Barn Swallows

After kayaking in Jamaica Bay on Wednesday with my friend Andrea, we went to Breezy Point, Queens for a quick dip in the ocean.When we returned to the car there were several barn swallows sitting on a wire overhead. I quickly got my camera to see if I could get a few shots before they flew off. Swallows don't generally sit still for long and the light was right to pick up their coloring.

As I viewed them through the lens I noticed some differences. Some had shorter tails, but the most telltale sign were their flanges/beaks. Most of them had yellow flanges rather than the adult all black beak. As most of you know baby bird's mouths and flanges are bright yellow or orange or other color so their parents can see their mouths when they are feeding them especially if light is low inside the nest area. We had a whole slew of juveniles and just a few adults mixed in. Enjoy.

Yellow flanges and notice the shorter tail

Adult - notice the longer tail feathers and how the beak is all black

2 Cutie Fledglings - But What Were They?

I was sitting in my chair on the lawn observing the bird feeder while in Maine. Movement across the yard caught my eye. In the fringe trees from the narrow strip of trees between properties I noticed a small bird land on a branch of a small tree. Putting binoculars to eyes I spied a small fluffy bird. So I moved slowly to get a closer look.

Hum, I wonder what this little bird is I asked myself.  I looked around and low and behold I found another one.

Wow, white eye rings connected to look like spectacles. Buffy to yellow on it's side. And look ma, no tail feathers, well they are beginning to grow. The tail feathers are the last to grow. Two white/yellow wing bars are evident.

Then the racket started. I looked up and saw what I presumed to be the adult. I took a quick picture and backed off so that mom or dad could feed their young.

Do you know what it is yet? It is a Blue-Headed Vireo carrying a treat for one of his or her young.
This was a first for me, life bird.

I also saw red-eyed vireos regularly in the yard as I have in other years.

Snowy Egret Dances on East Pond, Jamaica Bay

It has been a while since I posted or got out birding for that matter...too many excuses but after kayaking I headed over to the East Pond at Jamaica Bay. Very nice conditions this year as I easily walked around the cove starting from the north end.  I had the pond to myself even the birds weren't many. However I had great fun watching a snowy egret dance around. Notice this snowy's usual yellow loral area, before the eye, is a deep orange. It is orange during the breeding season, which I had never seen or just hadn't noticed before. Of course it's wearing it's "golden dancing shoes."

Let me take my golden dance shoes on the wing....

Since there was no further action of East Pond, I headed for John's Pond and that is where all the bird action was with several juvenile night herons etc.. but next time.

Enjoy.

Spring Colors

I love spring in our neighborhood. The flowering trees and flowers are just breathtaking. They have come real early this year. In fact most of them have already gone by. I guess this year we can say "April flowers bring May showers."

 

Just a Mallard, Not

This mallard was having a Sunday morning bath, but not just any old type of bath. I mean a diving, swimming underwater, coming up and shaking off and diving again kind of bath!  I had never seen a mallard do that. I've seen mergansers, loons and other diving type birds do this but not a mallard. But whose to say he shouldn't enjoy his Sunday morning bath. I was enjoying my Sunday morning walk in the park and watching him.

Taken in Prospect Park on a Sunday morning.

Bluebirds Househunting in Allens Meadows

Went to see my mom in CT and dropped by Allens Meadows first in Wilton.

 I met up with a bluebird couple shopping for a house to rent for nesting. Think they were quite satisfied with the accommodations available and the surrounding fields and gardens.

"What do you think dear?"

"Seems quite roomy inside. Just right for our nestlings this year."

"Shall we settle in?" "Let's check out the area first."

"Nice gardens, looks like a lot of potential here."

"Lots of fields for juicy bugs"

"Thinking of bugs has made me hungry, think I'll get myself one or two."

Well, I do hope this bluebird couple settles in for the spring and summer! I'll look forward to checking in with them at a later date.

Great Back Yard Bird Count

This was my first year participating in the event. It was fun. I counted for about 2 and one half hours today. I was hoping that the red-bellied woodpecker would make an appearance and indeed he made a brief visit to the suet feeder. In all I had 9 different species: 43 house sparrows, 1 white-throated sparrow, 10 mourning doves, 8 rock doves, 2 starlings, 2 northern cardinals, 1 red-bellied woodpecker, 4 house finches and1 herring gull flying over. These are my regulars. Not bad for a little Brooklyn, NY backyard.
This isn't the clearest picture of the woodpecker but this is the beauty that has been visiting my suet feeder all winter. Below him are my other regulars from another day - a snowy day

Red-bellied Woodpecker

White-throated sparrow

female Northern Cardinal

That's right I'm looking at you

male Northern Cardinal