Mon@rch's Nature Blog

Peek-a-boo and Warblers 2

patacoate — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:36:43 +0000

Northern Parula

By: Pat Coate

Happily a recent trip to Allegany State Park yielded a warbler that I don’t often see – a Northern Parula. It, along with several other birds, seemed to be playing peek-a-boo with me while working its way through this beautiful flowering tree. Some field marks for the Northern Parula visible to varying degrees in the photo include white crescents around the eyes, white wing bars (2), yellow neck and chest with a reddish bar across the chest, and grey-blue head and wings.

Yellow Warbler

Sweet-sweet-sweet-I’m-so-sweet….one of the few mnemonics I agree with!

Chipping Sparrow

These widespread sparrows are identified by their bright cap, grey chest, white eyebrow and black eye line.

Chipping Sparrow

Northern Parula

Filed under: iPhone Tagged: Chipping Sparrow, Northern Parula, yellow warbler

Happy Thursday

patacoate — Thu, 16 May 2013 06:44:09 +0000

Chipmonk

By: Pat Coate

Filed under: iPhone

Spring Warblers

patacoate — Thu, 09 May 2013 07:05:40 +0000

Prairie Warbler

By: Pat Coate

Great time of year for birding. Lots of warblers are moving through the area. Nine species so far, hoping to add some more this week.

Yellow Warbler

Black-throated Green Warbler

Black and White Warbler

Filed under: iPhone Tagged: black and white warbler, black-throated green warbler, Prairie Warbler, yellow warbler

Tree Swallows

patacoate — Thu, 02 May 2013 04:03:02 +0000

Tree Swallow

By: Pat Coate

Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s AllAboutBirds.com gives a good description of tree swallows and their typical behavior, which I have observed often:

“Handsome aerialists with deep-blue iridescent backs and clean white fronts, Tree Swallows are a familiar sight in summer fields and wetlands across northern North America. They chase after flying insects with acrobatic twists and turns, their steely blue-green feathers flashing in the sunlight.”

But recently I watched about twenty tree swallows repeatedly fly along a small stream and seemingly dip down to the water. I figured they were feeding on insects, but this next photo made me wonder if they might instead be getting a drink.

Looks like this one was touching the water with its tongue. A bit more of a close-up look:

A challenge to get a picture without too much blur.

Filed under: iPhone Tagged: Tree Swallow

Osprey Back and Building (again)

patacoate — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 06:32:58 +0000

Osprey

By: Pat Coate

There are now two ospreys hanging out together on the nesting platforms at the Birch Run DEC ponds. I presume one is male and the other female. However, I did not see the “dark necklace” that usually identifies the female on either bird. They have been busy adding new sticks to the nest.

Osprey with Nest Material

Adding to the nest

Filed under: iPhone Tagged: Osprey, Osprey with nesting material