Photographicbirdlistomania: February 2019

Sunday, February 24, 2019

Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica) - 23Apr2017

One of my favorite birds, these terns have massive bills and hunt for ground dwelling food which is unique for terns. I see them each year at Fort Fisher and it is always a treat.

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) - 23Apr2017 & 05May2019

The most easily recognizable swallow in NC due to the deeply forked tail. This one was photographed at Lee Buck Rd in Brunswick County, NC.

Here is one in flight at Rogersville Rd in Wilmington, NC.

Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) - 12Apr2017 & 05Jan2019

I love the sweet whistled song of a Titmouse.

Here is a pic from my friend Nancy's house in Wilmington.

This one was photographed up in the mountains in Marshall, NC. I will have to get a decent photo for my yard list.

Least Tern (Sternula antillarum) - 07Apr2017 & 09Apr2018

I fond memories of these little badass terns from my childhood growing up on Long Island, NY. We used to go fishing at the Flax Pond Inlet in Old Field and in the summer while these guys nested, they would dive bomb us all to way to the inlet. This one was resting between fishing forays at Wrightsville Beach, NC.

And a year later in the same spot!

European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) - 02Apr2017

Whoever tagged the latin name on this beauty obviously did not have as favorable an opinion of them as I do. Not only are these birds beautiful but they can sing.... Apparently Mozart had a pet Starling and he actually wrote music based on the song of his bird. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mozart's_starling

One of these days I will see one of the infamous giant shapeshifting flocks in Europe that Starlings will sometimes form.

This one was photographed in Carolina Beach, NC.

House Sparrow (Passer Domesticus) - 02Apr2017

With a latin name like that, I wonder how long these birds have been benefitting from humans. These are part of the "old world" sparrows. These were photographed in Carolina Beach, NC but you can find them pretty much anywhere. Female first then male below.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) - 01Apr2017 & 29Apr2018

This ain't no April Fool's joke, BG Gnatties are one of the first migrants to come through in large numbers in southeast NC. Unfortunately I am deaf to their high pitch calls and songs.

Here is a beauty in spring at Warren Wilson College in western NC.

As evidenced by the freshly emerging leaves, this is in April at one of my favorite spots to bird in the spring - Governor's Rd in Brunswick County, NC.

American Tree Sparrow (Spizelloides arborea) - 30Mar2017

Here is a species that I full expect to get in NC at some point. Some folks had a legitimate one up at Warren Wilson some years back. Random people do report this species every year mistakenly in NC as it does look like other sparrows. This one was photographed up in Massachusetts where they are fairly common. Note the yellow lower mandible.

Friday, February 15, 2019

Random Stuff (03-15Feb2019)

Here is some random birds from the past two weeks close to home.

Laughing Gulls at FF Rocks. Not in 5MR..

Snowy Egrets

Common Goldeneye still hanging out at the Aquarium Pond.

Greater Yellowlegs at FF.

Royal Terns at FF Rocks.

Gray Catbird at FF Aquarium Trail.

Black Scoter at a barely visible Long-tailed Duck at south end of WB.

Sedge Wren at FF Basin Trail.

Great Cormorants at south end of WB.

Cooper's Hawk also at the south end, firmly within 5MR.

Northern Mockingbird at south end.

Ring-necked Duck at Rogersville Rd, also in 5MR.

Northern Cardinal at Rogersville.

A hard to see Brown Creeper.

Fox Squirrel

Eastern Towhee at Rogersville.

Common Grackle at Airlie.

Little Blue at Airlie.

Green Comma? In my yard.

Too tired to check, but I think it's a Sleepy Orange?

Semipalmated Plover at North end of WB. Out of 5MR.

I managed to find the Black-headed Gull at the north end when some gas powered paraglider scared the birds up. See the higher bird with leading white wedge in upper wing and dark tipped underwing.