Uploads from mesquakie8

Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola)

nobody@flickr.com (mesquakie8) — Sat, 25 May 2013 20:41:24 -0700

mesquakie8 posted a photo:

Virginia Rails observed at Horicon Marsh NWR

Mississippi Kite (Ictinia mississippiensis)

nobody@flickr.com (mesquakie8) — Fri, 24 May 2013 20:26:51 -0700

mesquakie8 posted a photo:

Received a phone call after dinner tonight letting me know that the MIKIs were active this evening. Active is an interesting phrase, poor Lou "I'm embarrassed to say the kites are having sex". Thought that was rather cute phrase, others say that I'm now doing "bird porn" but a great opportunity to observe a behavior that I had not seen yet with our MIKIs.

Mississippi Kites observed mating, first time observing this behavior.

Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda)

nobody@flickr.com (mesquakie8) — Mon, 20 May 2013 19:37:53 -0700

mesquakie8 posted a photo:

One of my favorite birds of the Plains and this little Uppie was observed calling and stretching or maybe getting ready to a little dance and get down tonight!

Upland Sandpiper observed at various places on our travels around Valentine NWR.

Mississippi Kite (Ictinia mississippiensis)

nobody@flickr.com (mesquakie8) — Sun, 19 May 2013 20:51:07 -0700

mesquakie8 posted a photo:

Mississippi Kites have returned once again to the Rockford area. First observed in 2008, they have successfully nested around the Bloom School area every year since. Friday morning apparently one of the neighbors spotted a MIKI in the dead stick tree and later I was called, came over, and confirmed that indeed the MIKIs had returned. Saw 2 of them on Friday, none on Saturday, so went back this morning and located an adult male and an adult female in the school yard. After 10 minutes they flew south then east and I was not able to see them. Later I refound them in different areas with the male sitting here in this Russian Elm at the school.

Mourning Warbler (Geothlypis philadelphia)

nobody@flickr.com (mesquakie8) — Sun, 19 May 2013 18:05:30 -0700

mesquakie8 posted a photo:

We're finally starting to see some of the migrants that we hoped would show this past week with the warming temperatures and southerly winds. Here this beautiful ASY male Mourning Warbler decided to visit our nets and I can not pass up a chance to photograph one of these beautiful warblers. The D800 picks up the details quite nicely I think.

Mourning Warbler trapped, banded, and released at Sand Bluff Bird Observatory

Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus)

nobody@flickr.com (mesquakie8) — Wed, 15 May 2013 20:10:56 -0700

mesquakie8 posted a photo:

Bird Fest XV was a success from the standpoint of visitors, entertainment, and different presentations, however, the birds did not show up in any kind of numbers. The best bird Saturday was this beautiful Yellow-billed Cuckoo. We don't trap many of these, many more Black-billed vs. Yellow-billed, so I was rather excited to be able to process this bird before release. The feathers on this species have to be some of the softest that I've ever dealt with, incredible, almost like silk.

Yellow-billed Cuckoo trapped, banded, and released at Sand Bluff Bird Observatory.

Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus)

nobody@flickr.com (mesquakie8) — Tue, 14 May 2013 20:00:05 -0700

mesquakie8 posted a photo:

Not the best photo as it was taken mid-afternoon, the cattle were on the wrong side of the road, and everthing is backlit. None-the-less, an interesting behaviorial shot with Yellow-headed Blackbirds, Brown-headed Cowbirds, and Red-winged Blackbirds all hunting in the pasture around the cattle looking for insects and seeds probably in and around the cattle droppings. This was the largest grouping of YHBBs that we saw on our recent trip to Nebraska, over 50 in this pasture alone.

Yellow-headed Blackbirds observed in a cow pasture going through the droppings looking for...

Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)

nobody@flickr.com (mesquakie8) — Tue, 14 May 2013 18:52:05 -0700

mesquakie8 posted a photo:

Great Horned Owl brought by Flint Creek Wildlife Rehabitation group to Bird Fest at Sand Bluff Bird Observatory.

To Be Free To Fly!

nobody@flickr.com (mesquakie8) — Mon, 13 May 2013 19:16:56 -0700

mesquakie8 posted a photo:

Liked the pose captured in this image as the Barn Owl looks skyward and listens to all the activity in the woods at Colored Sands FP.

Barn Owl observed at Sand Bluff Bird Observatory during Bird Fest XV. An imprinted bird and part of the Flint Creek Wildlife Rehabitation group.

Barn Owl (Tyto alba)

Barn Owl (Tyto alba)

nobody@flickr.com (mesquakie8) — Sun, 12 May 2013 21:27:53 -0700

mesquakie8 posted a photo:

Barn Owl observed at Sand Bluff Bird Observatory during Bird Fest XV. An imprinted bird and part of the Flint Creek Wildlife Rehabitation group. More pictures to come, too tired to work anymore tonight!

White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi)

nobody@flickr.com (mesquakie8) — Thu, 09 May 2013 19:58:30 -0700

mesquakie8 posted a photo:

Just returned from a 4 day trip to Nebraska to check out spring migration in the Central Flyway. Unfortunately, last summer's drought left a lot of damage to the area and this spring was rather cold so many of the birds I thought we might be seeing just had not yet shown themselves. However, were able to get a few shorebirds like this beautiful White-faced Ibis that decided to take flight while we were observing. Sorry about the copyright across the face!

White-faced Ibis seen along highway 83 in Valentine NWR, NE

Clay-colored Sparrow (Spizella pallida)

nobody@flickr.com (mesquakie8) — Sat, 04 May 2013 21:31:05 -0700

mesquakie8 posted a photo:

An extemely busy Saturday morning with numerous migrants coming through and short on volunteer help in some critical areas. Ended up with 11 new FOYs birds this morning with the best being this Clay-colored Sparrow. Liked this shot as the wind blew its feathers up so that you can see the beautiful grayish collar that goes around the neck. We don't get many Clay-coloreds come through our banding area so it is always a treat to trap one, but we were able to get two in the same net during the same net run. Awesome!

Clay-colored Sparrow, a species we don't see all the time, was trapped, banded, and released at Sand Bluff Bird Observatory outside Shirland, IL.

Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)

nobody@flickr.com (mesquakie8) — Fri, 03 May 2013 19:33:21 -0700

mesquakie8 posted a photo:

Went out to the banding station this morning as we had 56 2nd graders out to observe the birds. Rained the majority of the time but did get some FOYs~Grasshopper Sparrow, Scarlet Tanager, and Gray Catbird. After coming home we had some new yard birds; Baltimore Oriole, Palm Warbler, Orchard Oriole, and an FOY Indigo Bunting. So even with the dark and gloomy skies, some good birds moving through.

Baltimore Oriole feeding at out platform feeder, first time to our yard.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus)

nobody@flickr.com (mesquakie8) — Thu, 02 May 2013 20:35:16 -0700

mesquakie8 posted a photo:

Rose-breasted Grosbeaks showed up at our house feeders today for the first time ever. Second year male, has a ways to go to look studley!

Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus)

nobody@flickr.com (mesquakie8) — Thu, 02 May 2013 20:35:14 -0700

mesquakie8 posted a photo:

A good day at the house with migrants dropping by for snacks and pics. Never had RBGRs visit the house before so really surprised and pleased for the distraction today. All pictures taken with a 300mm F4 lens through windows, double glass! Here a beautiful ASY, after second year, male is sitting in the Lilac bushes while the rain finishes and he then gets some sunflower snack.

Rose-breasted Grosbeaks showed up at our house feeders today for the first time ever.

Purple Finch (Carpodacus purpureus)

nobody@flickr.com (mesquakie8) — Thu, 02 May 2013 20:35:14 -0700

mesquakie8 posted a photo:

Purple Finch was observed coming to the platform feeder a couple of times today.

Louisiana Waterthrush (Seiurus motacilla)

nobody@flickr.com (mesquakie8) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 20:48:03 -0700

mesquakie8 posted a photo:

We had some major migration movement last night so I went out to the local park to see what might be available and picked up 7 FOYs birds. One that I have not seen in years was this Louisiana Warbler that posed nicely for me. Decided not to carry the 600mm since I was going to walk a ways and only used the D7100 with the 300mm F4. Generally pleased with the results, only continuing challenge I have with the D7100, same with the D7000, is the autofocus when trying to get something with a lot of clutter that actually surrounds the subject I really want. Once, the camera gets focused well, the results are great, but you miss so much in the mean time.

Located 2 Louisiana Waterthrushes at Rock Cut State Park, first time ever seen them at this facility.

Le Conte's Sparrow (Ammodramus leconteii)

nobody@flickr.com (mesquakie8) — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 10:57:13 -0700

mesquakie8 posted a photo:

Le Conte's Sparrow trapped, banded, and released at Sand Bluff Bird Observatory, Shirland, IL. Second one trapped in as many weeks, a rarity we generally only see once every 5 years.

Henslow's_Sparrow_DSC_3220

nobody@flickr.com (mesquakie8) — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 10:57:12 -0700

mesquakie8 posted a photo:

American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)

nobody@flickr.com (mesquakie8) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 21:45:13 -0700

mesquakie8 posted a photo:

A close-up shot of the female American Kestrel.

American Kestrels trapped, banded, and released at Sand Bluff Bird Observatory; adult female.