OC Birder Girl

Surviving Spring

2010-05-26T22:27:00.000-07:00

Northern Mockingbird at Bolsa Chica Ecological Preserve

I received a question from Audry that I am getting from a lot of readers this time of year, and so I thought I would do a post on it. Here is the question:

"Hello,
I have a question??? I cannot remember ever hearing birds tweeting all night long!!! Seriously it's like from Midnight to all day. They quiet some about mid day, but then start up again at midnight. I think I'm going to lose my mind!! Don't get me wrong the birds are magical to watch in the fountain during the day, but I'm at my wits end. It's been a week of sleepless nights, and earplugs cannot be worn else I'll sleep through the alarm clock.

Can you explain this? What kind of birds are these, and is it a migratory thing?

Thanks,

Audry"

American Robin at Irvine Open Space Preserve Nature Center

Thank you for your question, Audry. This is a common question around this time of year. It is spring, and in spring, birds establish territory and look for mates. They do this by singing. And singing. And then singing some more. Sometimes as birds shift territories, you become the lucky one who gets the loud singers in your front or back yard. I remember years ago I had problems with loud Northern Mockingbirds. For over a decade now, I have been lucky and have had no springtime serenade. The most likely candidate for your loud, singing bird is the Northern Mockingbird. The Northern Mockingbird is loud and has varied songs and sounds. It sings for long periods of time. Another bird that does sing at night on occasion is the American Robin. See my post "What's That Singing in the Night?"

Spotted Towhee at San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in Irvine

A few tips for surviving the songs of spring

1) While ear plugs or noise cancelling headphones are helpful, there are other solutions. White noise is a good idea because it will help block the noise. You can buy simple white noise machines for various prices or make your own by having your CD player on continuous play, using your iPod, or turning on your TV to a channel with no station broadcasting on it. Even a channel with a real station might do the trick. The idea is to have any kind of noise like static, music, rainfall, waves, a babbling brook, wind, etc. Therapists have white noise machines for privacy, but you can use the same thing for sleeping. The continuous, steady noise overlays the bird songs and makes them stand out less to your brain. It is best if the sound source for the white noise is between you and the window. White noise usually does not prevent a person from hearing their alarm, but you may want to try it out first to see if you can hear your alarm with your white noise turned on. Better than finding out after you are late for work.

2) If you can, make sure your windows are closed to minimize the loud singing.

3) Relaxation techniques can also help. Sometimes it is not so much the sound as it is our reaction to it. Much the same as not being able to sleep is upsetting, and so once you begin to have trouble sleeping you stress out and can't sleep, when the bird starts singing, you get stressed and have even more trouble sleeping. So stress about not being about to sleep can contribute to not sleeping. Check out these sites for information on relaxation techniques: The University of Maryland Sleep Disorders Center has some excellent information for those with and without sleep disorders. Here is the section on relaxation techniques-- and see these relaxation techniques from WebMD http://www.webmd.com/balance/stress-management/features/blissing-out-10-relaxation-techniques-reduce-stress-spot. You might even try using a relaxation tape which would effectively combine suggestions 1 and 3.

California Quail calling at San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in Irvine

3) I would also suggest a few other things that are just for good sleep in general. The reason being that the less ready you are for a nice, restful sleep, the more the birds singing will bother you. The more ready you are to sleep, the more likely you are to sleep through the Mockingbird's Anvil chorus.

A) Have a regular schedule for your bedtime and waking up.

B) Eat well and remember to keep hydrated during the day.

C) Exercise during the day, but avoid exercising within two hours of your bedtime.

D) Avoid caffeine. As tempting as it is to use it to keep yourself awake during the day, if you are using it in the late afternoon, you are risking keeping yourself up at night for the avian concert.

E) Avoid using alcohol to sleep because it will not keep you asleep and can in fact wake you up during the night.

F) Avoid foods that are hard to digest due to high fat or spicy, or that raise your blood sugar a lot. These can also keep you up.

Song Sparrow at San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in Irvine

G) Although adults don’t want to have their favorite story read to them before bedtime, we do best with bedtime routines that help prepare us for sleep. Repeating the same routine before bed can help you prepare for sleep.

For more advice, read Sleep Hygiene from The University of Maryland Sleep Disorders unit .

Hope this helps and that you can get some sleep. Thanks again for your question.

Common Yellowthroat at San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary

OC Birder Girl Links

What's That Singing in the Night?

Foods that help you sleep

Outside Links and Resources

Harvard Sleep Center

How to Sleep Well from Stanford University

Lights Out for a Good Night's Sleep from the National Sleep Foundation

Ten Relaxation Techniques from WebMD

San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary and Mason Regional Park

2010-05-06T21:41:00.000-07:00

Looking over a pond at San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary

Went out early on Sunday 05/02/2010 to walk and bird at San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary. It was a beautiful morning. Didn't see any unusual birds, but it was very relaxing. I was able to watch a lot of familiar species and really appreciate their beauty and behaviors.

American Avocet strains the mud for food.

In the first pond, American Avocets were moving their bills back and forth through the water and the mud. Cinnamon Teals were dabbling in the shallows.

Anna's Hummingbird perched and watching as they often do.

An Anna's Hummingbird sat on the bare branches of a bush flycatching.

Song Sparrow--note the spot in the middle of his chest.

Spotted Towhee.

Great Blue Heron stands on the path after flying toward me and landing not far from me.

Pretty bird. This Great Blue Heron didn't care how close I was.

Raggedy Turkey Vulture in the middle of a molt.

Two Great Egrets bookend a Snowy Egret.

Great Egret flew a bit farther from me as I got closer, but not that far.

I know it's not a bird, but I love bunnies. This was a little baby one.

The walkway across the marsh and streams.

Another song sparrow. This one is belting out his favorite courting song.

This Common Yellowthroat sings from the marsh grasses.

Spotted Towhee sings over by the buildings as I leave.

I decided to head over to Mason Regional Park. It is a simple drive to Mason Regional Park from San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary. I often either visit both San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary and Mason Regional Park as both are close by. To get to Mason Regional Park, turn right onto Michelson from Riparian View. Turn right on Culver. Turn Right on University. It is on the left at 18712 University Drive,

Irvine, CA 92612-2601 . There is a fee for parking. Monday-Friday, it is currently $3 and on the weekends it is $5. If you go to Regional Parks often, you might want to buy the OC Parks Pass which will get you into OC Regional Parks and Wilderness Parks. It is a great deal at the current rate of $55. If you want to include the OC beaches, it is $80. (Check to make sure it includes the beaches you want to go to because there are several state and city beaches that are not included in the combo pass for the County beaches which are mostly in south Orange County.)

Female Western Bluebird.

You can usually spot Western Bluebirds as they fly down from the trees to the ground to forage and fly back up. This is how I spotted this female Western Bluebird.

Another Song Sparrow.

Mason Regional Park is always full of singing Song Sparrows and Common Yellowthroats.

Black-crowned Night Heron sitting on the railing overlooking the lake at Mason Regional Park.

As I approached the look out, I saw a Black-crowned Night Heron fly in. He stayed there while people passed by, and I was able to come fairly close and take pictures and video.

Zooming in on the Black-crowned Night Heron.

I didn't put my digital camera on the recharger correctly the night before and it didn't charge. Consequently, I kept having to turn off my camera to conserve batteries. Luckily, they lasted my entire walk.

I love this view of the bridge.

This is an Egyptian Goose. There are quite a few in Orange County. They are descendants of escapees from private collections.

The first time I saw an Egyptian Goose, I thought it was a weird park duck. Then I saw a few others who also looked exactly the same. I thought, duh, it is an actual species. So I looked it up. There are escaped Egyptian Geese scattered all over Orange County and in Southern California. They can be fairly quiet, and then start cackling and hissing. With a few together, it can get quite loud.

Ruddy Duck drake takes a swim. Staying on the surface cruising. The breeze blew the surface of the water causing little ripples.

Male Western Bluebird flies down and checks me out. He flew in just a few feet away.

I don't know what was up that day, but several birds flew in really close to me. This male Western Bluebird flew down very close to me just a few feet away. I was lucky to be able to focus on him.

Male Western Bluebird.

It was a great morning birding in two great birding hot spots--San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary and Mason Regional Park. When you are out birding in Orange County, try to visit two birding spots that are close together. Slightly different habitats can yield different species. And birding several different places is just plain fun.

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Spring in Craig Regional Park

2010-05-02T18:56:00.000-07:00

The lake at Craig Park

Craig Regional Park is a beautiful park with rolling grassy lawns, lots of trees, two year-round creeks, and a small lake or pond. In addition, there is a small nature center, a rose garden, barbecues, picnic tables, baseball fields, basketball courts, bike trails, and lots of sidewalks to take long, peaceful strolls. It is a nice place to walk and listen to the birds. A great place to bird. The park is 124 acres and is located in both Fullerton and Brea near the Fullerton Dam.

A closer look at a narrower portion of the lake.

Craig Regional Park is named in honor of Ted Craig who was an active city council member, mayor of Brea, member of the state legislature, and regent of the University of California. He was active in the 1920s and 1930s. He spent his life in active public service to Orange County.

Nest box for the many Wood Ducks who live and nest here.

The park has many resident Wood Ducks who are cavity nesters, and there are many nesting boxes for them to use.

A bluebird nestbox for the Western Bluebird who breeds in Orange County as well as other parts of California.

Also present in the park are Western Bluebirds. Western Bluebirds are also cavity nesters, and there are many bluebird boxes for them in the trees throughout the park.

Female Wood Duck and her 9 ducklings.

The park's lake is stocked with fish and allows fishing with a permit. Of course, this also attracts the usual fish-eating crowd of Black-crowned Night Herons, Snowy Egrets, Great Egrets, and Great Blue Herons. In addition, there are usually a few Double-crested Cormorants fishing in the lake. They need no permit.

Black-crowned Night Heron looking for a good fishing spot. This was at almost 11AM.

There are Mallards, Pied-billed Grebes, and the usual assortment of domestic ducks, and a few escaped Egyptian Geese.

Female Western Bluebird feeding her nestlings.

As I walked through the park, I saw a Western Bluebird couple attending to their babies.

The male Western Bluebird keeping watch. He flew off with the female when she emerged from the nestbox.

One of the streams meandering through the grass at Craig Regional Park.

The streams are used by the ducks, egrets, and herons as well.

California Towhee among the flowers.

Female and male Wood Ducks pause on the sidewalk before flying up to the chain link fence.

Since Wood Ducks are perching ducks, you can see them in places you would never find a Mallard.

Wood Duck drake finally swam close enough for a decent shot and in decent light, too!

This Wood Duck took quite a while to groom himself before returning to the water.

I enjoyed walking around the lake.

Snowy Egret striding purposefully to the water.

Female Mallard and the petite Snowy Egret.

Across the lake another Snowy Egret. Notice that a Snowy Egret is not very big compared to a female Mallard. Non-birders often mistake mature Snowy Egrets for baby egrets when the Snowy is standing next to a Great Egret which is also white.

This American Robin tilted his head often to the side, listening for yummy bugs in the grass.

A female Mallard with two of her three ducklings.

It was a peaceful relaxing morning of walking and birding. So if you are thinking about a place to bird in Northern Orange County, try Craig Regional Park. It is a great place to go birding in Orange County.

External Links and Resources

Craig Regional Park

View Larger Map

Ruddy Duck--Oxyura jamaicensis

2010-04-30T23:08:00.000-07:00

Male Ruddy Duck in Breeding Plumage at Mason Regional Park . A resident species of Orange County, California.

This is one of my favorite ducks. It is a resident of Orange County California and in fact to North and South America. The tell-tale sign of a raft of sleeping Ruddy Ducks are the stiff tails that jut out of the water. It is only in breeding season in Spring and Summer that the male Ruddy Duck sports a blue bill. At other times, it has a dark, brown bill.

Male Ruddy Duck in non-breeding plumage at Mason Regional Park.

The Ruddy Duck's plumage is also changes with the seasons. While the breeding plumage of the male Ruddy Duck is chestnut brown, it fades to a nondescript brown retaining the dark black cap and white cheek. The bill becomes dark brown.

Female Ruddy Duck at at Mason Regional Park swimming with her tail down.

The smaller female Ruddy Duck has dark brown plumage and a whitish cheek with a streak from the bill toward the back of the head.

Ruddy Duck (breeding plumage) in typical sleeping posture. You can see why it is classed with the "stiff-tailed duck" family. Note the ruddy color of the back and sides. This is where the Ruddy Duck gets its name.

Ruddy Ducks eat aquatic seeds and vegetation. They also eat small fish crustaceans, and aquatic insect larvae.

What you often see when you find Ruddy Ducks. A raft of Ruddy Ducks.

