LATE SPRING AND EARLY SUMMER

Hi All,

As I write it is mid summer and hot.  Birders call this time the “summer doldrums,’ and for good reason.  The birds are often quiet and inconspicuous.  The first group are mostly at my feeder via the blind.  The 2nd group is at the local refuge.  They are drying it out again this year with hopes of dealing with an invasive plant species, which they think will be the last time.  There is a pool next to the road which attracts water associated birds as it gets smaller.  A good place to see secretive birds like rails.  

I have not been out much due to taking on a backyard project - I put in a patio consisting of paving stones which amounts to >1500 square feet.  Am currently doing a couple adjoining pathways, the first should be done later today.  There will be others taking up my time, but with the hot weather birding is taking a back seat.  But, in a couple of months I am scheduled to be on a boat heading out off shore for seabirds.  I intend to obtain some of them in flight such as albatrosses and shearwaters and a few others, so hopefully I’ll have a blog just for them.  

Mourning Doves

Male American Goldfinch

Female Black-headed Grosbeak

Male Evening Grosbeak

Male Black-headed Grosbeak

Band-tailed Pigeon

Band-tailed Pigeon

Male American Goldfinch.  This is as close as my lens will focus

Red-necked Phalarope

These are the ones at the refuge

Immature American Coot.  Check out those feet!

Immature Pied-billed Grebe with many weeds

Immature Sora

Immature Virginia Rail

Immature Virginia Rail

I got a little carried away with this Green Heron, so added a few shots

7/31/20
The last day of July!  This year is going by.  A few days ago a Bar-tailed Godwit showed up just over at the coast, and stayed on til today.  We were planning on going over there anyway as Rosie finally had a day off.  The bird is usually in the company of Whimbrels, and frequents a stretch of beach of about 4 miles, so finding him can really be hit and miss.  As there has been a few birders trying to locate him, it greatly helps.  I looked at one place first, walking a mile one way, and not having success walked back.  Then it was reported a few miles south, so we went there and I could not see it from where we were parked, so we ate lunch, then went to the beach and he was there.  So here are the best of my shots.

Oh yes, the cormorant...........I am practicing birds in flight as I am getting ready for a boat trip off the coast on Sept 12.  This birds was flying maybe 30 MPH, so I'm happy about this particular result.

Bar-tailed Godwit

Bar-tailed Godwit

Brant's Cormorant