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Posted by Marcello Gomes on 20:42:15 02/20/15
Hi all,
It's been awhile since you heard from me. Been out in the fields cooking something up. A lot of it has not been anything unusual. Although some interesting bird news have recently caught my attention. Where shall I start?
1) The Broad-winged Hawk that I posted from February 1st, was found again BUT this time I was able to get a sweet underside shot on this adult hawk. Have not seen two together but there's no reason to believe they are not here together (my intuition is right, believe me).
2) I know some folks have tried the Yellow-headed Blackbirds at the Semi Chi Rice Plant (birders from Miami reported not seeing them a week or so ago) and other locals. Well, they are still around though obviously not always seen. I am posting a partial shot where you can see 20. Some you may see parts of the body only, others blending in in the light with Brown-headed Cowbirds. Some you can see the Yellow turning into a fiery orange colors! This was on Wednesday.
3) If my research serves me right, Ardith Bondi back in 2012, was the person who first noticed and first photographed a couple of Neotropic Cormorants at Wakodahatchee Wetlands in Palm Beach County. I got a shot of a beautiful immature Neotropic on a nest - you won't regret or your money back:) I am estimating this youngster to be about a month old.
4) A few Least Bitterns are beginning to come out as Spring quickly approaches. Was able to manage a Kung Fu type of shot on pure reflex.
5) Sparrows... what, Marcello? Have you lost your mind? Are you now, a Sparrow chaser? Well, not exactly. My Sparrow magnet is not too strong (plus I don't live in Miami-Dade - The Sparrow capital of South Florida!) - however, I managed to photograph a Swamp and a Chipping Sparrow in their habitat...until I flushed the four Chipping Sparrows into a small tree up at Riverbend Park in Jupiter.
6) Some species are beginning to regain their new Spring plumage before they bolt out of here. Other Florida residents are beginning to be more vocal ( Cardinals, Mockingbirds, Blue Jays, Fish Crows, etc).
7) Last but not least, got a textbook example on the differences side-to-side on the Yellowlegs - math analogy included. This may be helpful to new birders or to those that sometimes may struggle out in the field with the Yellowlegs.
I did not want to include my World Class shot of a Green-winged Teal not to compete with Trey Mitchell's gorgeous shots about a week ago. My shot was actually a "local lower class" in comparison and I have chosen to reserve the right and omit from my Flickr website.
Have a great weekend birding wherever you may go.
Marcello
P.S I added another bird that is Toe's favorite ( a tiny bird that tends to get in the way of other seriously sought migrating Warblers and the answer is NOT a Painted Bunting! You can nail that one Toe!
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