The challenging thing about getting a good look at a Ruddy Duck is that it keeps disappearing below the surface of the water to get those aquatic plants and animals. Ruddy Ducks are diving ducks. They don't dabble on the surface like Northern Shovelers, Mallards, or American Wigeons. They dive and resurface a minute or so later in a different spot. Just when you think you have it in view, it disappears. They are much more likely to dive away than fly away. Their legs which are set farther back on their bodies than Mallards, help to make them strong swimmers, but clumsy when it comes to walking on the land.

Male Ruddy Duck

Ruddy Ducks can be found in the Americas. From North America to South America, Ruddy ducks can be found. in coastal bays, freshwater marshes, natural and man-made lakes, and even ponds.

Male Ruddy Duck with his bill almost all blue. He is almost done changing into his breeding plumage.

Though they can be found in both salt and fresh water, they breed only in fresh water. They are silent except when the Ruddy Duck drake is courting. He makes some strange unduck like pops and whirrs. The male puts on quite a show that can go on for hours.

Male Ruddy Duck almost entirely in his breeding plumage.

The nest is well hidden. The female lays eggs in her own nest and other nests she finds in the area. She doesn't care if they are Ruddy Duck nests or not, she lays eggs in whatever nest strikes her fancy. Her eggs are the largest compared to body size of any duck in North America. She is lucky if the male stays through the nesting phase. Even then he does little to help. They breed in June through the early part of July.

Male Ruddy Duck

While we love to see the Ruddy Duck and enjoy this native species presence, it has been introduced in Europe where it is an alien species. Its hybridization with its already threatened European cousin, the White-headed Duck, has caused concern across the pond. Ruddy Ducks are pretty much despised in Europe and they are attempting to save their own related native White-headed Duck by killing the invasive Ruddy Duck. They have much the same attitude as many here have regarding the European Starling which was introduced in the 1800s and threatens many of our native birds by its aggression.

"A massive cull of ruddy ducks is about to begin in Europe in an effort to save Spain's white-headed duck. The ruddy duck, a native of North America, is now interbreeding with its close relative. Conservationists say the white-headed duck will soon be wiped out if drastic action isn't taken to stop the sexually precocious invader." National Geographic: Humans Are Driving Birds to Extinction, Group Warns

Ruddy Duck at Mason Regional Park in Irvine, California from OC Birder Girl on Vimeo.

But back at home where he belongs, the Ruddy duck is a part of the habitat and a joy to behold. Birds should be left where they have created a niche in their native habitat.

So when you are out in the OC, enjoy our native Ruddy Duck in its native habitat--Orange County, California.

External Links and Resources

All About Birds: Ruddy Ducks

Animal Diversity Web: Ruddy Duck

The Birds of North America Online

This service is by subscription only, but they have some previews. Very good information.

BirdWeb: Ruddy Duck

Ducks Unlimited: Ruddy Duck

A hunters' organization. Very much conservationists. Good article. Also see their article on Ruddy Duck courtship.

Internet Bird Collection: Ruddy Duck

Oiseaux: Ruddy Ducks

A European view of the Ruddy Duck which is an invasive species there.

South Dakota Birds: Ruddy Ducks

USGS: Ruddy Duck

Bird Life: White-headed Duck

The European cousin of the Ruddy Duck that has been endangered by loss of habitat, hunting, and hunter's lead shot, pollution, habitat disturbance, and hybridization with our Ruddy Duck which was introduced in Europe.

Where can you see Ruddy Ducks?

Ruddy ducks can be seen at fresh water lakes, ponds, and at estuaries. Try these locations:

Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve

Huntington Central Park

Mason Regional Park

San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary

Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve aka Newport Back Bay

Mandarin Duck

2010-04-24T21:29:00.000-07:00

Male Mandarin Duck San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in Irvine

Now this is a duck that catches the eye. I remember the first time I saw it about 20 years ago at La Mirada Regional Park. I couldn't believe my eyes. It was gorgeous, and the sail-like feathers rising out of its wings were so unusual. Afterward, I kept hoping to see another at every park with a lake I visited. I saw a female a few years ago, but no male. Finally, I saw another male Mandarin Duck recently when I was out for a walk.

Male Mandarin Duck at San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in Irvine

Mandarin Ducks are perching ducks native to Siberia, China, and Japan. However, in the United States, they are an exotic species. Most Mandarin Ducks in the United States are thought to be escapees or the descendants of escapees. There is a small feral population of Mandarin Ducks in California. Mandarin Ducks are a close relative of the Wood Duck which is a native species. Mandarin Ducks hybridize with another our native Wood Duck who is also a perching duck and rather flashy itself.

Female Mandarin Duck at Huntington Central Park near Huntington Lake.

The Male Mandarin is a pretty flashy fellow, and he does attract females from both the Mandarin Duck species and from the Wood Duck. He is a faithful fellow as well, sticking around for several seasons with the same female and taking part in guarding the nest. For these reasons Mandarins are considered a symbol of faithfulness in Asia.

Male Mandarin Duck. Check out those interesting sail-like feathers.

The female Mandarin Duck is more plain. She is very similar in appearance to the female Wood Duck. The female Mandarin has what look like eye glasses. She has a thin circle around the eye and a line from the circle toward the back of her head. The female Wood Duck's eye is in a white tear drop. Check out my post Wood Duck or Mandarin Duck? for more details.

Mandarin Ducks eat seeds, grain, acorns, insects, mollusks including snails, fish, and water plants. They prefer areas with water such as streams, ponds, and marshes that are near forested or woody areas.

Male Mandarin from behind.

Mandarin Ducks nest in holes in trees and will utilize nest boxes like the Wood Duck. Like the Wood Duck, the Mandarin Duck's ducklings jump down from the nest which can be higher than 25 feet in the air. The mother jumps down first and calls them. The ducklings jump down to follow her.

From YouTube--Planet Earth

Besides the United States, feral populations of Mandarin Ducks exist in England and Scotland. In Orange County, Mandarin Ducks appear at different rivers, streams, ponds, and lakes sporadically. It is impossible to predict where they may show up, but places like Huntington Central Park, Irvine Regional Park, Mile Square Park, Craig Regional Park, the Santa Ana River, San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary are possibilities and other locations are possible.

So if you are out birding in Orange County and see a Mandarin Duck, count yourself lucky. It doesn't happen every day.

Male Mandarin Duck

Male Wood Duck

Female Mandarin Duck

Female Wood Duck

OC Birder Girl Links

Wood Duck or Mandarin Duck?

Wood Duck--Aix sponsa

Wild Ducks of Orange County

External Links and Resources

Animal Diversity Web--Mandarin Duck

Avian Web--Mandarin Duck

BBC Wildlife Finder--Mandarin Ducks

The Internet Bird Collection--Mandarin Ducks

Philadelphia Zoo--Mandarin Duck

Feather Site--Mandarin Ducks

The Honolulu Zoo--Mandarin Ducks

Cedar Waxwings Hanging Out

2010-04-19T21:48:00.000-07:00

Cedar Waxwings hanging out near a window--lucky for me.

I was standing in front of a wall of windows today when I saw a large flock of birds fly in. I guessed it might be Cedar Waxwings, and it was. They have been hanging out in the industrial area near Cypress due to all the trees and bushes with fruit. They have been here at least since fall through spring.

Cedar Waxwing rests between berry binges.

The flock numbered about 40 Cedar Waxwings.

Seeing birds where I work is a pick-me-up.

Be aware of your surroundings. Even in places you don't expect it, you can see some pretty amazing birds right were you are now. Birding in Orange County doesn't mean that you have to go to a nature preserve. The birds gather were there is food, water, and shelter. So don't forget to check out the places where you live, shop, or work. You might just find an interesting bird.

OC Birder Girl Links

Cedar Waxwing--Bombycilla cedrorum

The Hunt for the Cedar Waxwing

Saturday in Irvine Regional Park in Orange

2010-04-17T22:46:00.000-07:00

Lake at Irvine Regional Park.

(I am putting up some posts from last year that I was unable to finish and post. This is from 07/11/2009.)

On Saturday I took a walk in Irvine Regional Park in Orange. There is something so relaxing about Irvine Regional Park. I parked by the lake and stopped to see which birds were at the lake. The ducks were swimming quietly by. All the drakes were in eclipse plumage. The Mallards and Wood Duck drakes where decked out in plumage that was very different from their usual flashy feathers.

Mallard drake (male) in eclipse plumage looking similar to the female Mallard. You can tell he is a male by his yellow bill with no black on it and the brown patterns on his chest and sides. The feathers on his chest and sides are tipped with a chestnut brown color. The males also have a little curl in their tail feathers, but that is not diagnostic since in molting, they often lose those curly tail feathers.

Female Mallard. Diagnostic field marks: Orange bill with black on top.

Another female Mallard. Note the black on her orange bill.

Mallard drakes in eclipse plumage look very much like Mallard hens. The difference is subtle. A female Mallard has an overall brown appearance and an orange bill that has a lot of black on the upper mandible. However, the male while also brown, has patterned chestnut sides and chest and a yellow bill without any black. Although the male also has curled tail feathers, they are often lost in the change from breeding plumage to eclipse plumage and the change back to breeding plumage. So curly tail feathers are not a reliable field mark for male Mallards.

Male Wood Duck in eclipse plumage.

Wood Duck drakes undergo an even more extreme change. Not only is there a change in color, but he loses his beautiful crest. He looks drabber and a bit odd.

The female Wood Duck doesn't seem much different that her year-round plumage.

Irvine Regional Park is a reliable place to see Wood Ducks as is Craig Regional Park in Fullerton. At both places you can on occasion also see Mandarin Ducks which are a close relative of Wood Ducks. Mandarin Ducks are a non-native species that are most likely escapees or descendants of escapees. They are natives of Asia and are sometimes kept as exotic species at zoos. We see them sporadically at parks an nature areas with lakes in Orange County, CA. They are cavity nesters like Wood Ducks. It is impossible to predict where you might see them. Although they are not native, I always love seeing Mandarin Ducks because they are so beautiful.

Coastal live oak in Irvine Regional Park

In spite of all its amenities including a children's railroad, pony rides, playgrounds, and the zoo, Irvine Regional Park is full of native plants, trees, birds and other animals. The Oak Woodlands that cover much of the main park are quintessential Southern California. Their dark branches twist and turn, and let a little light through to light up the areas under them. They provide food and shelter for the birds and other animals who live and migrate through Orange County. Squirrels, woodpeckers, nuthatches, and Wood Ducks are among the animals that use the coastal live oaks for food and shelter. Also found among the coastal live oaks in the oak woodlands are California sycamore, California black walnut, cottonwood trees, and pine trees. Great oak woodlands can be found in many other areas of Orange County such as Santiago Oaks, Oak Canyon Nature Center, O'Neill Park, and many other parks and natural areas.

California Black Walnut shells.

California black walnuts have a much smaller amount of meat than the walnuts you find in the store, and the shells are very hard, but they were used as food and money by the Native Americans who lived in Southern California. California black walnut trees can be shrub-like or they can be trees up to 30 feet tall. You will find them in many places in Orange County and in Southern California.

Here is a California black walnut still on the tree. The leaves are distinctive.

A large California black walnut tree.

Birds that eat the nut meats from the California black walnut are towhees, grosbeaks, finches, thrashers, titmice, and crows.

Bewick's Wren--one of several wren species in the park.

By a leaky sprinkler there were Bewick's Wrens, Bullocks Orioles, Anna's Hummingbirds, Lesser Goldfinches, and lots of other little birds. Water is a big draw for birds of all kinds. Even something as small as a little leaky sprinkler becomes a busy watering hole. The nearby wagons and trees became perches for the birds as they checked the area out for predators before going down for a drink.

Bewick's Wren on the wagon wheel.

Old wagons and a sprinkler leaking.

Acorn Woodpecker on phone pole being used as a granary tree.
I walked over by the zoo to catch a look at the Acorn Woodpeckers that have turned a telephone pole into a granary tree filled with acorns. And also to check out the flowers for hummingbirds and butterflies.

Western Tiger Swallowtail.

Over by the zoo are California fuschia and other plants that attract butterflies and hummingbirds. I could not get a clear picture of the hummers, but did get a few of a Western Tiger Swallowtail.

This was one noisy male Peacock.

Peacocks can be found anywhere in Irvine Regional Park, but they are found especially by the horses and the zoo. They are not native species, but can be found in the hills around the City of Orange. Peacocks aka Peafowl have been raised by people in Southern California over the years and are periodically released or escape. There are colonies in several Southern California areas such as Palos Verdes Estates, the City of Orange, and Arcadia. In spring and summer, they call loudly looking for mates sounding like a cat on steroids. It can be unnerving. As this Peacock shrieked, a small boy, hands over his ears, implored his mother and grandmother to "Make it stop!" He was frightened. His mom explained the Peacock was looking for the mother peacock which somewhat mollified the boy, but he still looked relieved to be moving away from the caterwauling peacock toward the zoo entrance.

Going back for another splash in the lake.

The strangest thing I saw was a Western Kingbird flycatching insects off the surface of the lake. It would swoop down and splash into the water. Then it would go up in the tree to dry off, and then do the whole thing again.

