Thursday, April 28, 2005
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
Inca Dove
Inca Dove
Originally uploaded by Bill Walker.
Well, we're back from Texas, and I'm finally starting to sort through all the pictures I took, including this cute lil' Inca Dove who seemed to be nesting in the Frontera Audubon parking lot.
Sunday, April 24, 2005
South Texas Day Five
50 species, including four life birds.
(Will have to write more trip notes later. Just got home at midnight sans luggage after changing our plane tickets in Dallas. Grrr, gosh darn airport luggage office. Meanwhile, you can admire the species list for the whole trip)
(Will have to write more trip notes later. Just got home at midnight sans luggage after changing our plane tickets in Dallas. Grrr, gosh darn airport luggage office. Meanwhile, you can admire the species list for the whole trip)
Saturday, April 23, 2005
South Texas Day Four
83 species, including four life birds.
An overcast day with winds from the northeast gave high hopes of being a premium fallout day, but we had to settle for quality over quantity at Padre Island. Life looks at the Cape May Warbler at the convention center were enough prize to distract us from a "low" day total.
Our first trip to the convention center turned up only, ho hum, Blue-winged, Nashville and Tennessee Warblers, 2 orioles, Indigo Bunting and a few other passerines. We took a break by going to look at plovers, terns and gulls on the beach behind the convention center itself. On our return, the Cape May Warbler was spotted almost immediately by the 5 or more photographers with large rigs pointed right at the bird's last known location.
We stopped at the beach and jetty at the south tip of the island, then said good-bye to South Padre and headed out to Bensen for owls and nightjars. An elf owl emerged from a known location at 8:14 pm and was quickly joined in a near-by conifer by a second bird. In the dusk, we observed multiple food exchanges between these two birds before it got too dark to see them at all. A much more satisfying experience than a simple check-mark on a list.
Birds observed by others on the trip include: Clapper Rail, Least Sandpiper, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Bank Swallow, Cave Swallow, Grey Catbird, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Clay-colored and Savanah Sparrow, Hooded Oriole
(notes by Mary)
An overcast day with winds from the northeast gave high hopes of being a premium fallout day, but we had to settle for quality over quantity at Padre Island. Life looks at the Cape May Warbler at the convention center were enough prize to distract us from a "low" day total.
Our first trip to the convention center turned up only, ho hum, Blue-winged, Nashville and Tennessee Warblers, 2 orioles, Indigo Bunting and a few other passerines. We took a break by going to look at plovers, terns and gulls on the beach behind the convention center itself. On our return, the Cape May Warbler was spotted almost immediately by the 5 or more photographers with large rigs pointed right at the bird's last known location.
We stopped at the beach and jetty at the south tip of the island, then said good-bye to South Padre and headed out to Bensen for owls and nightjars. An elf owl emerged from a known location at 8:14 pm and was quickly joined in a near-by conifer by a second bird. In the dusk, we observed multiple food exchanges between these two birds before it got too dark to see them at all. A much more satisfying experience than a simple check-mark on a list.
Birds observed by others on the trip include: Clapper Rail, Least Sandpiper, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Bank Swallow, Cave Swallow, Grey Catbird, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Clay-colored and Savanah Sparrow, Hooded Oriole
(notes by Mary)
Friday, April 22, 2005
South Texas Day Three
112 species, including 5 life birds.
Weather was extremely hot and muggy, with varying clouds and occasional breeze.
In addition to the female Northern Parula, we observed a hybrid Northern x Tropical Parula.
Other critters included Pocket Gopher, Coyote, White-tailed Deer, Eastern Cottontail, and Spiny-backed Orb Weaver.
Today we celebrated our 450th life bird, a Grasshopper Sparrow seen at Santa Ana NWR.
Weather was extremely hot and muggy, with varying clouds and occasional breeze.
In addition to the female Northern Parula, we observed a hybrid Northern x Tropical Parula.
Other critters included Pocket Gopher, Coyote, White-tailed Deer, Eastern Cottontail, and Spiny-backed Orb Weaver.
