Year-End Bird Highlights - Part 1

I've seen a lot of great birds this year and have taken more photos than I'll ever be able to post, but I'll try a series of highlights. I spend a lot of time photographing birds, which means not enough time to actually process the photos. Such is life!

Anhinga: 

Getting flirty! I'm really captivated by these snake birds and love the mechanical sounds they make.

Black-Necked Stilt:

With a long pointy bill up front and amazingly long trailing legs, this bird flies like a javelin

Brown Pelican:

This individual was terrorizing everything in a small lake. It methodically scoured the shallows, making dive after dive, circling the lake.

Glossy Ibis:

The vibrant colors of the ibis are really visible in bright sun. 

 

Speaking of dazzling colors...

 

Gray-Headed Swamphen:

I can't believe this bird was named after the dullest part of itself. It's a walking blaze of color.

Here's another colorful gem.

 

Painted Bunting:

Semipalmated Plovers:

These cuties are small but lively. They might be my favorite shorebird.

Hudsonian Godwits:

I'd never seen Hudsonian Godwits before, so it made my day to see these two at Jamaica Bay.

Hermit Thrush:

I saw more Hermit Thrushes this last fall than ever before.

Loggerhead Shrike:

What a fierce little bird. 

Sandhill Crane:

This Sandhill Crane decided to fly in and land very near me. I had to back myself down into a ditch to give it some space as it strutted its stuff along a berm.

 

They're really magnificent in flight. During migration, Audubon's Rowe Sanctuary Crane cam is essential viewing. The cranes gather in one area by the thousands and their fly-ins and fly-outs are spectacular.  

White Ibis:

I haven't yet found anyone who gets as excited to see White Ibises as I do. They are common in their habitat, but uncommon to me.

Swallow-Tailed Kite:

This year was the first time I'd seen a Swallow-Tailed Kite, and then it seemed they were everywhere I went. 

Snowy Egret:

On a trip to Florida, I had a wonderful experience watching herons and egrets fly in to their roosting islands at sunset. That's something I'd like to see again in the coming year.

 

More to come.

 

 

Raptor season begins

My favorite part of winter is seeing more raptors around the city as they either migrate or set up territory. The leafless trees make them easier to find and observe.

A quick update on our local Red-Tailed Hawk pair, Amelia & Charlie: I saw them in Tompkins Square last night getting dinner. Charlie caught a rat and took it to a tree where both hawks hung out together until the sun went down. Of course, I did not have my camera with me, so I don't have any photos, but it was nice to see them together and they look good.

I do have many photos of other raptors I've seen over the last several months, so here are a few to get started.

Red-Shouldered Hawk (immature): 

Adult:

Another immature:

Adult:

Mississippi Kite (adult):

Cooper's Hawk (adult):

Short-Tailed Hawk (adult dark morph) with something in its talons:

This was my first time seeing a Short-Tailed Hawk and these were the only photos I was able to get of this elusive individual.

Red-Tailed Hawk (adult):

Another adult:

 

Immature:

Another immature:

Immature Red-Tail chased by and American Kestrel:

More to come.

Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds

I only had one decent chance to get photos of hummingbirds this last season and it turned out to be a rainy day. But, that didn't stop the little birds from going about their business and I did manage to get a few photos. 

These are all Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds and were all seen on the same day in Central Park. Next year, I hope to spend time with them on a sunny day. 

The Hummingbirds really like Jewelweed, so we should plant more of this where ever possible.

I think these are immature males as there is just one iridescent reddish-purple throat feather growing in.

I believe this is a female with no color on the throat and a black tail with white tips.

I had fun spending a few hours with these guys. They have habits and patterns, so I learned to camp out near a flower I liked and wait for the bird to appear. Not a bad way to spend a rainy day.