Drying off.

The next time you are looking for a place to go birding, try Irvine Regional Park.

Taking Wing at Bolsa Chica

2009-07-05T20:09:00.000-07:00

Things were jumping at Bolsa Chica. Or perhaps I should say flying.

Every egret, heron, tern, gull, Willet, Brown Pelican, and Black Stilt seemed to be flying somewhere.

Terns and gulls nesting in the distance with a Snowy Egret flying across the pickleweed in the foreground.

Willets winging it over the pickleweed.

Snowy Egret touching down.

Snowy Egret flying off to new adventures.

Snowy Egret coming in for a landing. Looks like he is taking a bow.

Snowy Egrets taking off again.

Black Skimmer flying over the water.

Black Skimmer skimming the water heading for a Snowy Egret.

Black Skimmer skimming closer and closer to the Snowy Egret.

Missed it by that much.

Another Snowy Egret off to check out the rest of Bolsa Chica.

Great Egret splashing as he zeroes in on a fish.

Bingo.

Looking for the best way to swallow it.

Yum.

Another catch! This one smaller.

Ahhh, nothing like a good fish for breakfast!

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Encore at Bolsa Chica

2009-07-02T17:14:00.001-07:00

Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve is a nesting area for Least Terns, Forster's Terns, and several other terns as well.

Noise is the main thing you notice at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in the Spring. There are terns flying everywhere and diving into the water. They fly high and so low that they whiz by the heads and shoulders of people standing or walking on the footbridge.

Pickleweed is a major part of wetland habitat and is useful for many animals and birds.

Pickleweed is prime foraging area for Willets, Belding's Savannah Sparrows, and in the winter rare bird the American Bittern. It provides shelter for those birds plus the Marbled Godwit. It is a wonderful place for the Black-necked Stilt to raise its young. In the spring, it is in the pickleweed you will see nesting Black-necked Stilts and their young.

Snowy Egret fishing in the shallows.

If you are out at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, notice the different feeding techniques the Snowy Egret has. It shakes its leg in the shallow to stir up the fish and other animals, but stands in deeper water with its head close to the surface. Circumstance changes strategy.

Mutt and Jeff. Snowy Egret in the foreground and the much larger Great Egret behind it.

Snowy in the foreground is small in comparison to the much larger Great Egret. I have mentioned before in this blog that when people see the Snowy Egret and the Great Egret together they often erroneously assume that the smaller egret is the the larger egret's baby, but both are adults. Just two different species.

As a Least Tern plunges into the water after a fish, a much larger relative, the Black Skimmer skims the surface of the water for fish to snap up and eat.

A Great Egret in flight.

Black Skimmer flies through. Notice that the lower mandible is much longer than the upper mandible. This makes skimming much easier.

There were lots of flying birds at Bolsa Chica today.

A sting ray in the water.

I love standing on the bridge and looking at the parade of sting rays that goes under the bridge. Also some great underwater life including fish and things that look like coral to me but probably aren't.

One Least Tern gets lucky and then gets chased for its prize.

When a bird gets a fish, it also gets a following. Luckily, this bird only has one tern on its tail. It is like eating with a large family. Eat fast or someone else will eat it.

Time to rest on the bridge. A Forester's Tern.

Great Egret coming in for a landing.

A group of several Snowies and a Great Egret came flying in together. An unusual group.

Another case of a bird with a fish and an entourage. This is a Snowy Egret.

But the Snowies and the Great Egret weren't merely keeping this little Snowy company, they were after his very large fish. He wasn't about to give it up. It was a huge fish. I don't know how he would ever get it down.

The Snowy with the fish takes off and they all take off in hot pursuit.

The Snowy, crest raised in annoyance, headed out for a more isolated eating spot with his "friends" in hot pursuit.

This Snowy is persistent. No fish yet for this patient Snowy.

A few false tries.

Success. Snowy gets a wiggly little fish.

For Egrets and Herons, persistence always pays off.

Willet.

I just love watching Willets. They are so cute. They often come near the bridge. Their call is so loud and the bold black-and-white pattern on their wings contrasts with their usual drab, gray plumage.

Another Willet in breeding plumage. Usually they are just plain gray.

Black Skimmer at Bolsa Chica from OC Birder Girl on Vimeo.

I love to see Black Skimmers, bills open, skimming the water for fish and other goodies. They snap their heads up when they catch something. I love to stand by the bridge or the channels to see them fly by, bills in the water, hugging the shore.

Being able to walk onto the bridge as I heal from falling and injuring my knees, is such a blessing. Sticking to what the doctor recommends is hard, but I have no desire to land back in square one again. Too much, too soon had me on meds and with ice packs and even a cane. However, I am improving daily and keeping as active as I can. For me, birding in Orange County is always like a healing balm to the soul. Have fun out there birding in Orange County. Climb a hill for me! I'll be right behind you by a few months!

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Walking Across the Bolsa Chica Bridge

2009-07-01T22:20:00.000-07:00

Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve still where I left it. The spring sounds of about a thousand terns of various sorts filled the air in a strangely soothing way. All photographs and text on this blog unless otherwise stated are copyright © Karen McQuade (the OC Birder Girl and author of this blog). All rights reserved.

Well, after almost two months of not being able to go on any walks due to double knee injuries and other assorted knee maladies, I was finally able to get out for a mini walk across most of the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve footbridge. Just what the doctor ordered: A short walk on a flat surface. Packed my Mom, who also loves nature, in the car and headed to Bolsa Chica.

Willet in breeding plumage. The green, green pickleweed of Bolsa Chica in the spring.

The breeze was still blowing at the Bolsa Chica Wetlands. The Willets were still foraging in the green, spring pickleweed.

Belding's Savannah Sparrow perched on a mussel shell ready to shake off after a bath. Lots of snail and mussel shells sticking out of the wetland mud.

The Belding's Savannah Sparrows were still flitting here and there in the pickleweed. One took a nice bath in the shallows, and then perched on a mussel shell that was poking out of the mud. It shook the water out of its feathers and sat there in the sun for a moment. The weather couldn't have been nicer. Cool breeze and warm sun. California beach weather.

Great Egret fishing in the shallows.

There were Great Egrets and Snowy Egrets intent on a meal. I love the graceful way these slender white birds look wading out in the water.

Snowy Egret fishing in the middle of the water.

Morning is a great time at Bolsa Chica. I drank it in after having been away for so long. Thought I was getting bored with it, but it is a little bit of heaven. It is a favorite place where the cares of everyday life just drop away. I never will understand people who bring it with them here and yak on their cells or pipe in music that drowns out the natural beauty of where they are. It is hard to find friends who just want to be quiet out in nature. They are rare jewels.

Snowy Egret on his way somewhere as he passes over the footbridge. Notice his yellow feet.

There were lots of birds in flight, flying right over us on the bridge.

Snowy Egret and a Great Egret for comparison.

When you see a Great Egret and a Snowy together, the differences are obvious. The major difference is the size. The Snowy Egret is small and has a black bill. The Great Egret is much larger and has a yellow/orange bill--tipped in black in breeding season, but still yellow/orange.

This Great Egret was fishing by the footbridge.

There was a Great Egret (above) fishing while getting periodic bomb-diving from the terns who were very unhappy he was in one of their favorite places. This is not unusual. Many Great Egrets and Snowy Egrets get harassed by the terns who don't like competition. Sometimes on rare occasions, they fight back. Mostly they ignore them and keep on fishing.

A beautiful bird. The Great Egret is a graceful bird.

I watched him for a while as he crept through the water looking for fish. Even took a video of him catching a fish. See below.

Great Egret Catches a Fish from OC Birder Girl on Vimeo.

Forester's Tern fishing.

The tern--Forester's Terns, Least Terns, and Elegant Terns--are everywhere calling without ceasing. Flying high in the blue sky and low over the bridge just missing us, giving out with their raspy cries as the zip by.

Snowy Egret.

Black Skimmer skimming for fish.

I love watching the Black Skimmers skimming along the water by the shore. They are so big and fast that it is hard to see that their bills are open skimming the water.

Black-necked Stilts were flying from one area of pickleweed to another.

Seems like the Black-necked Stilts got smart and are building nest farther from the bridge. I love to watch them flying with their dark pink legs trailing out behind.

Willets still foraging as we head out.

It was a short, but sweet walk, and we headed back to the car both feeling more relaxed and peaceful.

OC Birder Girl Links

Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve

Belding's Savannah Sparrows

Black Skimmers

Willets

Black-necked Stilts

Snowy Egret--Egretta thula

Great Egrets

Brown Pelicans

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Identifying Hawks in Orange County

2009-06-21T08:47:00.000-07:00

A Red-Tailed Hawk by the Muth Center at the Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve. The Mature Red-tail's long wings often hide the red tail when perched.

I received a question about a week ago and am sorry for the delay. I have been struggling with an injury and moving a bit slowly on all fronts. So, enough excuses, your hawk question.

Question:

"I saw a pair of huge scruffy chocolate-brown hawks in Huntington Central Park the week before last. In flight, their undersides reminded me of red tails - that dark leading edge of the wing and barred tail - but these birds were uniformly dark on the breast, upper parts and sides. No rufous, no white visible when perched, no red in the tail. Their calls were a bit like the Harris's hawk on whatbird.com and not at all like the typical red tail call. New to birding and a bit baffled - any ideas? Do various hawk species ever hybridize?"

Plumage of Red-Tailed Hawks

Same Red-Tailed Hawk.

Red-Tailed Hawks have the most varied plumage of hawks and of most other birds as well. They can be light, dark, rufous, albino, leucistic, and anywhere in-between. Immatures do not have a red tail and have very light barring across the tail. If you see thick, dark barring, you are not looking at a Red-Tail. Smaller than Red-tails, both Red-Shouldered Hawks and Cooper's Hawks have darker, thicker barring on their tails, and the Red-shouldered has the thickest, most contrasting black-and-white barring and additional thick black-and-white barring on the underside of its wings. Because Red-tails have long wings, the red tail is often not visible even in mature birds when perched. No other hawk has the Red-tail's characteristic dark leading edge on the underside of the wing, nor do they have the belly band. The USGS: Red-tailed Hawks talks about several types of plumage on Red-tails. Worth a look. Take a look also at this page from the Birds of Orange County: Red-Tailed Hawk and notice the different plumages that show up just in Orange County. Other great discussions of the much discussed plumage variations: All About Birds: Red-tailed Hawk, Dark Red-tailed Hawks, and Avian Web: Red-tailed Hawks. In addition, the Virtual Birder has a Hawks in Flight Gallery. You can pick raptors to compare and see if anything looks like what you saw. Keep in mind they don't have every plumage of Red-tailed Hawk. The Harris's Hawk has terminial white tip in all plumages.

Adult Red-tailed Hawk in flight.

Immature Red-tailed Hawk

Immature Red-Tailed Hawk. Click on the picture to enlarge and see the black leading edge of the shoulder wing area and the light belly band--no other hawk has these that I know.

Sounds of Red-Tailed Hawks vs Cooper's Hawks and Red-Shouldered Hawks vs Harris's Hawk

The Red-tailed Hawk has several different calls depending on the circumstances and age of the hawk. There is the typical screaming type of call that we are all familiar with whether we know it or not through movies and TV. There are also scolding calls, mating calls, and sounds made by nestlings. Check these links to hear a variety of calls: All About Birds: Red-tailed Hawk Sounds, Animal Diversity Web: Red-tailed Hawk Sounds, BirdWeb: Red-tailed Hawk, and San Diego Zoo: Red-tailed Hawk. While the Red-tail scream is the best known hawk or eagle sound, it is not the only sound that Red-tails make. So don't judge by the scream. Compare and note that the Harris's Hawk's normal call and the Red-tail's scolding are very similar.

Harris's Hawk at San Diego Wild Animal Park. Dark brown with terminal white markings on tails of mature and immature.

The Cooper's Hawks and Red-Shouldered Hawks are a lot more noisy than the Red-tailed Hawk and will sit and call and call. The Red-Shouldered Hawk in particular is often noticed because it is calling all the time. Here is a link to All About Birds: Red-Shouldered Hawk Sounds. Here is a link to several types of Cooper's Hawk calls at All About Birds: Cooper's Hawk Sounds. Hear Harris's Hawk here at All About Birds: Harris's Hawk.

Red-shouldered calling and calling. Notice the characteristic sprinkling of white on the wings.

Orange County has many Hawks and you will find many in Huntington Central Park including Red-Tailed Hawks, Red-Shouldered Hawks, Cooper's Hawks, the occasional Sharp-shinned Hawk, and on rare occasions other hawks as well. Red-tailed Hawks are the largest hawks, followed by the Red-shouldered, and then the Cooper's Hawk.

Cooper's Hawk chasing an immature Red-Tailed Hawk . Click to enlarge.

