Diario del proyecto Birds of Big Sur, Carmel, Pebble Beach, Monterey, Pacific Grove, California, USA

12 de febrero de 2023

California Red-shouldered Hawk Sighting

Photo #1

Once again, I always tend to hear a California Red-shouldered Hawk - (Buteo lineatus ssp. elegans), before I see it. 😅 This one was under deep cover in a tall Pine tree, until it took flight, calling to another, off in the distance.

Photo #2

A California Red-shouldered Hawk - (Buteo lineatus ssp. elegans), "A little more out in the open."

Publicado el febrero 12, 2023 08:07 TARDE por kathleenlryan kathleenlryan | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario

03 de septiembre de 2021

Double-crested Cormorant & Mallards, Laguna Grande Regional Park, Monterey, CA. USA. 8/30/21

The ducks seemed mesmerized by the cormorant rapidly, then slowly flapping its wings nonstop for a few minutes. I initially thought the cormorant was drying its wings after a swim, but it kept flapping. When a another cormorant swam by, it paid no attention, but the ducks did.

Publicado el septiembre 3, 2021 09:43 TARDE por kathleenlryan kathleenlryan | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario

23 de marzo de 2021

Brandt's Cormorants - (Phalacrocorax penicillatus) 3/22/2021, Bird Rock Trail, Point Lobos, Carmel, CA. USA.

Today, I saw a Brandt's Cormorant - (Phalacrocorax penicillatus) colony at the end of the trail, at Bird Rock. Breeding plumage was on display everywhere with almost too many individual birds to count. It was a wonderful day for observing various behaviors including, nest material gathering, nest building, males displaying for females, with their lovely blue gular pouches proudly visible, bonding behavior, and mating. Please see the accompanying photos for this journal entry.

Bird Rock Trail, Point Lobos, Carmel, CA. USA

Photo # 1: A Brandt's Cormorant in breeding plumage, in full display.

Photo #2 A bonded pair of Brandt's Cormorants, near their nest site.

Photo #3 A pair of Brandt's Cormorants displaying courtship behavior.

Photo #4: A pair of Brandt's Cormorants, mating.

Publicado el marzo 23, 2021 05:23 MAÑANA por kathleenlryan kathleenlryan | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario

28 de febrero de 2021

Is this an, "Intergrade," of a, "Red-shafted," x "Yellow -shafted" Northern Flicker? 2/25/2021

When I went birding on 2/25/2021, on a trail in Pebble Beach, CA on the 17 mile drive, I was able to spot and photograph what I thought was a Northern Flicker.

When I researched it further in my birding book, I think I might have photographed an "Intergrade," of a, "Red-shafted," x "Yellow -shafted" Norther Flicker. Could someone more experienced than me with birding (which is most everyone), help me with this identification. I ask because there is the red whisker AND red nape.

I'm sorry the photos aren't better, but this bird was in heavy shade, and tall grass, and was hopping around on the ground searching for insects. Then it flew off into deep cover, the opposite direction from where I was hiding behind a tree . Thank you.

Publicado el febrero 28, 2021 08:48 TARDE por kathleenlryan kathleenlryan | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario

26 de febrero de 2021

Acorn Woodpeckers - (Melanerpes formicivorus). 2/25/2021. 17 Mile Drive, Pebble Beach, CA. USA

Today, 2/25/2021, I observed three different type of Acorn Woodpecker - (Melanerpes formicivorus) behavior. Please see photos that accompany these observations.

Observation #1 - I saw a female Acorn Woodpecker - (Melanerpes formicivorus), take an acorn out of a hole in a well drilled pine tree, and place it in another hole on this same pine tree.

Observation #2 - "High-Rise Neighbors." I observed two Acorn Woodpeckers - (Melanerpes formicivorus), appearing just far enough out of their homes in a very tall pine tree, to watch other neighbors flying nearby. I observed several Acorn Woodpeckers flying around this tree, as well as seeing two, and three woodpeckers flying in and out of these two homes.

