Birds and Nature

This Hammond's Flycatcher was identified yesterday at Estero Llano Grande State Park in Weslaco, TX by Mary Gustafson with some notes that this bird has been around for a month (I guess the bird matches some photos taken last month but identified as another species). There are very small differences between Hammond's and Dusky Flycatcher and similar to other empids. This bird wagged it's tail upwards which rules out Gray Flycatcher that wags it's tail downward. Sibley notes that Dusky has a rounded head and this bird shows a flatter head.  Sibley also differentiates Dusky and Hammond's by primary projection with Dusky having a short projection and Hammond's a long projection. Not visible in pics but I looked at the bird 's back and had the impression of a long primary projection. Sibley also states that Hammond's have a "distinct 'vest'" and all 3 of these shows a vested appearance. But I am glad there have been no other fl...

While I photographed this Peregrine Falcon it lifted it's foot and pointed it's middle toe directly up in the air and it's looking down towards me! Well, maybe not it's 'middle toe' (they have two toes facing forward and 2 back behind so they don't really have a middle toe). In the pic above it's 2 forward, 2 back toes are evident. And actually those are called talon. Check out those long,sharp nails! SeEtta

I spotted this Black-throated Green Warbler at Quinta Mazatlan Birding Center. It shows the bright yellow face with olive auriculars but little of the black colored throat found on males of this species. Instead the small amount of black on the throat is indicative of a female or immature bird. Photos show the white belly with blackish streaks on the side that are also field marks of this species. SeEtta

I spotted this Gray Hawk on a utility line next to Military Highway south of Pharr,TX. It spent it's time watching mostly on the ground below it for something presumably to eat. Gray Hawk is a tropical species found only in a few southwestern states bordering Mexico and mostly right along the border. They are one of the specialities in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas. As it is noted that this species mainly eats small birds and lizards I suspect it was watching for lizards in this location next to the very busy Military Highway. It seemed odd to me to see this tropical hawk amongst all this urban utility wire clutter.  SeEtta

 This female Summer Tanager is almost brown. Birds of North America online says females plumage varies from yellow to mustard yellow.  I looked up mustard yellow and as can be seen from the bottom pic that does pretty much describe this female's plumage.  SeEtta

 I went back to Roselawn Cemetery this morning to try to get better photos of this and other birds than I got yesterday.  While still not sharp these pics are certainly better than the one I got yesterday.

 I also found this male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and the poor pic of the Yellow-throated Warbler also at Roselawn Cemetery today.  They were part of a mixed species flock foraging around the many trees in this cemetery.  SeEtta