When you see a bird that doesn't seem to fit, it is always a good idea to observe carefully, consult several guide books, and also check the Orange County Rare Bird Alert or Orange County Birding--Yahoo Group to see if anyone else has seen it and what they think it is. Could it be a hybrid? Hybrid hawks are rare and much debated when an odd hawk shows up.

I have seen a scruffy-looking immature Red-Tailed Hawk in Huntington Central Park on several occasions recently so I would not be surprised if that is what you saw. I have also seen Cooper's Hawks and Red-Shouldered Hawks at Huntington Central Park. Study your raptors and keep your binoculars ready for hawks fying overhead and resting in trees.

Links

Birds of Orange County

Check the raptors.

Orange County Bird of Prey Center

Raptor rescue organization in Orange County.

Orange County Rare Bird Alert

Check for rare bird sightings.

Orange County Birding--Yahoo Group

Check for rare and unusual sightings, ask other birders for advice finding a species, etc.

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Common Yellowthroat--Geothlypis trichas

2009-06-17T21:57:00.000-07:00

Common Yellowthroat courtesy of US Fish and Wildlife Service. Photographer Dave Menke.

The male Common Yellowthroat is easy to identify whether you see him or hear him. The male Common Yellowthroat has a Black mask with a white line edging the top of his mask, and a bright yellow throat and chest. The female and the immature males lack the black mask and are olive with a yellow throat and chest. Both have a whitish belly, pink legs. In spite of being wood warblers, Common Yellowthroats hold their tails at a wren-like angle.

Male Common Yellowthroat at San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary.

Their call sounds like "wich-i-ty, wich-i-ty, wich-i-ty." Surprisingly easy to recognize. Although somewhat secretive, Common Yellowthroats are very curious, and will sometimes come out and look when they hear pishing or other sounds.

Up on a branch singing "wichety-wichety-wichety" for all he is worth at San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary .

Like all wood warblers, Common Yellowthroats move fast through the foliage, flitting from one leaf to another. They are often hard to spot, but in spring, males like to fly up and sing perched on a high branch. Fast-moving and loud in spring describes the Common Yellowthroat. The Common Yellowthroat is found in tangled undergrowth near streams, wetlands, estuaries, and other bodies of water. They can also be found in agricultural fields. They are sometimes found in the tangled undergrowth somewhat far from water. There are about 14 subspecies of Common Yellowthroat warblers that vary only slightly in coloring and song.

Common Yellowthroat in Huntington Central Park taking the high ground in the spring.

Common Yellowthroats eat insects, their larval forms--including caterpillars--spiders, and occasional seeds. They are gleaners that pick insects off leaves and any part of the plant they can. They also have some other moves such as the sally-hover which is gleaning while hovering near a plant, and sally-strike which is catching flying food--in this case flycatching. Common Yellowthroats occasionally drop to the ground to forage.

Common Yellowthroat in Huntington Central Park .

Common Yellowthroats range from northern Canada and Southern Alaska south through southern Mexico. They are found from coast to coast and in every U.S. state except Hawaii.

Common Yellowthroat in Huntington Central Park . Near Alice's Breakfast in the Park.

Common Yellowthroats nest as they live, in the undergrowth. The nests are often low in the undergrowth or actually on the ground. Near water, they may be attached to plants like cattails or marsh grasses.

Common Yellowthroat in Huntington Central Park on the way to Shipley Nature Center from Alice's in Breakfast in the Park.

The Common Yellowthroat, like many birds, often lays a second batch of eggs. Unlike some other birds, the female starts her second nest when the first set of nestlings have fledged, but are still relying on the parents for food. She leaves the male to take care of the first fledglings as she begins their second family.

Male Common Yellowthroat at San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary.

Since Brown-headed Cowbirds are ground-feeding birds, it is not surprising that these parasitic birds often lay their eggs in a nearby Common Yellowthroat nests. The fact that Common Yellowthroats are abundant gives the cowbirds plenty of places to lay their eggs. However, the Common Yellowthroat is no dummy and often notices the cowbird egg, either abandoning the nest or building over it to avoid incubating the intruder's egg.

Huntington Central Park--a male Common Yellowthroat in the bushes on the way to Alice's Breakfast in the Park by Lake Huntington.

The Common Yellowthroat may also push the cowbird egg out of its nest or may even abandon the nest altogether.

Common Yellowthroat in Huntington Central Park .

When there are few males in an area, a Common Yellowthroat male may take two mates.

Male Common Yellowthroat at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve . Up on the Mesa.

Common Yellowthroats are really great little birds. I always feel I have accomplished something if I get off a fairly decent shot. So when you are out birding in Orange County, California don't forget to listen for the familiar call and check for the masked yellow warbler flitting through the branches or the reeds.

Where to find Common Yellowthroats in Orange County

Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve

In the parking lot area on PCH. On the path along PCH. Up on the mesa.

Huntington Central Park

On the East side near Talbot Lake, on the West side near Lake Huntington, in the undergrowth on the path to Shipley Nature Center from the parking lot by Alice's. And in Shipley Nature Center.

Irvine Regional Park in Orange, California

In the undergrowth.

Mason Regional Park

In the undeveloped part by the creek. Back behind the Playground. Also near the creek in the undergrowth bordering Campus.

San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary

In the butterfly garden and throughout the sanctuary.

Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve aka Newport Back Bay

All around the bay.

Common Yellowthroat in Huntington Central Park

Other Places to see Common Yellowthroats check these external links:

Chino Hills State Park

Crystal Cove State Park

Laguna Niguel Regional Park

Oak Canyon Nature Center

Santiago Oaks Regional Park

Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge

Look for places near wetlands, lakes, streams, and undergrowth. You will most likely hear "wichety, wichety, wichety" and if you are lucky will see a Common Yellowthroat in an Orange County Park or wildlife reserve.

Common Yellowthroat in Huntington Central Park .

External Links and Resources

All About Birds: Common Yellowthroat

Detailed article with sound, photographs, maps, and lots of information about the Common Yellowthroat.

Animal Diversity Web: Common Yellowthroat

Very Detailed.

Birds of Westwood: Common Yellowthroat

Pictures, text, and sound bites of the Common Yellowthroat taken over by UCLA.

Bird Watcher's Digest Magazine: The Uncommon Common Yellowthroat

Article about a birder's experiences with the Common Yellowthroat.

BirdWeb: Common Yellowthroat

Good article from Seattle Audubon Society.

Cape May Bird Observatory: Common Yellowthroat

Awesome photo of male signing.

Chipperwood Bird Observatory: Common Yellowthroat

Good article with pictures. This observatory always does a great job in describing and profiling a species.

A Classification Scheme for Foraging Behavior of Birds in Terresterial Habitats

J.V. Remsen, Jr. and Scott K. Robinson From Studies in Avian Biology No. 13:144-160, 1990. The article that defined and classified avian foraging techniques and made it easier to discuss.

Cornell: Bird of the Week--Common Yellowthroat

Bird of the week from Cornell. Lots of good information.

Diurnal, Intraseasonal, and Intersexual Variation in Foraging Behavior of the Common Yellowthroat

(Condor: Vol. 98, No. 3, May-June, 1996) Interesting look at foraging habits of male and female Common Yellowthroats in various seasons.

Eek! Critter Corner: Common Yellowthroat

Short Children's article gives good verbal picture of the Common Yellowthroat.

The Flight Songs of Common Yellowthroats: Description and Causation

Gary Ritchison (Condor: Vol. 93, No. 1, January-February, 1991)

Internet Bird Collection: Common Yellowthroat

Very good videos of male and female Common Yellowthroats.

Learn Bird Songs: Common Yellow Throat

Long (47 seconds) of various Common Yellowthroat calls. Very helpful. Sound bite loops and you can listen to it for an extended amount of time over and over.

Management of Cowbirds and their Hosts: Balancing Science, Ethics, and Mandates

CATHERINE P. ORTEGAJAMESON F. CHACEAND BRIAN DO PEEREDITORS (Ornithological Monographs: No. 57, 2005)

National Audubon Society: Waterbirds--Common Yellowthroat

Very detailed article from National Audubon.

National Park Service Wind Cave National Park: Common Yellowthroat

Very nice photo of a male Common Yellowthroat feeding nestlings. Also a sound bite.

An Observation of Polygyny in the Common Yellowthroat

GEORGE V. N. POWELL H. LEE JONES (Wilson Bulletin: Vol. 90, No. 4, October-December, 1978)

Ranger Rick: Common Yellowthroat

Short but descriptive article in the children's Magazine "Ranger Rick."

South Dakota Birds and Birding: Common Yellowthroat

A short article, but a large gallery of Common Yellowthroat pictures, some extremely clear and close up.

Harold Stiver's Common Yellowthroat Video on Vimeo

Incredibly clear and well lit short video of a Common Yellowthroat.

USGS: Common Yellowthroat

Short and to the point. Don't forget to click on the links on the right-hand side of the page.

Variations in the Black Mask of the Common Yellowthroat

WALTER KINGSLEY TAYLOR (Journal of Field Ornithology: Vol. 47, No. 1, Winter, 1976)
Isolated instance of a female Common Yellowthroat with a black mask.

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Barn Swallow Nesting Time

2009-06-07T14:17:00.001-07:00

Four Barn Swallow--Hirundo rustica nestlings in their mud nest at a business complex in Orange County, CA.

Well, it is no fun to have knee problems, but despite being out of commission for a while, I did manage to get these shots at an Orange County business complex. Here are some grumpy-looking nestlings waiting impatiently for a meal of insects from mama and papa. I didn't have to walk far for these shots, and I didn't stay long. Just shot some video and photographs and went back to icing my knees. I have cabin fever big time.

Four Barn Swallow--Hirundo rustica nestlings

The parents seem to give two or so short calls as they come toward the nest and the nestlings go wild.

Four Barn Swallow--Hirundo rustica nestlings back to waiting.

I didn't get any pictures of the busy parents today, but last year I got a lot. Here are two from last year at the same complex.

Barn Swallow--Hirundo rustica adult. Note the deeply forked tail.

When the adults are flying by, you can see the dark blue on the top--sometimes looks black--and the rust color on the underside. The field mark that tells you this is a Barn Swallow--Hirundo rustica for sure is the deeply forked tail.

Adult Barn Swallows--Hirundo rustica on a light fixture.

The adults fly low over water or fields and catch insects in their open mouths. They bring some to their nestlings every few minutes to keep them growing. Recently, I have seen Barn Swallows--Hirundo rustica swooping over the grassy berms at the business complex where I work . The Barn Swallows--Hirundo rustica are especially active when the gardeners are working.

Watch for fast-moving birds low to the ground, and you may see some Barn Swallows near you. Have fun birding in Orange County!

Barn Swallow Nesting Time from OC Birder Girl on Vimeo.

OC Birder Girl Links

Barn Swallow--Hirundo rustica

External Links and Resources

Animal Diversity Web: Barn Swallows

All About Birds: Barn Swallows

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The Owls of Orange County

2009-06-03T07:17:00.001-07:00

Great Horned Owl--Bubo virginianus

Barn Owl--Tyto alba

Western Screech Owl

Burrowing Owl

Short-eared Owl Courtesy of US Fish and Wildlife Service. Photographer Ronald Laubenstein.

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White Hawks?

2009-05-18T19:28:00.001-07:00

White-Tailed Kite at Bolsa Chica. I took this picture a while ago.

Scott asks: "Hello - we live just above Laguna Niguel Regional Park and see some hawks from time to time, which is kind of cool. (Don't know much about birds at all, but anything outside of the normal crows or doves we see is fun for us and the kids).Anyway, just in the past couple/few days we started seeing a decent-sized white bird. It "hovers" in the air while honing in on prey, then drops like a rock to grab it. Something in the back of my mind says "Falcon", but I haven't been able to find a picture of anything that looks similar yet. I do have some pictures (decent camera, but not super fast, unfortunately), in case you are interested and/or want to help me solve this mystery! "

Answer: My guess is a White-Tailed Kite since they are the only white bird that hovers over land and drops down to capture prey. Over water, that's a different matter. Other birds hover over land, but aren't white. Unless you have come across an albino hawk or leucistic hawk of a different species, I would bet money on the White-Tailed Kite being your bird.

White-Tailed Kite from OC Birder Girl on Vimeo.

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Crestline

2009-05-10T08:44:00.001-07:00

Lake Gregory in the distance.

I went up to Crestline which is a community surrounding man-made Lake Gregory out in San Bernardino County not far from Lake Arrowhead. The woods are full of pine, oak, cedar, American dogwood, and lilacs. It is full of wildlife. You can see bears, mountain lions, raccoons, skunks, bobcats, and coyotes in addition to birds.

Sun-dappled path in around Lake Gregory.

The path around Lake Gregory was a beautiful walk with the sun peaking through the woods. The woods were also full of wild flowers.

Raucous Steller's Jays are just about everywhere. This one in a cedar tree.

