Vireo

When I attend ABA events, I get to bird with people who far surpass my birding skills. These are opportunities for me to learn even more about one of my favorite hobbies, and I happily take advantage of them. I make plenty of mistakes with bird identification, so hearing others explain identifications is a great way to reduce the number of times where I jump to the wrong conclusion, or am just not sure.

One thing, however, that I learned early on was that I was absolutely not going to be able to identify every bird I saw or heard. In fact, resisting the urge to identify and move on, keeps me learning and keeps me out of "trouble". Picking up a camera and learning how to use it while birding reinforces that discipline. Now, when I am not sure about a bird, I try to take photographs of it so that I can attempt to identify it from the comfort of my home (where I have access to so many more resources than my little brain could ever hold). Even then, I may not be entirely sure.

Such was the case today. I was birding alone at Corpus Christi Wildlife Sanctuary (which, oddly, is not in Corpus Christi), when I encountered this vireo. I have a couple of ideas for which vireo it might be, but one of those two would be a life bird for me. I am not quite confident enough to just claim it is a species that I have never seen before (but I am really close to being that confident). Since I had my camera, here are a couple of pictures. Neither show the complete bird, but I think they show enough for an identification (says me...as I sit on the fence avoiding a decision). If you have an opinion, share it. Maybe I will get a life bird out of this.

Update: It is a Philadelphia Vireo - a life bird for me.

A Few Odds and Ends

The 2009 ABA Convention started in earnest this evening, but I have birded on my own most of the past two days, with Port Aransas as my target. I have seen lots of good birds, and have managed to take some good photographs as well. While I will take a "serious" look at my growing collection of photos once I return, here are a few that I thought would share "as is" - only resized for posting to the blog.

First up, from a visit to Port Aransas Birding Center, is a Reddish Egret caught in "mid-dance". This species of bird is very active in its pursuit of food, holding its wings out for balance, leaping, lunging and generally taking a no-holds-barred approach. Quite different from the stealthy stalking of a Great Blue Heron.

This shot of a Painted Bunting was the best I could manage. I saw him at a tiny little gem called Paradise Pond. I went there two days in a row. The Painted Bunting dropped into this patch of foliage, and all I could see was his pretty face through that window in the leaves.

While trying to get a better shot of the Painted Bunting, I managed to discover some type of amphibian in the same foliage. Only this critter was on the opposite side of a leaf from me. I spied his body, silhouetted against the leaf, and took this photo.

ABA 209 - Corpus Christi

I am off to Corpus Christi tomorrow for a week of fun, including the 2009 ABA Convention. I hope to see a ton of birds, hopefully some new life birds, and take lots of photos.

Northern Mockingbird

A bit like the Eastern Bluebird featured in my previous post, I find myself this week looking at three photographs of Northern Mockingbird. All three photos come from trips to DGCA in the month of March, but I think they might all be of the same bird. When you drive to the visitor center parking lot, there is always a Northern Mockingbird there to greet (scold?) you. He won't let you get too close, but when he perches he sits fairly still (when compared to something like a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher).

I think my neighborhood Northern Mockingbird is nesting in a bush on the edge of my front yard. I was surprised that this post is my first to include photos of a Northern Mockingbird (if you can trust that this blog's tags are accurate...big leap, I fear). Maybe I will get an opportunity or two to snap some photos of young Mockingbirds this spring. I am already thinking of how to prepare for overly defensive parents.

Eastern Bluebird

As I reviewed the pictures I took during the month of March, I noticed several of Eastern Bluebird. The earliest fringe of spring is a good time to see them start to claim nesting locations, and to hear their soft warble of a song. Even before Tree Swallows have returned, the singing of an Eastern Bluebird tells me that warmer weather is on the way.

These three photos represent a triple delight of good timing, good focus and good subject.

Snow Day

Back at the beginning of March, a winter storm whipped through Virginia and deposited enough snow to cause things to close. Most of Virginia panics at the mere mention of snow, so even a few inches is enough to close schools, businesses and bring out the "best" drivers ever!

I stayed home on snow day and worked, but it was hard not looking outside the window at the snow. And occasionally, I would see something outside my window that was simple, yet too precious to pass up.