Today we celebrated our 450th life bird, a Grasshopper Sparrow seen at Santa Ana NWR.
Thursday, April 21, 2005
South Texas Day Two
112 species, including 9 life birds
Weather was extremely warm and humid.
We started the morning at Sabal Palm, then spent the afternoon at the convention center at South Padre Island, returning to Harlingen by Old Port Isabel Road.
Birds seen by others on the trip include: White Ibis, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Green Kingfisher, Bewick's Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Grey Catbird, Scarlet Tanager, Chipping Sparrow, Lazuli Bunting, Painted Bunting.
There was an alligator just off the boardwark at South Padre Island convention center.
Weather was extremely warm and humid.
We started the morning at Sabal Palm, then spent the afternoon at the convention center at South Padre Island, returning to Harlingen by Old Port Isabel Road.
Birds seen by others on the trip include: White Ibis, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Green Kingfisher, Bewick's Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Grey Catbird, Scarlet Tanager, Chipping Sparrow, Lazuli Bunting, Painted Bunting.
There was an alligator just off the boardwark at South Padre Island convention center.
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
South Texas Day One
49 species
Arrived at McAllen airport around 3:18pm. By 3:54pm, we'd shown Dolores her first life bird (Great-tailed grackle) while on the way to the Best Western in Harlingen. We stopped there only briefly, then ran down to Laguna Atascosa NWR for picnic supper and birding. It was really wonderful to see so many of the highlight birds right away on the first day.
Mammals: mexican ground squirrel, collared peccary.
Arrived at McAllen airport around 3:18pm. By 3:54pm, we'd shown Dolores her first life bird (Great-tailed grackle) while on the way to the Best Western in Harlingen. We stopped there only briefly, then ran down to Laguna Atascosa NWR for picnic supper and birding. It was really wonderful to see so many of the highlight birds right away on the first day.
Mammals: mexican ground squirrel, collared peccary.
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
"Beer Butt Chicken"
"Beer Butt Chicken"
Originally uploaded by Bill Walker.
Yes, that's right, we're headed back to Texas. Bright and early tomorrow we're headed through Dallas to McAllen for five days of glorious birding. Groove-billed Ani here we come!
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
"Christy" (return of big trash)
"Christy"
Originally uploaded by Bill Walker.
It's time once again for what we like to call Big Trash Day, where once a year Santa Clara picks up darn near anything you leave on (or near) the curb. I always enjoy photographing the interesting juxapositions I find walking to the train this time of year.
Monday, April 11, 2005
All hail Art!
All hail Art, newly ascended demigod and holder of third highest all-time score in nethack.
(Art phoned us and we got to tune in via telnet to the server and watch his ascension in real time. Congrats, Art!)
(Art phoned us and we got to tune in via telnet to the server and watch his ascension in real time. Congrats, Art!)
Thursday, April 07, 2005
Rookery heating up again
Great Egret
Originally uploaded by Bill Walker.
Last night I attended the monthly meeting of the Bay Area Bird Photographers club, where I saw an excellent presentation by local photographer John Cang. He had many interesting suggestions about how to go beyond traditional bird portraits and make more interesting photos. I also heard that the rookery next to the Palo Alto Duck pond is getting busy again. I've got to get back out there some morning. This egret is one of my favorite shots from last year's rookery shots.
Tuesday, April 05, 2005
recent changes to birdWalker
Just wanted to mention some recent changes to birdWalker:
* Species lists, when subdivided taxonomically, are subdivided by Family. Formerly, they only subdivided by Order, which was confusing. Here's an example.
* The CSS should work properly on Firefox and Internet Explorer on both Mac and Windows.
* Randomly selected photos should stay the same for an entire day, so the Featured Photos on the front page should be there all day.
* Species lists, when subdivided taxonomically, are subdivided by Family. Formerly, they only subdivided by Order, which was confusing. Here's an example.
* The CSS should work properly on Firefox and Internet Explorer on both Mac and Windows.
* Randomly selected photos should stay the same for an entire day, so the Featured Photos on the front page should be there all day.
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