The loud, harsh sound of Steller's Jays filled the air. They were everywhere. Hopping from branch to branch in the trees to foraging on the ground.

Mountain Chickadee.

Little Mountain Chickadees hopped quickly from branch to branch. Hanging from the branches to feed.

Acorn Woodpecker in a pine tree. Lots of oaks in the woods.

There are lots of oaks in the woods here so there are lots of Acorn Woodpeckers who eat acorns from the oak trees. I didn't see a granary tree which can have thousands of holes stuffed with acorns, but if there are Acorn Woodpeckers, there are granary trees somewhere nearby.

American Robin overhead in a pine tree.

American Robins kept a low profile in the trees, dropping down on occasion to feed.

A cooperative American Robin hops up on a stump for better lighting.

One cooperative American Robin hopped along the road and then up onto a nice, sunny stump in front of a cabin for a photo op.

The woods were filled with American Dogwoods.

The dogwood and lilacs filled the woods with blossoms.

Beautiful place for a walk--but look out for the resident mountain lions, coyotes, and bears!

Even though is was Spring, some trees looked like fall.

Steller's Jay watching from a cedar.

It isn 't woods without Steller's Jays in California--or so it seems.

Stellar's Jay up on the roof top.

Woods.

There is something quiet and peaceful in the woods. Even with the noisy jays.

A Mountain Chickadee touches down to check things out.

We checked out the feeders at the cabin. Lots of Mountain Chickadees sorting through the birdseed for its favorite sunflower seeds.

Mountain Chickadee eating its prize--a sunflower seed.

The trees were full of birds checking out the area, wondering if it was safe to touch down and feed.

Black-headed Grosbeaks were singing in the trees and checking out the feeding station.

Closer.

And closer.

At last convinced the coast is clear, he drops down to feed at the seed from a pie tin.

Steller's Jay chows down.

Two female hummers size each other up and end up sharing the feeder.

Mountain Chickadee.

After throwing copious amounts of "not-my-favorite" seeds on the ground, the Mountain Chickadee still is pulling out the sunflowers and taking them up into the trees to eat.

Spotted Sandpiper.

Back to the lake for one last walk. We see lots of gulls and a Spotted Sandpiper. All in all, a nice weekend at Crestline in the San Bernardino mountains.

Birds I have seen in Crestline

Mountain Chickadees

Northern Flickers

Black-headed Grosbeaks

Steller's Jays

American Crows

Ravens

American White Pelicans

Ospreys

Red-Tailed Hawks

American Robins

Spotted Sandpiper

House Sparrows

European Starlings

Brewer's Blackbird

Morongo

2009-05-03T21:11:00.000-07:00

Covington Park in Morongo Valley.

Every year my old college roommate and dear friend of 30+ years, Gloria, and I head out to one of our favorite places to see one of our favorite birds: Morongo Valley to see the Vermilion Flycatcher. For the last four years my goal has become more complicated. Now it is to get a clear picture of the male Vermilion Flycatcher with my zoom digital camera. This year her husband Steve joined us in our search for the Vermilion Flycatcher.

Male American Robin--Turdus migratorius foraging on the ground at Covington Park in Morongo Valley.

We decided to start in the place we always start--Covington Park. I especially wanted to go there before going to Big Morongo Canyon Preserve because the Vermilions are always at Covington Park. They are either near the tennis courts or near the playground. I wanted lots of time to try to get shots of the Vermilion Flycatchers. However, the first birds we saw were a pair of American Robins. I like American Robins. They are colorful, lively, and cute. They are full-figured birds, and at this point in my life I can relate to that. Time and hormones happen to us all.

Summer Tanager in a tree. The Vermilion Flycatcher is not the only red bird in the park.

As we watched the American Robins, suddenly there was a flash of red. We all simultaneously called out, "There he is!" He was on the chain-link fence surrounding the tennis court. Then down on the grass, up into the tree, and back onto the fence. I thought I had gotten a picture of the Vermilion Flycatcher. I switched from the viewfinder to the LCD screen to review my picture. (I never take pictures by looking at the LCD screen. It slows me down.) It was a red bird all right. However, the red bird on my LCD screen had a light, thick bill, not a thin, black bill, and no black through the eye. It was a Summer Tanager, not Vermilion Flycatcher. I like them, too, but I get a picture of one every year. I always think I get a good shot of the Vermilion, and then look at the picture, and it's a Summer Tanager.

Unfortunately, this is how all my Vermilion Flycatcher photos come out every year.

I cannot get my camera to focus on the brightly colored bird. It focuses on the trees or the fence, but not the Vermilion Flycatcher. It is a frustrating experience and I had hoped Gloria and Steve's pictures would come out better, but they didn't. If anyone knows the secret of taking good pictures of a Vermilion Flycatcher, let me know because it is driving me stark-raving bonkers. Every year I think I have it and every year I blow it.

Steve using his know-how to get a shot.

This year, Gloria is starting to learn about photography and her husband is already an experienced photographer, though not a wildlife photographer. Their equipment was better than mine for sure. Mine is a Kodak Easy Share Z812 IS, It has 8 megapixels and a 12x optical zoom with some digital zoom on top. It is a point and shoot with aspirations. The newer version has 24x optical zoom and 12 megapixels. Maybe next year.

Blurry Western Bluebird and blurry Vermilion Flycatcher.

My two problematic birds in one shot. The Western Bluebird--Sialia mexicana which I have had intermittent trouble shooting in the past, and the Vermilion Flycatcher which I always photograph as a red blur. I thought I had conquered the Western Bluebird, but on this trip, I was back to square one.

Western Tanager up in a eucalyptus tree.

There were Western Tanagers and Orioles in the Eucalyptus trees here just like there are just about everywhere. (There are Western Tanagers and Orioles in Huntington Central Park in the eucalyptus along the fence bordering the homes adjacent to the park near Shipley Nature Center.) In addition to Eucalyptus, Western Tanagers and Orioles also like Silk Oak trees which have similar flowers.

Photographer/birders with more fire power in their lenses than I have.

Sometimes I feel embarrassed as I go out with my wannabe SLR point-and-shoot camera and see the big ole hunking lenses and hoods these people have. Oh, well, I have what I can afford for now. I do get good shots with it, and Gloria said that there is a lot more I can do with it than I am doing. I have to read the manual. If all else fails.....well, you know the rest.

A Lawrence's Goldfinch way up in a tree. There were several in Covington.

Several Lawrence's Goldfinches were up in the trees in Covington Park. They are pretty little finches, and not ones we in the OC see every day.

American Robin couple on the grass together.

We stayed around the park area for a while taking pictures because there were so many great birds to see. The American Robins were foraging in the grass the whole time we were in Covington Park.

A semi-blurry picture of a female Vermilion Flycatcher.

I had a little success with the female Vermilion Flycatchers.

Looks like sapsucker holes in this tree, but we didn't see a sapsucker.

There was a tree that seemed to have circles of sapsucker holes. No sapsucker in evidence there that day at all. However, the bird checklist for Big Morongo Canyon Preserve Lists these sapsuckers:

Williamson's Sapsucker ..........Extremely rare or accidental spring and or fall transient.
Red-breasted Sapsucker........Uncommon, winter visitor.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.......Extremely rare or accidental winter visitor.
Red-naped Sapsucker.............Uncommon winter visitor.

Well, in winter, this appears to be the tree to stake out.

Last look at an American Robin--Turdus migratorius in Covington before we headed for the Big Morongo Canyon Preserve. Notice the sapsucker holes in this eucalyptus tree as well. Even the branch the American Robin--Turdus migratorius is sitting on has sapsucker holes.

A semi-decent shot of a female Vermilion Flycatcher.

We decided to head for the Host's bird feeder station at the entrance to Big Morongo Canyon Preserve and crossed the park from the green grass and trees to a dry patch of grass.

Nice views of the hills. Saw some far away Turkey Vultures--Cathartes aura soaring as we walked., but can't see them in this picture.

We walked over the dry grass and the small parking lot, across the narrow street and down to the Morongo Host's trailer and their outside feeding station. There are a number of seats on the porch and in front of the feeder area. We each sat down in one of the cushioned chairs. They welcome birders and photographers here at the feeding station.

Female Ladder-backed Woodpecker at a nectar feeder.

Hummingbirds of several species--Anna's, Black-chinned, and Costa's--buzzed around the nectar feeders. There were also Hooded Orioles, Ladder-backed Woodpeckers, and other birds drinking out of the nectar feeders.

Baby House Finch--Carpodacus mexicanus asks to be fed.

There were quite a few House Finches, and the male above was feeding a fledgling. It was quite sweet. At least to me.

Daddy obliges.

We were early enough that we had it mostly to ourselves. Focus was a major problem with the autofocus focusing on the trees in the background and other inappropriate subjects other than the birds. We all had the same issue. I took over a hundred shots and some turned out. It was so exciting to see so many species so close.

Lesser Goldfinch getting a drink out of the spigot.

There were Lesser Goldfinches at the thistle feeders and at the water drip.

Lesser Goldfinches feast on thistle seed.

Lesser Goldfinches are pretty little birds. This time of year it is common to see Lesser Goldfinches and American Goldfinches in Orange County. We saw two kinds of Goldfinches at Morongo--Lesser Goldfinches and the Lawrence's Goldfinches we saw at Covington Park. Not bad.

Two female hummingbirds share a feeder.

Several times lately I have seen female hummingbirds share a feeder. They seem to share feeders more often than the male hummingbirds. At least that seems to be what I am seeing.

Female Hooded Oriole has no hood and is more yellow than Orange.

Hooded Orioles are common at the Oriole feeders at the Station. The hummingbirds use the Oriole feeders, too. I find that at my house, too. I have an Oriole feeder, but have yet to see an Oriole feeding at the Oriole feeder. Just hummingbirds. Anna's Hummingbird--Calypte anna or Allen's Hummingbird---Selasphorus sasin.

A Male Hooded Oriole peeks out from behind an Oriole feeder.

The male and female Hooded Oriole are common at the feeders here, but still get comments. All the feeders are numbered so that people can call out the number and direct birders' attention to a feeder with an interesting bird. "Hooded Oriole on six!" And every head pivots to feeder number six. But it was pretty quiet now.

Male House Finch--Carpodacus mexicanus at the jelly feeder.

A jelly feeder filled with what looked like raspberry preserves was out on a platform and attracted lots of Orioles that I couldn't focus on and this House Finch that I finally got in focus. Jelly feeders are commonly put out to attract Orioles.

Male Ladderbacked Woodpecker--note the red head--hanging from a suet feeder.

People started to come and we decided to head out onto the trails.

Looking down the street from the feeder station.

The little street near the feeder station is a tree-lined desert country lane. Peaceful.

Beyond the kiosk--a reminder that there are wild animals out in Morongo.

As we walk out into the preserve, a reminder that there are wild animals here and small children do need to be supervised at all times. Mountain Lions are not the only animal on the prowl. See the Morongo list of animals here.

A fire a few years ago left this burned and broken tree.

A few years ago a fire swept through here and the charred remains are still here.

The paths into the oasis/wetland area are boardwalks.

One reason Morongo is such a draw for wildlife is the water. There are streams and wetland areas. This is an oasis in the midst of the desert and the boardwalks are here because the ground is sometimes soggy. Big Morongo Creek is here and other smaller streams. This a riparian area in the midst of a desert. Cottonwoods and willows abound and it is a perfect stopover and nesting place for birds. The cottonwoods provide lots of nesting material.

Steve walks down the path a ways to check things out.

The preserve covers 31,000 acres. You can follow trails of up to 11 miles. Check out the map of the trails here.

Townsend's Warbler gleaning insects off the tree.

Here in the riparian zone is a Townsend's Warbler. Many warblers find their way through Morongo in fall and spring. This little guy drew the attention of a group of people on a field trip, and he remained in the tree foraging after they moved on to see other birds.

A peaceful resting place in the wetlands.

There are some very green and restful areas within the preserve. It is like a green cocoon. A great place to rest and look for birds.

The benches in the greenery make nice sanctuaries. Good places to rest and think.

While we sat and chatted on and on about photography and birding, a Scrub Jay few into the tree above Steve's head and checked us out.

Very nice areas with small streams.

Another shot.

We come back out into the dry, desert landscape.

After walking among the greenery for a while and not seeing a lot of birds, we come out again into the dry grassy area. New growth was pushing up through the dry grass and plants.

The parking lot in the distance and the trees beyond mark Covington Park.

A lizard on the way back to the park.

Lots of lizards out here at Morongo. We walked through the kiosk with the Morongo literature and displays about the wildlife here and crossed the parking lot, the country lane, and then another parking lot. We crossed a dry field and tried to avoid getting foxtails in our shoes and socks. I had to pause when we got to the irrigated Covington Park grass to pluck foxtails out of my shoes and socks. I am a magnet for foxtails!

Back in the Covington Park, a tree full of mistletoe. Great berries for the birds including American Robins and Phainopeplas.

