglings with the original adults being the breeders.  They are a really attractive, smart bird, smart in both meanings of the word.  They were massively interested in the peanuts that I offered, eating some but flying off to cache the rest, always in the same spot.  I have seen European Jays caching peanuts in this way.

I thought at first that I could see that there was some discernible differences between the male and female but apparently there is no sexual dimorphism, however these different birds were probably juveniles.  I have taken note of the exact spot where I saw these elusive, endangered and declining birds and if you want directions then please feel free to email me and I will tell you specifically and exactly where you will be able to see them for yourself. I have to say that I was very, very pleased to at last add Florida Scrub-Jay to my gallery of bird species which now totals getting on for 700 different species.  I have an ambition to photograph 1000 species before I "shuffle off this mortal coil" - thank's Shakespeare - I'm well on the way!

 

One a day, day 12 - Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis)

A nice bird to see on the River Exe near to my home.

Florida Turkey Vulture - Cathartes aura and a massive Iguana

I sat for a couple of hours this morning in the hope that an Osprey would come and dive for fish in the the pool in front of me  but without success.  I have been told that they regularly fish in the spot at Whisky Creek but for the entire time that I sat waiting expectantly, a Turkey Vulture was in the trees opposite preening and sunning itself in the strong morning sunshine.  Eventually it took off to look for something to eat no doubt.  They are magnificent if not a little bit ugly and their plumage is really quite attractive to my eyes, not to mention their spooky looking bare face and strong hook beak.  I have just read that they are no way related to the Old World vultures but just resemble them because they feed and act in the same way.  a prime example of convergent evolution.  I am very fond of that phrase and quite often quote it, now I know of a good example.

In Florida, Warblers and Catbirds.....not to mention Pelicans!

I am not 100% certain of this species but suspect very strongly that it is a Yellow-rumped warbler (Setophaga coronata), one of Florida's over-wintering warbler species. I would have expected - and hoped for an adult, and far more attractively marked male however - but the head pattern and the existence of a yellow rump does indicate very strongly, this as the ID.  If you can correct me, then please do so by email or through the blogs comments, thanks.  I have photographed this species before in January 2016.  I watched a female Northern parula (Setophaga americana) feeding on the berries of a fruiting tree.  The females of this species are very attractive also, if not as exuberant as the male. This photograph is quite cropped as the bird was feeding right at the top of the tree.

The strikingly smart and handsome, starling sized Gray catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) is a very common species here but not very easy to see and get a shot of - they are skulkers and often heard but not seen - but this one decided to pose for an age right out in the open and I took the opportunity to get my best shot ever photograph of the species.  It belongs to the same family as the Northern Mockingbird.

Another bird that I always enjoy to see is the The Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas).  This species is another skulker and seems to almost invariably stick close to the ground.  I noticed that there was some conflict between this species and the Palm Warblers who probably feed in the same way hence the interaction.  For what it is worth, the Palm Warblesr seem to be dominant over the Yellowthroats but that isn't a scientific assessment, just an observation.

Oh.....and did I mention the Brown Pelicans? No, but how could they not be included, always so photogenic and very easy to photograph as well.

 

 

 

 

One a day, Day 11 Slavonian Grebe

Slavonian Grebe, Exe Estuary Devon UK.

One day, day 10.Little Grebe - Tachybaptus ruficollis

In Florida and Palm Warblers.

Indistinct from this angle - Eastern or Western race, looks to be western?

I am currently in Southern Florida on my annual visit to family. We are just a little bit early for spring migration but the Palm Warbler is the first to start - but they also over-winter here as well.  At the moment they are very common here and have probably moved north from the Caribbean. Yesterday evening I discovered a small flock of 20 or so feeding avidly on tiny insects and spiders in the low shrubs and undergrowth bordering the lawns of a public park - West Lake which is a favorite place of mine.  It was a real treat to follow them up and down for half an hour or so waiting for a good photo opportunity.  Amongst them was a single male Northern Parula  and one Black and White Warbler. It was just a lovely experience for me, extremely interesting, fascinating and exciting as you never know what is going to put in an appearance. The Palm Warbler is extra interesting because there are two distinct races the one above belongs to the Eastern race. This race has mostly yellow streaked underparts and rump whereas the Western  race has a  yellow throat and rump but still has streaks.  I have photographed both but on this trip I have seen both.  There is a possibility that in the future they will be separated in to two distinct species. 

This shows yellow underparts, almost certainly belonging to the yellow Eastern Race.  The image below is probably a female but which race - who knows?

