Red-bellied’s are certainly the dominant species in the feeder hierarchy at my house. I’ve seen them straight up attack doves on the platform feeder pulling out a mouthful of feathers.
I got to hold a Black-throated Gray Warbler today. Took a picture before the handoff. Also spent a few hours at Bear Divide, which is a newly discovered "Cape May"ish migration funnel in the San Gabriel mountains. Saw 65 species and approximately 1,870 individuals. Like, we were getting swarmed by Violet-green Swallow flocks. Hundreds of them. Saw a Purple Martin, Lazuli Bunting, 60 something Rufous Hummingbirds, 88 Western Kingbirds, the list goes on.
They were putting bands on a bunch of birds that were rolling through. Catching them in nets, then releasing.
Finally finally found the food source they hang around... nestled high up in an oak tree, camouflage was ridiculous. Spoiler
After 20 years of wondering. I actually searched the sound I’ve been hearing outside my house my entire life. It’s like “HOOO….EEEEEE….WHHOOOOO….WHOOOO….WHOOOOO” it’s a mourning dove. Cool thread
Merlin has been picking up on Blue-Headed Vireo & Yellow-Headed Vireo all morning… hoping for a sighting
Don't think I shared this one... Probably my best Yellow-Throated Warbler pic yet. Feather details are insane Spoiler
It's spring time bitches. Saw these two show up within 10 minutes of each other. Western Tanager Hooded Oriole
Shitty pic, but wanted to capture him before he flew off. Noticed the feeders were vacant, knew something was up.
Went camping in Joshua Tree this weekend, got a lifer Ladder-backed Woodpecker. Also saw a Vermillion Flycatcher and Black-throated Sparrows. Spoiler Vermillion Flycatcher Ladder-backed Woodpecker Phainopepla (female) Hooded Oriole Black-throated Sparrow Most epic backdrop for a bird picture. Sparrow in middle of frame.
The giddiness with which I yelled when a rose breasted grosbeak landed on my feeder for the first time ever
Got a good lifer with a Yellow-breasted Chat today. Spoiler Yellow-breasted Chat Black-crowned Night Heron (juvenile) Red-tailed Hawk (looked young) Tree Swallow Snowy Egret caught a crayfish I think.
Got some video of the Yellow-breasted Chat. Also saw a Palm Warbler, which is really fucking weird for L.A. Will probably get a rare bird report for it.
Have baffles to keep them off the bird feed, but feed the squirrels corn & peanuts... no joke the population of birds & squirrels have multiplied exponentially since we moved in 2.5 years ago.
Absolutely insane last 16 hrs or so in the back yard. Yesterday say my first rose-breasted grosbeak in probably 5 years at my black oil feeder. Then had my first oriole of the year checking out my humming bird feeder. Then this AM, back yard was getting blasted by orioles. Had a red headed, red bellied, and downy woodpecker on my suet cakes. Have my bluebird box actually filled with bluebirds and minimal sparrow activity. Just waiting on my humming birds…
I assume a male House Finch, eating a diet that's causing yellow pigmentation, versus red... also note the banded leg, which is a first
Almost positive I saw her yesterday again. I think she has a nest on top of the I-24 bridge going over the Tennessee River in KY
Some stuff I've seen over the past couple weeks. Went camping up around 7200 feet on Friday, so I got to see the "Southern" White-headed Woodpecker subspecies that can only be found in the mountains around Los Angeles and San Diego. I've had a month and a half of down time before my next job, so I've been able to just go camping/hiking/birding wherever whenever. Going back to work is gonna suck so bad. Spoiler Yellow-breasted Chat Western Bluebird. Band on leg. Bullock's Oriole Violet-green Swallow White-headed Woodpecker (male) Northern Flicker (Red-shafted)
Birds in flight are tough as fuck to get on frame, let alone actually capture a good shot... Redtail Hawk, circling above my neighborhood. Got pretty lucky, as the light was shit