After the heat of the drier areas as we crossed from Morongo to Covington, it was nice to have the shade of the larger trees. The mistletoe growing in the trees provides food for birds including the Phainopepla and the American Robin. The Phainopepla (pronounced fay-no-PEHP-lah by Kevin McGowan at Cornell and every one else I know) is a year-round resident, and although we didn't see any this year, we have seen many here in the past. A very cool bird. Check it out on All About Birds: Phainopepla.

Time for another blurry shot of a male Vermilion Flycatcher.

We tried again to get more shots of the Vermilion Flycatcher. We were having no luck at all as far as photographs, but enjoyed watching the birds regardless.

The Covington Park marker and dedication with a blurry little Vermilion Flycatcher perched on top.

One last try, and then we headed out for lunch. Though not satisfied with our photographs of the Vermilion Flycatcher, we were all satisfied with the birds we'd seen out in Morongo. On the way back, Gloria looked at my camera and changed the focus to see if that would help. We'll see. As for the photographs of the Vermilion Flycatcher, next year at Morongo, we'll try again.

View Larger Map

Morongo is about 1.5 hours away from Orange County. Take the 55 Newport Freeway north to the 91 East and head out to Riverside. Take the CA-60 E/I-215 S toward Indio.
Take the exit onto CA-60 E/I-215 S toward Indio. CA-60 E/Moreno Valley Fwy to Indio5.1 mi
Take the ramp onto I-10 E for a long way until you get to CA-62/Palms Hwy toward Yucca Valley/29 Palms. Drive a bit over 10 miles and turn right on Vale. Covington is where the street turns right. You can't miss it. Park on the left in front of the park. Park address is 11165 Vale DrMorongo Valley, CA 92256. There are outhouse bathrooms, but if the park buildings are open, go down the hall and there are civilized bathrooms there. There is no place to get food or drinks, so make sure you bring some. There are a few restaurants down 29 Palms Highway.

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Nesting Terns at Bolsa Chica

2009-04-26T21:06:00.001-07:00

Forster's Terns

Went out to Bolsa Chica and the sounds of nesting terns filled the air. I tried to get pictures of terns in the air.

I think this is a Royal Tern in flight.

They flew out in pairs and groups and alone to catch fish.

Forster's Tern.

Near the bridge was a good place to catch them on the wing.

Forster's Tern.

Boy did they go fast!

Forster's Tern.

Some came very close.

This one found a great fishing place on the rail of the footbridge and didn't move from it.

Concentration.

Whatchu lookin' at?

A disapproving glance. I have a zoom camera that zooms to 12x optical and then has digital zoom on top of that, but this fella on the footbridge thought I had gotten close enough.

These two staked out the post--obviously they have been there for a while. They defended it against any tern that ventured near.

Nesting Colony of terns.

The colony of terns was constantly noisy and on the move. One scare and they all flew. It was quite a sight. Nothing is quite as lively as nesting time at Bolsa Chica.

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Mallards Nesting in Parking Lots

2009-04-14T06:58:00.001-07:00

Male Mallard

Question:

".....My boyfriend noticed a male duck wandering in the parking lot who looked distressed. He also noticed a female duck (a mallard perhaps?) nesting in a nearby median. Both ducks are away from traffic, but in the parking lot [which has a lot of businesses]....I don't know what to do. Who can I call to help? Can you help?"

Female Mallard

Answer:

Whenever you are concerned with what to do with a bird who is in danger or hurt, you should call a wildlife rescue organization and sometimes animal control. In both LA and Orange Counties, animal control will take birds to a rescue location that might include vets who specialize in helping wildlife. Here are the rescue organizations in Orange County:

Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center in Huntington Beach 714.374.5587

This one is the closest to the duck you mentioned.

Others are:

Pacific Wildlife Project

And for anyone who finds a hawk, owl, or eagle:

Orange County Bird of Prey Center

Just to ease your mind. Ducks and Mallards in particular do this all the time. Usually there is a lake or pond nearby. Many parking lots have Mallards nesting around this time of year as do neighborhoods and they often make the dangerous journey back to the lake on foot with the ducklings. Scary for them and us, but part of the life of a Mallard. The area you mention is actually not that far from a park with a lake which is probably why the Mallards chose this spot.

Good Luck.

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Bird #1 and Bird #2

2009-04-09T23:20:00.001-07:00

Male House Sparrow in breeding plumage--not always this bright.In non-breeding plumage the brown is duller and the bill is lighter. Less black in the bib. This aggressive invader was purposely introduced in the 1800s. (OC Birder Girl Picture)

I received a question about a bird identification.

Question:

"Hello, I live in South Orange County (Laguna Niguel). I am now taking up the hobby of feeding birds.There are a couple of birds I'd like to know what they are."

Female House Sparrow--No streaking on chest. (OC Birder Girl Picture)

"1. One bird is a little bit larger than a House Finch, is a dull brown color, and likes to forage on the ground. When he is at the feeder, I notice he scratches some of the seed off so it goes to the ground. He seems to be on the aggressive side. When I opened the door to go outside, he was nearby, jumped on a fence but didn't fly away."

Black Phoebe--Sayornis nigricans is a native species. (OC Birder Girl picture)

"2. The other bird is a cute little black and gray one. He's black on top, and seems to be gray on the underside. Flat on the head. He makes a cute little peep and flits from here to there.If you can ID these birds for me I'd appreciate it. I just taken up bird feeding and am curious on what species they are. "

Answer:

Hmmmm. Well, hard to tell without a picture, and I could be wrong, but I would say that bird #1 might be a House Sparrow (not finch), and bird #2 might be a Black Phoebe, but a Black Phoebe is white below. If I saw a picture, I could tell you for sure. If you have one up on Flicker, you can send me the link and I will look at it and tell you.

The slightly larger House Sparrows are very aggressive and depending on the season may be dull brown, and the females are very like most sparrows and finches. Drab brown but unlike most sparrows the House Sparrow female is not streaked. The House Sparrow aka English Sparrow is an alien species that nests in cavities in trees and in houses and in street signs that are double. In other words, wherever they can. I often used to see their nesting material hanging out of street signs in the San Fernando Valley. House Sparrows endanger other birds like Western Blue Birds and Swallows who also nest in cavities. They compete for nesting cavities, and they kill others species they think might be competition or just happen to be near by. They are often called "The McDonald's Bird" because they are often seen at McDonald's and other fast food or outdoor restaurants begging for food. They can be quite tame and often aren't afraid of humans. FYI if you love native birds, don't feed these aggressive birds. They like a lot of the cheaper seeds like millet. See the section on Feeding in the Silias site below.

The Black Phoebe is a flycatcher. It flies out and back catching flying bugs. It makes a "cheep" call sound. It is a cute little bird and there are more in Orange County than any other county in the United States. They can easily be seen in Huntington Central Park and other parks in the area, but are also found in local yards. Every home seems to have one.

To read about House Sparrows, check out these two links All About Birds: House Sparrow and BirdWeb: House Sparrow. This Bluebird site deals extensively with getting rid of House Sparrows: Sialis: Managing House Sparrows. This site has a lot of information about the history of the House Sparrow and its release in the 1800s.

To read about feeding birds check out the National Audubon Society: Bird Feeding Basics and Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology: About Birds and Bird Feeding, and our own Sea and Sage Audubon: Tips on How to Feed the Birds.

To learn which plants to grow to feed native birds, see Las Palitis Nursery: List of Plants that Naturally Attract California Birds to Your Garden and Sea and Sage Audubon's: Plants that Attract Birds.

Good Luck with feeding the birds, and thank you for your question.

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Up to the Mesa and Back at Bolsa Chica

2009-03-31T22:13:00.000-07:00

A Rock Dove aka Pigeon on the railing of the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve footbridge. They roost under the bridge and come up to sit on the railing.

I always see or hear Rock Doves as I cross the Bolsa Chica footbridge. Today was no different.

Willet stand off.

I like Willets even if they are as common as sand on the beach. They are always in and around the pickleweed by the footbridge.

Just beyond the bridge, opposite the first lookout, a rare bird for the OC--White-winged Scoter.

I wanted to hurry and get up to the mesa to see the activity up there, but go distracted on the way up by a White-winged Scoter. It was still there. I had seen it the other day on the way to work.

Marbled Godwit--Limosa fedoa a bird often seen in the mudflats or shallow water. In the pickleweed they are often found wing to wing with Willets--Catoptrophorus semipalmatus.

I like both Willets and Marbled Godwits which I think are quite pretty.

Semipalmated Plover. Cute little guy scooting along the soggy ground.

Snowy Plovers and Semipalmated Plovers are just about the cutest little birds in the wetlands.

Male Ruddy Duck in breeding plumage.

I always like seeing the Ruddy Duck in breeding plumage. Its blue bill is so pretty.

Snowy Egret--Egretta thula strutting through the water.

I always enjoy seeing Snowies. You never know what you will see. They are so active and full of personality.

A mature Double-crested Cormorant--Phalacrocorax auritus. They have beautiful turquoise eyes.

I don't know if they have Bette Davis eyes, but they sure have great eyes. the turquoise is so unusual. I was near the foot of the mesa. Almost there.

There is always an Anna's Hummingbird--Calypte anna or two up on the mesa as you come up the path.

Of course the Anna's was there on a shrub at the top of the mesa.

A turn of the head flashes fluorescent rose.

Up on the mesa, a disturbing sight--one of many of the European Starlings making themselves at home on the mesa.

I have to see European Starlings. They are aggressive birds who really reduce the populations of our cavity nesting birds.

Mourning Dove--Zenaida macroura on the chain link fence on the top of the mesa. I love their soft owl-like call and the whistling sound of their wings as they fly away. Mourning Dove--Zenaida macroura are common in Orange County, California.

On the mesa there was a symphony of springtime birds singing for mates: Red-winged Blackbirds, Common Yellowthroats , Northern Mockingbirds, Anna's Hummingbirds, Song Sparrows, and more I couldn't sort out. Nothing like the mesa in springtime.

Who is that masked yellow bird? A Male Common Yellowthroat singing for a mate. Common Yellowthroats can be heard down by the bridge and in the bushes and shrubs along the PCH side of the water, and up on the mesa to mention a few places you will find them. They are hard to spot and are most often heard: Witchety, witchety, witchety.

The warm smells of sage and flowering plants filled the air.

Male Red-winged Blackbird displaying for mates up on the mesa.

A female Northern Harrier--Circus cyaneus flew by and then perched up in a bare tree. When the inlet was opened, it flooded an area below the mesa and killed some trees. There are a few dead trees at the top of the mesa, too and that was where it perched.

Great Blue Herons Nesting at Bolsa Chica from OC Birder Girl on Vimeo.

A pair of Great Blue Herons were building a nest in a dead tree on the mesa. It consisted seemingly entirely of large sticks.

Great Egret--Ardea alba hunts on the mesa for some tasty non-fishy morsel, surprising many used to seeing them in the water hunting fish.

A Great Egret--Ardea alba was hunting below in among the flowing plants. I was so enraptured by the sights, sounds, and smells, that a snake moving fast across the path by my feet startled me. I forget there are there. I didn't even get a shot of it.

The first Great Egret flew away and either another one flew onto the mesa, or it returned within 10 minutes and flew behind the chain-link fence.

Yummy! A tail disappears down a Great Egret's throat proving that it ain't just fish in their diet. There were lots and lots of lizards sunning themselves on the mesa and so I am guessing at least one was gobbled up by this hungry Great Egret--Ardea alba.

Hunting behind the fence in deep grass and weeds, the Great Egret--Ardea alba mixes in with lizards, snakes, and rodents like rabbits (too large for a meal) and ground squirrels(again too large), gophers, and other little rodents that are just right for a tasty meal.

Song Sparrow singing among the flowers.

A path through the mesa near the fence. Lined with bladderpod, sage, and wildflowers, it's a nice walk by the fenced in meadow.

The baked smells of the afternoon perfumed the air. I took another sort walk along the path by the fence this time.

A Northern Mockingbird can usually be found on the mesa and there were several this day.

A Northern Mockingbird sang tirelessly. Since it wasn't midnight outside my house, I enjoyed it. I headed back down the mesa and took the path that I had come along. Wasn't in the mood for the dusty, broken PCH trail.

Male Ruddy Duck in breeding plumage.

Horned Grebe swims by--not seen here as much as the abundant Eared Grebe--Podiceps nigricollis.

As I got near the bridge a pair of Killdeer--Charadrius vociferus blocked the way standing in the path. As I waited, they began the "broken wing display," trying to draw several people away from their nest. I never saw it, but they were very persistant trying several times.

A Killdeer--Charadrius vociferus does it's famous distraction drama--"I've broken my wing and am easy prey!" All this to save eggs and or chicks from the predator lurking near by. I never saw a nest or chick, but they must have been nearby.

Killdeer--Charadrius vociferus protecting its young by drawing attention to itself. Known as the Broken Wing Display.

Finally, they gave up and flew away.

