Sunday, June 20, 2010

White Tailed Buck

White Tailed Buck

I was taking a stroll back to home after a failed attempt to capture Downy Woodpecker. On my way I noticed this White Tailed Buck which became alert on hearing my footsteps and it had it's eyes and ear fixed on me for some time but suddenly some kids started shouting in distance on the other side and this buck immediately altered its stance and gave me just an ear and rest all was focused on something which sounded more concerning to him.

Downy Woodpecker Home

Downy Woodpecker Home

I found this home of a Downy Woodpecker and waited there for almost an hour to get a shot of feeding but I was not lucky enough and weather was not on my side either. So I left the place but not without taking the picture of home where young ones are growing. I will go back there sometime this week again and see if I have any luck.

Eastern Blue Bird

Eastern Blue Bird

This was taken when me and Maya (my wife) went for a early morning shoot. I loved the color of this bird.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Family!

Family

As I was busy tracking the mischievous and restless Yellow Warbler in the morning I saw this duck family at the very last moment.

The mom kept an eye on me and the moment I clicked it took the hidden road in the grass...I did not follow it for picture as I had no intention to bother her in her own backyard...especially when she had responsibility of six young ones.

Bobolink - Male

Bobolink - Male

Finally got the ID of this bird which is Fairly common summer resident in east.
 Male Bobolinks in breeding plumage are visually striking birds. Their plumage has been described as looking like a skunk, a backward tuxedo, or a broken egg running down their back. They are solid black below, with black faces, light yellow napes, black and white streaked backs, and white rumps. Females are buff-brown with streaked backs and plain buff underparts. They have plain faces, dark eye-lines, and dark and light head stripes. They could easily be misidentified as a large sparrow, especially because they have thick, short bills and are smaller than most blackbirds. Males in non-breeding plumage look like females.

Conservation Status

Bobolinks are common throughout most of their range and were formerly considered to be major predators of rice in the southeastern United States. There is less rice grown in the United States now, and the population of Bobolinks has declined in the past few decades due to loss of habitat, so their predation of rice is less of an issue. Partners in Flight lists them as a species-at-risk. Bobolinks are historically more eastern birds and have expanded their range into Washington because of the habitat created by agriculture. In fact, the Toppenish colony near Yakima is probably the westernmost Bobolink colony in North America. Mowing and livestock grazing are both threats to breeding Bobolinks. Preservation of some uncultivated, wet meadow adjacent to hay fields, along with delayed mowing by farmers until the young have fledged, may help maintain Bobolink populations.

Gray Catbird

ID Please?

Overview

Gray Catbird: Small, shy, dark gray mockingbird with black cap and red-brown undertail coverts. The bill, legs, and feet are black. Forages on ground, shrubs and branches. Feeds mostly on insects and their larvae, spiders, berries and fruits. Swift direct flight on rapid wing beats.

Range and Habitat

Gray Catbird: Breeds from southern Canada to central New Mexico, the Gulf states and Bermuda. Winters in the southeastern U.S., Panama, and the West Indie. Prefers low, dense vegetation or vine tangles at the edges of forests, marshes, and streams; does not occur in forest interiors. Suburban landscapes often contain good habitat for this species.

Yellow Warbler

Warbler

This tiny Yellow warbler gave me run for this shot. It was early morning and it was busy finding some worms for breakfast. I have not got very sharp image of this Warbler yet but will get one soon as I know the nest of this beautiful bird.