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Northern Cardinals - Defend Their Territory

     During a visit to Babcock-Webb Wildlife Management Area on 3/20/2013, we spotted a Tricolored Heron and a Juvenile Little Blue Heron.  They were standing along the shoreline of Lake Webb in a great setting for photos.  We pulled off the main road, turned off the engine and got out of the car.  To avoid scaring the Herons with the sound of closing doors, we just left them open, moved into shooting positions and took photos.

     Suddenly, we heard a commotion behind us, we turned around and saw a pair of Northern Cardinals attacking our car.  Apparently, we had parked too close to their nesting site.  The sun was shining brightly and the reflections from the car's windshield and side view mirrors got the Cardinals attention.  At one point, both birds were actually IN the car.

     We have read that Cardinals will "attack" their reflections in mirrors or sliding glass doors, but to witness it was amazing.  As an added blessing we watched as the pair sang to each other.  Click on the link below to learn about the behavior of the Northern Cardinal.  Click here   http://youtu.be/HtB3ZrnbWBk   to watch a video of the Cardinals attacking the "alleged intruders", and enjoy these photos of the Northern Cardinals defending their territory.....tweet.....tweet!! 

Mrs. Cardinal singing a song.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Cardinal

Painted Bunting - One of God's Most Colorful Creations

     Today's featured feathered friend is the Painted Bunting.  Painted Buntings are small songbirds of the Cardinal family.  They measure just over 5 inches in length and weight less than one ounce.

     The male Painted Bunting is undoubtedly the most colorful bird in North America.  He has a blue head, red underparts and a green back.  Females and immatures are a bright yellow-green overall, with a pale eye ring.  Because of their dazzling plumage, males are caught and sold illegally as cage birds, particularly in Mexico and the Caribbean.  Their conservation status is Near Threatened.  

     Their summer range includes the southern most states and the Carolinas.  They migrate through Mexico and Florida on the way to their wintering grounds in Central America and the Caribbean.  We have been blessed to have them stop by our backyard for a seed and a bath each year since we moved to Florida. 
     Click on this link  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-IJtSL4oAo&feature=youtu.be  to watch a short video of a male Painted Bunting.  Enjoy the photos of these stunning birds.....tweet.....tweet!!

 

Male Painted Bunting enjoying a bath.
(Taken 3/10/2012, Our Backyard)



Female Painted Bunting blending into the greenery.
(Taken 1/12/13, Our Backyard)



Male Painted Bunting striking a pose.
(Taken 3/8/13, Our Backyard)



Female Painted Bunting
(Taken 12/24/12, Our Backyard)

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Painted_Bunting/id

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Painted_Bunting

Roseate Spoonbill and Friends

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Six New Birds - A Big Day in Hendry County

     On Saturday, March 2nd, we took a birding trip to Stormwater Treatment Area 5 (STA-5) in Hendry County, south of Clewiston.  The event was sponsored by the Hendry-Glades Audubon Society.  We were hoping to add five new birds to our life list on this trip, we scored six.  A "Big Day" for us, bringing our life list to a total of 177 different species.

     There were over 100 birders present on site.  Each vehicle entering the area was given a walkie-talkie and birders were asked to "call out" if they saw any interesting species.  We were less then five minutes on the trail when the lead vehicle in our group spotted a Peregrine Falcon atop a power pole.  Everyone stopped, got out of their cars, and quickly began setting up their spotting scopes.  It seemed as though we were the only photographers on the trip.  We took as many photos of the Peregrine as we could, then moved on.

Peregrine Falcon (in poor morning light at a distance)

     STA-5 is a very large area created to filter water flowing into the Everglades.  It is an extensive system of levees, dikes and canals, creating very large impoundment ponds (cells).  Driving atop the levees overlooking the water, hundreds of birds are visible in every cell.  The majority of birds are those typically found around water.  Wading birds, diving ducks, dabbling ducks, shorebirds, gulls and terns were all abundant.  A few warbler species were spotted along with grackles and Red-Winged Blackbirds.   On one particular stop, we scored three life list birds.  A pair of Snail Kites were foraging for apple snails on a grassy patch next to a pair of sleeping Fulvous Whistling-Ducks.  A pair of Purple Swamphens were foraging at the edge of the tall grass and reeds.  Here are photos taken on this stop.  An impressive array of optical equipment can be seen.

Snail Kite on the wing.

Fulvous Whistling-Duck (we spotted over 30 of them)

 

Purple Swamphens (this pair spotted with their chicks)



Our Group (one of many at STA-5 on March 2nd)

     Later, at another stop, we spotted (through someone's scope) a male Ruddy Duck.  We couldn't find him in the vast sea of American Coots and other duck species, so we didn't get a photo.  We missed out on spotting the  Gadwall (a duck species) even though it was "called out" several times.

     As we were leaving the area heading for home we spotted a Western Kingbird, scoring our sixth new bird of the day.  We traveled over 280 miles, the temperatures were in the low 50s and the winds were brisk and steady.  Nevertheless, we had a fantastic birding day.  In all, we spotted 63 species.  We hope you enjoy these photos of our trip.....tweet....tweet!!

Western Kingbird (a rare bird in the east)

http://floridabirdingtrail.com/index.php/trip/trail/Stormwater_Treatment_Area_5/