What ya didn't go for it? Killdeer--Charadrius vociferus decides to move on and I get to head for the bridge.

Back near the footbridge I ran into the White-winged Scoter again. He had some friends with him this time.

Immature White-winged Scoter now hanging out with two female Scaups--lesser or greater I'll let you decide.

Western Sandpiper? foraging by the Bolsa Chica footbridge.

All in all, it was a great day of birding in Orange County. I headed back to my car satisfied.

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Irvine Regional Park on Friday

2009-03-29T00:11:00.000-07:00

Male Wood Duck--Aix sponsa swimming in the lake at Irvine Regional Park in Orange, California

Decided to take off a few days to bird. Joined the Sea and Sage Audubon field trip to Irvine Regional Park in Orange, California. I like to join field trips to learn from the leader and other members about the birds we see and about the place we are going. Sometimes even places I have gone many times before like Irvine Regional Park, has places I haven't gone or there are facts I haven't learned before.

A male Peacock in a hurry at Irvine Regional Park in Orange, California.

There is a small population of Peacocks that are in Orange and go between Irvine Regional Park in Orange, California and Santiago Oaks Regional Park.

Male Ring-necked Duck at Irvine Regional Park in Orange, California

The Ring-necked Duck has a thin cinnamon ring around its neck that can't always be seem. I do almost always see Ring-necked Ducks in the lake at Irvine Regional Park.

Male Ring-necked Duck with his cinnamon ring showing at Irvine Regional Park in Orange, California.

The great thing about Irvine Regional Park in Orange, California is the oak woodlands and the large areas of grass. It is that combination that attracts some great birds like the Acorn Woodpecker--Melanerpes formicivorus, Western Bluebird--Sialia mexicana, Wood Duck--Aix sponsa, Red-Shouldered Hawk, and the American Robin--Turdus migratorius.

Female American Robin--Turdus migratorius at Irvine Regional Park in Orange, California.

In the picnic area across the railroad tracks from the lake, there was an American Robin--Turdus migratorius couple foraging in the grass.

Male American Robin--Turdus migratorius at Irvine Regional Park in Orange, California.

It was nice to see the American Robins--Turdus migratorius. I don't see them that much any more. The leader of the field trip had studied with Sea and Sage leader Sylvia Gallagher who teaches several classes including "Birding by Ear." American Robins evidently have several songs.

European Starling. An unwelcome sight in the Colonies and here at Irvine Regional Park in Orange, California. This aggressive cavity nester kills other cavity nesting birds and punctures their eggs. Partly responsible for the decline of cavity nesters in the United States. Released in New York's Central Park by a misguided Shakespeare fan in the 1800s. Not a nice bird.

Unfortunately, there were lots of European Starlings competing with the cavity nesters at the park. European Starlings are very aggressive alien birds that will kill birds and puncture their eggs if they are in a cavity they want or even in a nearby cavity.

Male Western Bluebird--Sialia mexicana on the lawn searching for a meal at Irvine Regional Park in Orange, California.

There didn't seem to be as many Western Bluebirds--Sialia mexicana as usual and I wondered if the presence of so many European Starlings had anything to do with it.

Male Western Bluebird--Sialia mexicana on a tree trunk at Irvine Regional Park in Orange, California. It is not unusual to see a Western Bluebird--Sialia mexicana perched on a tree trunk.

We also went up into the hills and had a nice walk with great views of the park.

Hilly terrain above the more developed Irvine Regional Park in Orange, California proper. There are several natural wilderness-type areas that are part of the park, but provide great hiking and birding.

We saw a lot of wildflowers.

Gooseberry--lots of animals like the flower and the berries.

And a large group of Turkey Vultures--Cathartes aura soaring below us.

Turkey Vulture--Cathartes aura flying high above Irvine Regional Park in Orange, California.

And above us at times.

Turkey Vulture--Cathartes aura from the ridge looking down a about 7 circling Turkey Vultures--Cathartes aura. This is the only vulture we have in Orange County.

We also saw an American Kestrel--Falco sparverius and several wrens.

Dodder is also called "Witch's Hair." It is a parasitic plant that often kills the host plant.

Dodder has always been an interesting plant to see in the hillsides. I don't see it along the roads like I used to see it.

Raven at the park. Ravens are larger than Crows, have a diamond or wedge-shaped tail and make deep croaking noises rather than repetitive caws.

The croaking Ravens made some unusual noises.

One of many feral parrots that live at Irvine Regional Park and in the nearby area including Santiago Oaks.

The parrots were noisy. The crows were noisy. The Acorn Woodpeckers were noisy. A difficult place to take a nap.

Parrot checking out a potential nesting cavity. These parrots are competing for nesting cavities with Acorn Woodpeckers, owls, and European Starlings to name a few.

And of course, we saw a Black Phoebe--Sayornis nigricans. It is a very common bird in Orange County.

A Black Phoebe on a log.

Red-tailed Hawk soars above.

A Red-Tailed Hawk--Buteo jamaicensis and a fast moving Red-Shouldered Hawk after the trip.

A flock of American White Pelicans above headed for a lake or river. They often fly for long distances each day to find good fishing spots in fresh water. It is not unusual to see them overhead in Orange County on their way somewhere.

The most unexpected, but not unusual sighting was of a flock of American White Pelicans. I stayed after the field trip and took a lot of pictures. It was a great field trip with the leader knowing the park well and knowing how to identify birds by their song as well as their appearance. I learned a lot birding with Sea and Sage Audubon.

External Link

Dodder

An informative article on the parasitic orange plant called Dodder.

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Breezing Through Bolsa Chica

2009-03-27T22:26:00.000-07:00

Snowy Egret by the parking lot.

Thursday 03/26/2009 was a beautiful, sunny, and breezy day at Bolsa Chica. The kind that makes me smile as I step out of the car and hang my camera around my neck, put on my back pack, and put my old zoom binoculars over my shoulder. Ah, what can be better than to be on vacation and outdoors in the Spring? The Least Terns, Royal Terns, and Forster's Terns were noisy and raucous as they set about housekeeping on the little islands and strands in the Bolsa Chica waters. The cacophony of calls was like music to my ears.

Belding's Savannah Sparrow on the footbridge railing.

As I was about to step onto the bridge, I saw Belding's Savannah Sparrow on the footbridge railing. It's an endangered sub-species of the Savannah Sparrow. These cute little guys live in marshy habitats like Bolsa Chica and it didn't seem at all bothered by the noisy nesting terns.

Least Terns, Royal Terns, Forster's Terns, Ring-billed Gulls, Brown Pelicans, and more are out on the little strips of land out in the water at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve .

And Spring at Bolsa Chica means chaotic noise from thousands of Least, Royal, and Forster's Terns. No doubt about their presence or the start of nesting season. The noise is incredible. Add to that Brown Pelicans in breeding plumage and thousands of gulls and you have a spectacular and noisy sight. Usually I also see Black Skimmers, but none were in sight today.

Birds flying every which way.

I peered through the chain link fence at the sight of thousands of white terns and gulls on the strands in the water. I walked up on the first lookout. I stood there just watching and listening--soaking it in. Something--probably a Northern Harrier spooked them and thousands of birds took wing simultaneously. Terns and Brown Pelicans filled the air. All birds on the right side of the lookout flew like something was after them to the left and crowded onto the strands shoulder to shoulder, leaving the left deserted with a few Double-crested Cormorants drying out on the empty land.

Nesting Terns at Bolsa Chica from OC Birder Girl on Vimeo.

Quite a sight!

As I walked along the gravel path by the wetlands with its little channels cut through the wetlands, I came across an Eared Grebe coming into its breeding plumage.

Eared Grebe in the beginnings of breeding plumage.

The wetlands are beautiful at either high tide or low tide. The blue water and the green plants with the brown earth can be very dramatic. I saw a few Blue-winged Teals as I walked along.

Western Grebe in the Wintersburg Channel. One of several I saw today.

I walked out fast toward the mesa to see what might be out there and on the way saw a pair of Western Grebes, American Wigeons, American Coots, and a Snowy Egret in the Wintersburg Channel.

Snowy Egret at Bolsa Chica from OC Birder Girl on Vimeo.

Perched on the fence before you cross the Wintersburg Channel was a wind-blown Snowy Egret. Then as I went along toward the mesa, I saw a funny sight.

The usual suspects lined up to get out of the wind. Bolsa Chica Snowy Egrets like a bank at their banks in the wind.

As I walked out toward the mesa, I came across a little group of Snowy Egrets on the rocks, who unlike the wind-blown Snowy, were trying to get out of the wind. They look so funny with their necks scrunched in and their feathers fluffed trying to keep warm, but I guess if I had a long skinny neck, I'd scrunch down, too. The Snowies are often lined up along the bank opposite to where the wind is coming from.

Overlooking the mesa a House Finch perches on a Bush Sunflower (Encelia californica).

Up on the mesa, it was full of flowers--mostly Bush Sunflowers (Encelia californica). This I say cautiously since this is not my field of expertise, but that's what they look like to me.

Just a few flowers.

Bush Sunflowers and sage on the sunny, breezy mesa.

Bush Sunflowers--a close up look.

Sage on the left and Bush Sunflowers on the right. I love the smell of the sun on sage. The view of the ocean from the top of the mesa an added bonus.

A beautiful Red-winged Blackbird shows his red epaulets up on the mesa. Time to go courting, and Red-winged Blackbirds on the mesa are flying up in the air singing and displaying their red shoulders in hopes of attracting a few mates.

Out on the mesa the sound of birds was everywhere. House Finches. Anna's Hummingbirds. White-crowned Sparrows. Common Yellowthroats. And the unusual call of the Red-winged Blackbird which always seems to have a boing in it to me. They where flying and calling out to potential mates. Perching on plants and fences singing loudly. It was something to behold.

Red-winged Blackbird from OC Birder Girl on Vimeo.

This video would have been longer, but my card was running out of room and stopped. I changed cards, but couldn't get a good shot like this again. I hope to go back.

Male House Finch, lower left. Male Anna's Hummingbird on the top. Female House Finch upper right.

Of course the male Anna's Hummingbird that is always staking out a bush on the mesa was there. The sun was making its way down, and I wanted to get back well before dark. So I headed back to the parking lot.

And an unusual number of lizards were warming themselves in the late afternoon sun right on the path.

A Pied-billed Grebe halfway between winter and breeding plumage.

Dowitchers doing their sewing machine-like feeding.

On the way back I saw lots of Ruddy Ducks. Check out the almost completely blue bill on this male.

I walked back along the path that parallels PCH (Pacific Coast Highway). It is in disrepair and dusty, but it was quicker and sometimes there are some interesting birds to be seen there.

White-winged Scoter.

One last look out from the footbridge by the parking lot brought me the chance to see a new bird I hadn't seen before, the White-winged Scoter. (Click here for the Merriam Webster pronunciation if you don't know how to say Scoter.)

Cattails by the parking lot.

All in all a great day of walking and birding.

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What's That Singing in the Night?

2009-03-14T07:39:00.000-07:00

Northern Mockingbird on a wire. This singing fool sings all night during Spring as he looks for a mate. When the nesting starts, sweet silence reigns. Photograph courtesy of the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Photographer, Gary Kramer.

I received another good question yesterday and thought it deserved a post:

"hi, i am a first-time visitor to your orange county bird blog. i would like to report that i've lived in orange county for many years and this is the very first time I can recall hearing bird signals from these particular birds this early in the morning (2:00am-2:30am). I am thinking that this might be a manifestation of daytime ambient noise in this particular urban area of the county causing birds to need to communicate during the night. I found a study done at the pubmed central web site "Daytime noise predicts nocturnal singing in urban robins" (2007)....I don't know the species of bird I hear singing. Sweet songs. Definitely not a crow. Last time I remember hearing a bird in the very early morning hours, they were really weird loud calls -- almost as if the bird has a bad cough or something.you have an interesting blog.peace.todd" [I added the link.]

Thanks for the question, Todd. And the compliment. For my answer, read on.

Many people start wondering about birds singing in the night along about this time of year. Spring is in the air, and so are bird songs. Birds sing to establish territories and to attract mates in early Spring. Once the birds start nesting, they don't sing because they do not want to attract attention to the nestlings.

Killdeer--Charadrius vociferus at San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary.

We do have a few birds in the United States who sing or call at night. It's just their nature. Especially wetlands birds such as Marsh Wrens. Unless you live in the wetlands, you are provably not hearing a Marsh Wren. On occasion when I lived near water, I heard Killdeer calling at night. However, I have never heard a Killdeer's call described either as "sweet" or as a "song." So I doubt this is the bird you hear. These birds can on occasion be heard in urban area either near natural areas, or in the case of the Killdeer near a water channel or field. Most other nocturnal birds may give a call or make a noise at night, but it would not qualify as a song.

Could it be migrating birds? Perhaps, but not likely. Although birds migrating at night might call or make noise, they would not likely be singing whole songs by anyone's window. They are pretty hard to hear from up in the sky. But there are some better candidates.