This image beneath shows the distinct yellow throat of a Western bird or brown Palm Warbler which I photographed the previous evening, quite clearly different. This is to my eyes is a slightly more attractive bird.

This is the same bird from a different angle but you can see the yellow throat and also distinctly yellow spercillium.

Early in my session I discovered one single bird feeding on the edge of the lake.  This was a Western "brown" bird and a nice find.

As dusk was almost upon us and the tiny midges colloquially known as "noseeums" began to bite, suddenly there was a beautiful Black and White Warbler, they are very active, I have seen them before and always love them, they behave almost like Treecreepers and are hard to photograph but I had a tiny bit of success but the light was bad and they are very active and never still. But what a bird!

As I mentioned, amongst the small flock of Palm Warblers was one singly male Northern Parula.  Is this the most beautiful of all the North American Warbler? Possibly but there are a lot to choose from and they are all very pretty and gorgeous.

 

 

 

 

One a Day, Day 9 White-billed Diver - Gavia adamsii

One a Day, Day 9 White-billed Diver - Gavia adamsii photographed in the harbor at Brixham, Devon

 

One a Day, Day 8 Great Northern Diver (Gavia immer)

Great Northern Diver (Gavia immer)

I am in the middle of a 675 day project uploading one species a day from my PBase galleries. I have a quest to photograph 1000 bird species in my lifetime. 

One a day, day 7, Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata

From my PBase galleries of 675 species, one a day for the next 675 days.

Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata

One a day, Day 6 Black - throated diver.

Black-throated Diver (Gavia arctica)

One a Day, day 5 Southern rockhopper penguin, Eudyptes (chrysocome) chrysocome

Photographed on a magical afternoon when, courtesy of the RAF we hitched a helicopter ride to a remote colony containing the nests of thousands upon thousands of Rockhoppers in all stages of breeding. An experience that I will never ever forget.

One a day, African penguin (Spheniscus demersus)

Photograph taken at Betty's Bay South Africa in 2014.

This is an endangered species but easy to see and there are 3 mainland colonies - 2 in South Africa  are popular tourists attractions.

"One a Day" day 3 Magellanic Penguin - Spheniscus magellanicus

I took this picture of Magellanic Penguin - Spheniscus magellanicus on a visit to the Falklands whilst serving in the Royal Marines. At the time, penguins were able to nest close to the town of Stanley in the cordoned off minefields that had given them security in areas where it was dangerous for humans to venture.

One a Day, Day 2 Cassowary

Iin Queensland Australia I was lucky enough to see this wild Cassowary feeding on waste pineapples on a plantation close to Townsville. A once in a lifetime encounter I am sure.

One a day. Day one - Ostrich.

I have a gallery of 675 species from my travels around the world, my ambition is to achieve at least 1000 before I croak! I find the galleries a very rewarding way to catalogue my photos and then keep them in order. It's a man thing I suppose. It's the only list I keep but if i had listed from the beginnings of my birding way back in the 1950's I would have well over that 1000 for sure.  There are massive numbers missing from my photographic galleries.  For example I have visited the West indies numerous times and Belize, Falklands and the Galapagos and hardly any photos from those trips are worth posting. In the meantime, I am going to post on Twitter one species a day in Taxonomic order  for the next 675 days - of course that will be extended because in the time it takes do that, almost 2 years, I will have added to it considerably. So heres the first species from the galleries and it's Ostritch.

Photographed at Cape Point Park, South Africa. A truly wild ostrich if you are wondering although there is a suggestion that the South African ostriches are probably feral having escaped from ostrich farms in the not too distant past.
 

White breasted Dipper

 

 

I have been watching these Dippers regularly since my recent return from Cape Town. This species is always an early nester and it's a good species to watch at this time of the year.  I am not giving the location away because for sure, there would be some disturbance and thats just what they don't need.  In fact, they are very easily distracted from their breeding activities at this stage and if there is any hint of human activity near to their chosen nest site they will depart the area for several hours and could potentially decide to move the location. Consequently I have been very, very careful to hide my presence from them. I attached my Panasonic Lumix camera to my Swarovski Scope - this is colloquially called digiscoping - and from 30 yards away and hidden by trees and undergrowth I could get frame filling images.  The weather was bad and the light was really dim, there was even a light drizzle. It was far too dull for conventional photography but setting the ISO to 5000 - yes I said 5000 - I was getting about a 1/30 second shutter speed. 4k movie at this speed was a bit hazy but well worth recording and now you know the distance involved, it's a pretty good result. Heres a screen shot.