Another Painted Redstart-molting from juvenal to adult plumage

This is another Painted Redstart I saw in close proximity, in the same tree, to an adult Painted Redstart today. Juvenal plumage has no red but this doesn't appear to be in (adult) Definite Basic plumage. So I suspect that this might be a first year bird that is molting from juvenal to Basic I plumage. SeEtta

Gorgeous Painted Redstarts

After some birding a little this morning along the San Pedro Riparian area, the quickly rising temps and slow birding motivated me to head for a little higher elevation so I decided to try birding further up in Carr Canyon than the residence with the Plain-capped Starthroat I watched yesterday. I ended up at a moderate elevation not far inside the Coronado National Forest where I followed a small flock of Bushtits that intercepted a very nice mixed flock of passerines. In that flock were at at least 2 Painted Redstarts, one for sure an adult as shown in these photos. At least redstart was a juvenile which I post above and likely a second adult. These adults are just stunning. SeEtta

Plain-capped Starthroat, most distinctive 'plain' hummer

Though the Plain-capped Starthroat is not as colorful as some of the other hummers, the white stripes on it's head, it's large size and very long bill distinguish it. Another distinctive feature the large white tips on it's outer tail feathers that show nicely in this photo.  The species has a variable amount of red on the throat area.  BTW, I have no idea what kind of bug that has photo bombed this and another photo of the hummer. SeEtta

Plain-capped Starthroat, a very rare hummingbird

The Brodkins who have a residence in Carr Canyon a short distance south of Sierra Vista, AZ have had a Plain-capped Starthroat visiting their hummingbird feeders since yesterday. This species is a rare visitor from Mexico that has visited the feeders at this and nearly residences in and near Carr Canyon in previous years. Several other birders and myself were treated with brief views as this hummer tried to get some sugar water though it only got to perch for short periods as other hummers repeatedly chased off this more timid but larger hummingbird. SeEtta

Awful raggedy Zone-tailed Hawk

While I was birding on Blue Heaven Road just a few hundred yards south of the Paton's yard I spotted this raptor that looked like a possible Zone-tailed Hawk. It was an adult Zone-tail--showing it's barred remiges, bright yellow cere and white tail bands in this photo- but it's feathers were in pretty condition. I looked up info on their molt cycle on Birds of North America online which noted that this was not well understood for this species but, "In Arizona, primaries and tail are renewed in Aug." That certainly fits for this bird.  Features can be seen better by clicking on photo to enlarge it.  SeEtta

Varied Buntings-another lifer today in Patagonia area

Another neat find today and another lifer species--Varied Bunting. This is the distinctive male but first saw the female (see next post). After finding the Thick-billed Kingbirds along the north end of Blue Haven Road in the Patagonia, AZ area I stopped again at the famous Patagonia Rest area to see if I might find more there. Though I didn't find any more of them, I did find this male and the female Varied Bunting. Though reported in other areas of SE Arizona I have not seen any reports of them at this location so another lifer species I found myself and in an area not previously reported. SeEtta

Thick-billed Kingbird-a lifer I found today in Patagonia, AZ area

I had hoped to get to see a Thick-billed Kingbird when I traveled to the Patagonia, AZ area today but it had not been reported since last week at the famous 'Patagonia Roadside Rest' where it had most recently been observed. I tried that location this morning on my way to Patagonia Lake State Park (where I went to see the Blue-footed Booby and did) but no luck. This afternoon I decided to check the Blue Haven Road, that runs from Paton's through the Nature Conservancy's Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve, for Zone-tailed Hawk. I did looked south of the Preserve where Thick-billed Kingbirds have been found but no luck.

Then when I was looking for a Gray Hawk I heard north of the Preserve on that road I heard a repeated call I did not know so I stopped to check it out--it was a call of this Thick-billed Kingbird. Then a second Thick-billed Kingbird began calling also but I did not locate it visually. It appears that this is a first fall bird due to the yellowish on it's belly. About 15 minutes after I found this bird and the second one calling nearby I spotted a third Thick-billed Kingbird about a mile south on the road. Finding 3 of this lifer-bird was special but even more so because I found them myself and at least 2 were not where they have been reported. SeEtta

Quail roosting in shrubs outside my motel room

I was surprised when I opened my motel room door as I saw a Gambel's Quail jump up into a tall shrub--after perching on the top it wiggled through the leaves to inside the shrub where it is totally not visible. What an interesting adaptation--the quail are roosting in the shrubs around the courtyard of this motel where they are not visible to people and have protection from predators that are unlikely to come this close to humans to seek them out. They come from some vacant lots around my motel that have mostly desert habitat. There were about 2 dozen Gambel's Quail that worked their way to the many shrubs here, some walking right by the pool to get to the shrubs and some perching on the pool chairs then flying into the shrubs from the chairs. I had a blast watching them. SeEtta

