Although I went out to BTA solo to look for some rare birds, I ended up finding Susan Fishburn there, too, just as I was thinking about leaving. She was looking for the Ovenbird reported the previous day so I joined her for a while, not having birded with her for quite some time. Finally, I split off to return home while she continued her patient vigil in the general area the bird was previously spotted.
The Ovenbird, White-throated Sparrow and Rufous-backed Robin were all on my list of rare birds for this area - of which, as I left the Arboretum, I got one: RUFOUS-BACKED ROBIN.
Was not prepared for the sighting; camera was turned off with lens cover on. So, wouldn't you know the RBRobin would start walking, then quickly flying when it saw me approaching on the path I had waited for it to show itself that morning at 8 a.m. For close to an hour, I had waited - a long wait for me! Having seen it several years ago at the Arboretum in the tall hackberry next to the Smith Building, and farther south along Santa Gertrudis Lane in Tumacacori, I knew the bird. So, now I got one good look at its profile, indicating the main markers that make it different from our AMERICAN ROBIN that has a black head with broken white eye ring and dark gray nape, back and tail. The RUFOUS-BACKED differs with a gray head, dark eye and short dark eyeline; dark streaks on its white throat; orange-ish breast and reddish back and wings.
No doubt about what I was seeing - made me smile that I didn't pull a complete wipe out on rarities.
For a short while, I thought I might be looking at the Ovenbird - plain brown...oops, no orange streak on its head...second oops, very rufous wings and tail. Even though its dark speckled chest appeared to be streaked (like an Ovenbird), it was probably wishful thinking. HERMIT THRUSH for sure.
 |
| HERMIT THRUSH |
At the same location, I had a surprise sighting come out into the open from the underbrush:
SWAMP SPARROW.
 |
| Poor photo, yet shows the very reddish coloration of the skulky SWAMP SPARROW |
 |
| WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW - ADULT |
 |
| WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW - JUVENILE |
 |
| HOUSE FINCH - male |
 |
| HOUSE FINCH - female |
 |
| Sometimes this is the view I get: BLACK-THROATED SPARROW |
 |
| And, then I get a view like this: NORTHERN CARDINAL |
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S61472161
Saturday, November 16th
 |
| Javelina
Although I didn't get photos of all our sightings, a few of our best birds are below:
|
 |
A VIRGINIA RAIL was one of the first birds we saw. It came out from down in the watery reeds up to where we were standing in the picnic area staring at it. Once it realized where it was, it took off quickly. |
Seeing three BALD EAGLE was definitely a good sighting in the limited time we birded there. One was at the nest checking things out and decided to go look for more nesting material.
 |
 |
| Same bird as above. It pulled a gigantic amount of nesting material (limb with stuff on it) out of the river. Very heavy lift, apparently, so it waited until it dried out a bit before carrying up to the nest.
All the while, another mature adult (maybe the male) perched on a very distant crossbar of a tall pole. It was visited by a 3-year old BALD EAGLE so the two of them flew off together.
We all enjoyed our time at the River and I hope we'll get together for more birding later. They'll be heading home soon, but hope to return again this season.
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S61493930
* * * |
No comments:
Post a Comment