Meadow Larks are known to sing occasionally during a full moon or when there is light. They have a loud, beautiful voice. However, they require lots of grassland or mesa area and are not usually found in busy urban areas. If you live near Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve or Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve, or another natural area with lots of land, you may be hearing a Western Meadowlark. However, they are not common in most residential areas in Orange County.

American Robin who will sing when it is light enough. Sun, Moon, or Electric Light, it makes no difference to him. Photograph courtesy of the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Photographer,

Another bird that is known to sing at night is the American Robin. Like the European Robin, it is influenced by the amount of light. See this lit review of "Apparent effects of light pollution on singing behavior of American Robins" in the ornithology journal Condor. So a somewhat possible guess for your nocturnal serenader is the American Robin which has been known to sing in Urban areas depending on the light.

Another bird with a sweet song documented as singing occasionally in the night is the Western Meadowlark. I took the picture above at the San Jacinto Wildlife Area in Riverside County. Although we have Western Meadowlarks in the OC, it is rare to find one in a residential neighborhood. They prefer a more wild habitat. Took this one out of the car window on a dusty dirt road near the parking lot entrance.
However, American Robins are not nearly so common in our neighborhoods as another bird. Here is a family story to illustrate. One night, when my brother-in-law was a boy, he was awakened night after night by a very loud bird singing in the tree outside his bedroom. Finally, one night he was unable to take it anymore. He grabbed his baseball bat and ran outside in his pajamas banging the bat on the tree trunk until the bird flew a few trees away. My pajama-clad brother-in-law then repeated his batting of the next tree and ran down the street after the bird yelling and batting.

Since this species is still around and singing nightly all over Orange County, my first guess for your bird is the bird my brother-in-law chased down the street one night with his baseball bat: the Northern Mockingbird. It is most common urban bird heard singing in Orange County in the Spring at night. I know that it has kept me awake many a Spring night with its beautiful, but very loud song. The Northern Mockingbird imitates many other bird songs and many sounds as well. I have heard of Mockingbirds whistling back a tune, imitating a pneumatic drill near a mechanic shop, and car alarms. They are not called Mimus polyglottos for nothing. Ambient noise or not, the bachelor Northern Mockingbirds are singing all night long. Even the mated Mockers sing during the full moon. So, since this common bird is loud, sings at night, and can sing sweetly, this could be your bird.

Now, regarding the ambient noise question: As you mentioned, the European Robin (which definitely is not seen in Orange County) which you referred to in the Pubmed article also seems to sing at night because daytime city sounds are drowning out its attempts to find a mate. Do I think that the daytime noise in the United States could alter our native birds' behaviors? I would not be surprised if ambient noise affects our wild birds' behaviors--it sure affects mine--but I have not yet see any studies along the same lines in the United States. Although both are called Robins and may sing at night, the European Robins are totally unrelated to American Robins. (To find out more about the European Robin, see a profile and pictures of the European Robin at British Garden Birds.)

As to the bird coughing: I wouldn't be surprised. The avian respiratory illnesses in the last few years at times have caused birds to cough. People have reported hearing coughing coming from birds in trees. So that may have been what you heard.

Or perhaps it was not a cough, but a harsh-sounding call. We have some nocturnal birds in Orange County that do make noise at night. A common nocturnal bird in Orange County is the Owl. Owls can make some strange nighttime noises. In the OC, we have Barn Owls, Western Screech Owls, and Great Horned Owls. Check out Owl Calls and Sounds from the Owl Pages to hear their calls.

When it is Spring, we may well be serenaded by one of our local birds. So when you are all awakened at night by sweet bird songs in the night, it is most likely the Mimus polyglottos, but don't let the Northern Mockingbird or any other nighttime serenader drive you batty. Ear plugs and white noise can get you through Springtime in the OC.

Thanks for your question, Todd. It was a good one.

If it sounds like the singing bird keeping Lou awake, you are listening to a Northern Mockingbird.

External Links and Resources

Birds of North America Courtesy Preview: Killdeer
Discusses the species and mentions that it is active day and night and can be heard calling at night. Very good article.

Nocturnal Migrant Flight Call Research

Article on calls made by birds migrating at night. Cornell University study.

Nocturnal Singing by Marsh Wrens

Robert M. R. Barclay Marty L. Leonard Gaynette Priesen (Condor: Vol. 87, No. 3, May-June, 1985)

Nocturnal Singing of the Western Meadowlark

Winton Weydemeyer (Condor: Vol. 35, No. 4, July-August, 1933)

Sing, It's Spring! from Range Rick Magazine

Cute, fact-filled article from the children's magazine, Ranger Rick about why birds sing.

Learn Bird Songs

From Lang Elliot comes a great site on learning bird songs.

The Life of Birds: Bird Songs

Very thorough article by Gareth Huw Davies about birds and their songs. Very good.

Variation in Repertoire Presentation in Northern Mockingbirds

Kim C. Derrickson (Condor: Vol. 90, No. 3, May-June, 1988)

The Western Meadowlark Singing at Night
George W. Lane (Condor: Vol. 35, No. 6, November-December, 1933)

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Allen's Hummingbirds and Rufous Hummingbirds: What's the Difference?

2009-03-10T18:30:00.001-07:00

Male Rufous Hummingbird Courtesy of US Fish and Wildlife Service. Photographer Dean E. Biggins, Wildlife Biologist for the U. S. Geological Survey, at the Midcontinent Ecological Science Center in Fort Collins, CO.

A reader sent in this question and I thought a post on it might be the best way to answer. Here is the question:

Question:

"Birder Girl, just found your blog! It is great! I live in Rancho Santa Margarita, so frequent O'Neill, not as much as I used to. Mainly I focus on Hummingbirds. I have around 10 feeders in my back and front yards, plus I try to plant only nectar plants for them. I am really confused on the difference between an Allen's and Rufous. I have some pics of what I thought was both, but now am not sure.I can tell you that I do have a pic of a Costa's I took about 10 days ago. Also pics of a Calliope that I took a few years ago in my back yard. They are such amazing creatures. I would love to hear from you regarding the hummingbirds.Thanks."

Male Allen's at my backyard feeder. Notice the green back and rufous tail. The iridescent gorget is not at the right angle to reflect the light in this shot.

My Answer:

Thanks for your kind words. Differentiating Allen's Hummingbirds and Rufous Hummingbirds is definitely a challenge. They are very similar.

Males:

Size: Allen's is slightly bigger--especially our resident Allen's.

Color: Color is the same except for the back and rump. Allen's Hummingbird has a green back and rump, but a rufous tail, and the Rufous usually has a rufous back, rump and tail. Even if a rare Rufous Hummingbird has some green on the back, any rufous feathers on the back make it a Rufous according to some experts.

Mating Display: Small, but no substantial difference. However, it is a moot point since we would probably not see a Rufous Hummingbird display. This Hummingbird does not breed in Orange County. Audubon Watchlist describes the Allen's display: "The Allen's Hummingbird begins its display with a back-and-forth shuttling, ascends slowly, and then drops in a J-shaped dive." Audubon Watchlist describes the Rufous Hummingbird display: "The Rufous Hummingbird makes a series of steep, J-shaped dives that end at the same point, but begin at points progressing around a circle. The descents are rapid and the upward movements that connect the bottom of the J to the starting points around the circle are slow. During descent, the male emits a stuttering dit-dit-dit-deeer sound, similar but of lower pitch than the Allen's."

Range: We have a larger subspecies of Allen's Hummingbird (Selasphorus sasin sedentarius) that is resident here and a smaller subspecies of Allen's (Selasphorus sasin sasin) that migrates. So although we have Allen's all year, there are less during certain times of year. Rufous breeds north of us from northern California north to southern Alaska and winters in Mexico and other parts of Central America. They are also showing up more and more in the Southern United States along the Gulf. In Orange County, California, the Rufous Hummingbird is really only present during migration--usually from approximately March through August.

Females: Female Allen's Hummingbirds and female Rufous Hummingbirds are essentially indistinguishable from each other outside in the real world of birding.

Immatures: Immatures are essentially indistinguishable from each other.

Hybrids: Hybrids do occur. As if things were not confusing enough.

Male Rufous Hummingbird Courtesy of US Fish and Wildlife Service. Photographer Tom Smylie.

So, since both the Allen's Hummingbirds and Rufous Hummingbirds appear in Orange County, keep the differences in mind when you are out birding. You might just spot a Rufous Hummingbird--especially during migration.

And to my Rancho Santa Margarita reader, thanks for a great question!

Videos

Don Des Jardin's Vimeo Video Clips: Allen's Hummingbirds

Very good videos. This is actually the Allen's search on Vimeo, but all of them are Don's. Expert birder and videographer has caught great shots of Allen's Hummingbirds.

Videos of Rufous Hummingbirds

Good video of a Rufous Hummingbird at a feeder. Note the rufous back in the later part of the video. This video posted on YouTube by psychoticnrg.

This is another good video of a Rufous Hummingbird. This one in Louisiana. Posted by seejanebird. Again, notice the rufous back.

Video of an Allen's Hummingbird--Note the difference in the color of the back.

Check out this video by Don Des Jardin of an Allen's. Notice the green back as it turns around at the end.

Allen's Hummingbird from Don DesJardin on Vimeo.

External Links and Resources

All About Birds: Allen's Hummingbird

All About Birds: Rufous Hummingbird

Animal Diversity Web: Allen's Hummingbird

Animal Diversity Web: Rufous Hummingbird

BirdWeb: Rufous Hummingbird

Hilton Pond: Perdita: the "Lost" Rufous Hummingbird

Interesting article about a hummer who consistently winters in South Carolina which is out of her range.

The Hummer Study Group: Rufous Hummingbird

Good article from the southern Hummer Study Group.

The Hummer Study Group: Allen's Hummingbird

Very good article with clearly discussed differences between the two hummers.

Migratory Pollinators Program: Rufous Hummingbird

Recent Change in the Winter Distribution of Rufous Hummingbirds

GEOFFREY E. HILL, ROBERT R. SARGENT, and MARTHA B. SARGENT (Auk: Vol. 115, No. 1, January-March, 1998)

Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center: Rufous Hummingbird

USGS: Allen's Hummingbird

USGS: Rufous Hummingbird

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Two Days of Birding Huntington Central Park

2009-03-01T13:30:00.001-08:00

Cherry trees in bloom as well as other flowering trees at Huntington Central Park.

I took two short walks on Saturday and Sunday at Huntington Central Park. Spring is definitely waiting in the wings. The tattered remnants of last year's Monarch Butterflies are fluttering through the trees and over the bushes. Flowers are starting to blossom, and little leaf nubs ready to unfurl are evident on the bare trees. The House Finches are starting to sing.

Winter is still hanging on, but waning. The bare-branched trees made patterns against a beautiful blue sky scattered with white, wispy clouds.

A Mourning Dove picks among the Sycamore seed balls.

The Dark-eyed Juncos are back. This one sitting in a small redwood tree.

Here is one on the ground.

Cooper's Hawk chasing an immature Red-Tailed Hawk . Click to enlarge.

I saw a Cooper's Hawk chasing an immature Red-Tailed Hawk. The immature Red-Tailed Hawk can be a challenge. So the thing to look for is the dark leading edge of the shoulder area and the belly band whch are the field marks of a Red-tail in the absence of the red tail. While not as apparent in this photo, the field marks were apparent in other photos. Click on the photos to enlarge the photos. The smaller hawk is not a Sharp-shinned because it has a rounded, not straight tail. The legs trail against white feathers. Again, a Cooper's Hawk.

Immature Red-Tailed Hawk. Click on the picture to enlarge and see the black leading edge of the shoulder wing area and the light belly band.

So many trees still leafless despite the stirrings of spring all around.

Cute Black Phoebe.

Audubon Yellow-Rumped Warbler in a cherry tree that is blossoming by the library. The tree was filled with Anna's Hummingbirds and Allen's Hummingbird as well.

A male Mallard, far left, a female Mallard behind a male American Wigeon on the lower right.

Large flocks of Ring-billed Gulls have been flying over Huntington Central Park and stopping at the Lakes and ponds.

Townsend's Warbler Foraging in A Pine Tree from OC Birder Girl on Vimeo.

I was stationed under a pine tree when a Townsend's Warbler started foraging among the Pine Cones.

A male Western Bluebird . Not surprising since there are Bluebird nesting boxes in Huntington Central Park . Also in Mason Regional Park.

Male Western Bluebird trying to get a grip on a caterpillar.

Dark-eyed Junco.

Again, a Dark-eyed Junco.

Dark-eyed Junco among the pine cones.

Allen's Hummingbird catches some rays.

This transition between Winter and Spring is a wonderful time to bird. The winter birds have not yet left and the Spring birds are arriving. The Spring songs are beginning. So have fun birding in Orange County when the birds of both seasons are right here in our parks and neighborhoods.

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