Gambel's Quail at motel pool

Sorry that the quail in the photo are a little blurry but they came to the pool at my motel at dusk. In fact there were Gambel's Quail walking next to the pool with guys sitting on lounge chairs either not noticing or not interested. I have been delighted with the neat birds around my motel (others are Curve-billed Thrashers, lots of Cactus Wrens and even Greater Roadrunners) These two took advantage of pool chairs to perch on. Why were they there-see next post. SeEtta

I found this Prairie Falcon perched on a utility pole along H80 north of Rodeo, N.M. I took these photos from inside my car and I'm pleased to report that when I left the falcon was still on it's perch (my goal is to not flush raptors from their perches). Prairie Falcons appear fairly rare at this time of year in this area per ebird and Finding Birds in Southeast Arizona. SeEtta

Singing Black-throated Sparrow at Caballo State Park in New Mexico

On my drive to SE Arizona I stopped at Caballo State Park in New Mexico. There was a recent report that a birder saw a Blue-footed Booby fly towards the lake in the park so I thought I would stop and take a look for it since I was driving by on I-25. I didn't see any bird that looked like a booby but was delighted to find this male Black-throated Sparrow singing his heart out in the desert scrub in this park. Like many male passerines this species sings mostly in association with breeding or territorial behavior. It seems a little late for breeding behavior but I did watch this bird engage in some chasing behavior with what looked like another Black-throated Sparrow. They do have a second nesting in association with monsoonal rains which Birds of North America online states, "Common in years of adequate rainfall and prey items." Though this is later than their documentation, there has been significant monsoonal rains in the area recently.

I also saw another male Black-throated Sparrow in the area. SeEtta

Two Eastern Phoebes at Florence River Park

I found these two Eastern Phoebes (a1 & a2 are the same bird as are b1 & b2) at Florence River Park. This Phoebe had a fairly strong yellowish wash across it's belly that got washed out some in my photos.

We do get Eastern Phoebes every year at this nice little park along the Arkansas River. However, I have been to this location several times over the past month but have not seen any Eastern Phoebes so these are likely engaged in post breeding dispersal.

I got the second phoebe at an odd angle in the photo that makes it beak look larger. Both sallied often after flying insects then pumped their tails downward in typical phoebe fashion when perched. SeEtta

Plumbeous Vireo: true close-up shots

While birding in Red Canyon Park, which is about 10 miles north of Canon City, yesterday I had the good luck to be where a mixed flock was eating it's way past. There were 2 Plumbeous Vireos, one of which is in these photos, plus at least 2 Juniper Titmouse, and several Chipping Sparrows (or maybe just moving through in their own small flock at the same time as the others). I was just inside the branches of a pinyon pine tree when I got the photo above as the Plumbeous Vireo foraged less than 2 1/2 feet from my head. Also foraging a few feet away was a Juniper Titmouse--what a fun experience that was for the minute or so it lasted to be ignored like a limb on the tree.

As can be seen, this vireo has apparently lost most of it's tail feathers-possibly to a predator. It certainly made the vireo look a little unusual but didn't keep it from singing it's distinctive song. SeEtta

Gray Flycatcher on nest

I found this Gray Flycatcher on the nest a few weeks ago in Red Canyon Park about 10 miles north of Canon City,CO. I took all the photos from inside my car with a 1200mm zoom equivalent (or 50 times the normal view) to minimize disturbance. And since I did not walk close to nest there was no danger of a scent trail that predators could follow. This female bird seemed to settle onto her nest comfortably.

Red Canyon Park, which is one of the city of Canon City's 'mountain' parks, has excellent pinyon-juniper habitat so hosts breeding Gray Flycatchers as well as other 'pj' birds. However, we have had a severe drought for past 3+ consecutive years so the habitat had suffered and many birds were not nesting or even occupying this or similar habitat in this area. The photo below shows the juniper tree in which the flycatcher nested.

The bottom pic shows a parent bird when it was out foraging for food. Since the male was staying near the nest I don't know if this was the female or him. Since it appeared there were no nestlings when I took these photos I had hoped when I returned today to find some fledglings to add to the photo series. I did not find any Gray Flycatchers (I had seen several the day I took these photos) so they must have already left to migrate south so I don't know if the nesting was successful. SeEtta

Greater Roadrunner: short video clip

Greater Roadrunner from SeEtta Moss on Vimeo.