Observation #3 - I observed one Acorn Woodpecker - (Melanerpes formicivorus), appear just far enough out of his home, to let another acorn woodpecker see him. The second woodpecker landed and perched on the side of the tall pine tree, right beside the first woodpecker's home.

Publicado el febrero 26, 2021 03:19 MAÑANA por kathleenlryan kathleenlryan | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario

20 de febrero de 2021

Band-tailed Pigeon - (Patagioenas fasciata) - 2/18/2021, 12:01 PM

In addition to posting at inaturalist, I also post on several Facebook birding sites. On one of these sites, a more experienced birder than I, let me know this behavior is known as a "Wing Clap." Birds will do this as a warning to others about predators, or during mating rituals. A Band-tailed Pigeon - (Patagioenas fasciata) engaged in, "Wing Clapping." Carmel, CA. USA. Photo © Kathleen L. Ryan. 2/18/2021, 12:01 PM

Publicado el febrero 20, 2021 05:54 TARDE por kathleenlryan kathleenlryan | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario

18 de febrero de 2021

Acorn Woodpeckers - (Melanerpes formicivorus). 2/17/2021, 12:49 PM

When I was birding today, 2/17/2021, at 12:49 PM, I observed three Acorn Woodpeckers - (Melanerpes formicivorus), perched together on the side of a very tall pine tree. "Three's a crowd." One adult, male Acorn Woodpecker, pecked another male's head to get him to leave, so he can mate with the female, just behind the male who is getting pecked.

Publicado el febrero 18, 2021 02:16 MAÑANA por kathleenlryan kathleenlryan | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario

06 de febrero de 2021

California Red-shouldered Hawk - (Buteo lineatus ssp. elegans), Observation: 2/5/2021, 12: 51 PM PST

Hi Birders Near and Far,

Has it been your experience that birds watch you, as much as you watch them?

I was birding yesterday - 2/5/2021, 12: 51 PM PST, in an area with very tall trees hoping to see a hawk, any hawk, but to no avail. No sooner than I walked away from what I thought would be a good lookout perch, a California Red-shouldered Hawk - (Buteo lineatus ssp. elegans), flew and perched atop this dead tree. Upon my starting to leave an observation area, too many times than I can count, birds soon arrive. I believe this has to be more than coincidences. Luckily I was still within range with my telephoto zoom lens, and felt fortunate to get three photos. This hawk kept eye contact with me, while I took the photos.

Publicado el febrero 6, 2021 10:27 TARDE por kathleenlryan kathleenlryan | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario

29 de enero de 2021

Dark-eyed Junco - (Junco hyemalis) Observation: 1/28/2021, 10:34 AM PST,

On 1/28/2021, 10:34 AM PST, in the rain, I saw six Dark-eyed Juncos - (Junco hyemalis) One was exhibiting white tail feathers, which I hadn't seen before. I thought to myself, is it molting? I learned, no this wasn't what was happening. I researched it a little on line and citing from the fifth paragraph from, https://mailtribune.com/.../untold-stories-of-the-dark.... I found out why the flash of white tail feathers. "There are at least two reasons. First, it is a way to communicate with others of its kind. White outer tail feathers are common among many species that flock. A flash of white out of the corner of a bird’s eye, and it knows it is still with the flock. If a predator appears, all a bird has to do is keep the tail folded to conceal the white."

Publicado el enero 29, 2021 08:35 TARDE por kathleenlryan kathleenlryan | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario

19 de enero de 2021

Buffleheads - (Bucephala albeola) 1/18/2021, 10:59 AM PST

Today I felt fortunate to see four male and three female Buffleheads - (Bucephala albeola), because usually I see none. I observed them exhibiting head bobbing, diving, and wing flapping, usually in response to each other's behavior.

Publicado el enero 19, 2021 12:40 MAÑANA por kathleenlryan kathleenlryan | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario