Birds on the Brain

Three-cornered garlic (Allium triquetrum). Pretty, but the most widespread and persistent weed in our garden.  March 2020.

A Big Splash I practiced a little social distancing this past Sunday when I drove to Barnegat Light State Park and walked out along the beach and the rock jetty. A merganser drake came in for a landing and made quite a splash with his debut. Sometimes the action is better than the animal itself. A northeast wind kept migrating northern gannets drifting closer to the shoreline and into view from the jetty. It was great to get a last look at some of the wintering birds before they complete the last leg of their northern journey to breed for the season. #Merganser

www.danieldauria.com (at Barnegat Light, New Jersey) https://www.instagram.com/p/B98KmybAEcY/?igshid=fukxmfmiyn3f

Glossy Ibis - Íbis-preto (Plegadis falcinellus)

Vila Franca de Xira/Portugal (6/03/2020)

[Nikon D500; AF-S Nikkor 500mm F5,6E PF ED VR; 1/1600s; F9; 400 ISO]

My first Eastern Phoebe sighting of the year today at Tommy Thompson Park. Also saw my first few tree swallows.

Scott’s tree-kangaroo (Dendrolagus scottae)

Photo by Australian Museum

Bald eagle kind of day

March 2020

Base of Ragged Falls,

Algonquin Park

Quero-Quero/Southern Lapwing 

Vanellus chilensis

Historic American Buildings Survey Harold Allen, Photographer 17 June 1964 SANCTUARY AND HIGH ALTAR- FROM SOUTHWEST - Holy Family Church (Roman Catholic), 1104-1114 West Roosevelt Road, Chicago, Cook County, IL

© Frank Vassen, CC 2.0

Poospiza boliviana by Giselle Mangini

Past flowers.

Yesterday I returned to old photos of my kitchen garden back in Virginia. Today’s nostalgia is for flowers from the borders. All were taken over several growing seasons, in Portsmouth, Virginia. 

The California giant salamander, Dicamptodon ensatus, growing up to 12 inches long, is one of North America’s largest salamanders.

photograph by Dick Bartlett (used w/ permission)

March 17, 2020 - Rufous Fantail (Rhipidura rufifrons)

The fifteen recognized subspecies of these fantails are found in eastern Australia and parts of Indonesia, Micronesia, the Northern Mariana Islands, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste. Often foraging in mixed-species flocks, they eat a variety of insects and spiders, capturing them in short flights or picking them from plants. Pairs build compact cup-shaped nests from grass and fine plant fibers held together with spiderwebs, usually in forked branches. Both parents incubate the eggs and feed the chicks.

Tīeke are such neat birds, and I love their endless chatter.

#birdventurenz #your_best_birds #nuts_about_birds #birdsofinstagram #birdsaotearoa #nzbirds #birds_adored #bird_brilliance #thebrillianceofbirds #nikonnz #nikond500 #wildlife_perfection #naturelovers #bird_lovers #bird_lovers_daily #raw_birds https://www.instagram.com/p/B-aUMNRJkw4/?igshid=1d354hbvo5fnr

Sequins.

Another view of a broad-billed hummingbird (Cynanthus latirostris), at the Paton Center for Hummingbirds, Patagonia, Arizona. Hummers often adopt that erect posture—especially at feeders—to keep an eye on possible competitors for their preferred food sources.