This is a short video clip I took of the Greater Roadrunner I found at Brush Hollow SWA yesterday. These birds are so entertaining to watch. SeEtta

Roadrunner, almost a hood ornament on my car

A good thing I was driving only a few miles per hour this afternoon at the Brush Hollow State Wildlife Area because I had to slam on my brakes to keep from turning a live Greater Roadrunner into a hood ornament on my car. This not-so-small bird came out of nowhere and ran rapidly in front of my car. This is the first Roadrunner I have seen in my area in a few years. SeEtta

Young Black Phoebe, August 8

I took this photo on August 8. Since I saw this young Black Phoebe with another one whose age I could not determine I don't know if it was still a fledgling or had attained independence at that time. However the Black Phoebes I have seen yesterday and today have clearly been in juvenal plumage with no signs of an adult bird so I believe it has attained independence and is now a juvenile (and not a fledgling). SeEtta

Black Phoebe close-ups

These are also photos I took on August 6 though these were from later in the morning so not sure if it was the same fledgling or another one.

It did fly to the side of the Arkansas River where I was sitting, less than 40 feet away, so I was able to get some close-up views.  SeEtta

Black Phoebe fledgling(s)--6 days older than when I first found them

Though I have continued to observe one or more young Black Phoebes every day (except one day when I couldn't look for them due to out of town meeting) west of the Sell's Lake parking lot for the Canon City Riverwalk it has become more difficult to get good photos as I believe the young phoebes have attained independence. There are fewer calls to help me relocate them. I took these photos on August 6. In the top pic the phoebe was on the other side of the Arkansas River, about a 80-90 feet away.

In the middle pic the young phoebe had flown across the river and was less than 40 feet away. And the bottom photo was again across the river. The bird in the front is a fledgling and I believe the bird in the back is a parent bird-I watched the fledgling chase the other bird a little as fledglings do to their parents in hope of a handout. SeEtta

Black Phoebe-parent bird

/ I got this photo yesterday morning of a parent Black Phoebe that has been accompanying the fledglings. This phoebe was perched on a fence around Sell's Lake about 150 feet from the publicly accessible location where it could be seen so this photo is heavily cropped and does not show features as well as closer photos (like those I posted below of the fledgling). The lighter edges to it's wing feathers, a plumage characteristic found on adult birds is clearly visible as is the darker black of it's head compared to it's body. This bird appears to be molting a number of feathers on it's underparts. When the photo is enlarged further it can be seen that it's rectices (tail feathers) are more rounded than found on the fledgling. I didn't get any more photos of the fledglings yesterday or today. The parent bird moved them more distant on Sell's Lake yesterday and today when I refound 2 of them (at least one was in juvenal plumage) they were on the other side of the river (I cannot go down the river bank to get closer photos since I injured my knee doing that for the first photos). SeEtta

Black Phoebe fledglings: more photos

This morning I returned to the location where I found the family of Black Phoebes yesterday. After walking up and down the river I refound them near where I had last seen them. Though they stayed across the Arkansas River and a few hundred feet away much of the time, the parent bird did bring them over to the side on which I was standing which is where I got the last pic on this post.

As I was getting ready to leave around noon the adult brought the fledglings across the river and into the trees lining Sell's Lake. I got the other 4 pics of them there, taken through the chain link fence that surrounds this privately owned pond adjacent to the Canon City Riverwalk.

These photos, taken much closer than those I posted of the fledgling yesterday (they were well over a hundred feet away on the other side of the river) provide better views not only of the rusty (also called cinnamon) edged/tipped wing bars but also the buffy (some call this rusty or cinnamon) tips to feathers on their upperparts (specifically their wing-coverts, primaries, and secondaries) and a light brownish tipping to feathers of lower back, lower scapulars, rump, and uppertail-coverts. All of these photos (since all appear to show the same feathers coming out it seems likely these are all of the same bird) show a feather that is likely molting from around it's right wing.

Also these photos show another feature distinctive to Black Phoebes in juvenal plumage: their tail feathers (rectices) are not as rounded as those on adult birds. SeEtta

Young Black Phoebes in Canon City

Last evening I was surprised to find a Black Phoebe parent bird with at least 2 fledglings in tow across the Arkansas River from the Canon City Riverwalk. I had checked the usual nesting site in this area earlier this year but apparently they had a late nesting and I didn't re-check.

I returned at mid-morning after my class and refound the family not far from where I had last seen them last evening. The top two photos are of one of the fledglings and they clearly show the rusty edges of their wing feathers. The second photo also shows the yellow bill flanges found on young Black Phoebes. I'm pretty happy with the top two photos as the birds were on the other side of the Arkansas River.

The bottom pic is of an apparent juvenile Black Phoebe that recently gained it's independence. I found it very near where the parent and fledgling birds were located and I followed it a few hundred yards upstream as it apparently began making it's own way.  SeEtta