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| Blue-winged Warbler |
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| Blue-winged Warbler |
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| Blue-winged Warbler |
While we were watching it we found a nice flock that also had Black-throated Green Warbler, a year bird.
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| Black-throated Green Warbler |
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| Phaon Crescent |
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| Philadelphia Vireo |
Andrew
Monday, August 24, 2015
Blue-winged Warbler
This morning I woke up early and decided to go birding on Frank Blodgett's land about a mile away from our house. It was a perfect morning, cool and clear, and I was feeling like it might be a pretty good day for the birds. When I got the at a little after 7:00, there was a lot of activity. Unfortunately, most of it was common resident birds. I was rather disappointed that there were so few birds, and the only thing that was very interesting was a Philadelphia Vireo. I was watching a Trail's Flycatcher feeding in a locust tree, when a small, bright yellow bird flew in. I saw that it had white undertail coverts and immediately thought of a Prothonotary Warbler, but I then I saw that it had a black eye-line and blue wings with white wing-bars. BLUE-WINGED WARBLER! I frantically began snapping pictures and trying to call Bryant. It kept feeding in the same tree for a while, and then disappeared. Luckily though, we were able to find it again when Bryant came. This is a casual visitant in our area of Kansas and it is on the KBRC review list for this part of the state as well. Anthony and Michael came down about two hours later, and were able to see it. Unfortunately, when Joseph came over this evening he couldn't refind it.
While we were watching it we found a nice flock that also had Black-throated Green Warbler, a year bird.
I also had a nice Phaon Crescent that posed for me.
This was only the second Philadelphia Vireo I have seen in Reno.
Hopefully this good birding continues!
Andrew
While we were watching it we found a nice flock that also had Black-throated Green Warbler, a year bird.
Andrew
Friday, August 21, 2015
Cheyenne Bottoms on Thursday
When the cold front brought in the latest rarity at Cheyenne Bottoms, a Pomarine Jaeger, we (Andrew, Joseph, and I) purposed to go chase it the following afternoon if it was seen again. Well, it turned up again on Thursday morning. And so, we did our duty and fulfilled our purpose.
We arrived at the Bottoms at about 1:30 to find the marsh bustling with bird activity. We stopped at the observation tower just inside the entrance to get our bearings and scope the marsh a bit. Our search turned up no large dark birds other than Great Blue Herons, Ibis, and Cormorants. The Jaeger should have stuck out like a sore thumb. We did, however, notice a couple of vehicles stopped beside the road up ahead. After leisurely checking the swallows perched nearby for Cave Swallows (there had been one reported) we made our way toward the parked vehicles. After a short conversation with the owners, who happened to be Tom Ewert and Dave Klema, we discovered that the Jaeger had just disappeared out of sight over a dike about a mile out on the central lake. If only we had hurried over there sooner, we would probably have seen it! No matter, it could probably be seen from the other side of the dike, and thankfully the road went around the lake giving a view of both sides. We headed out around the lake, stopping briefly beside a wounded Ring-billed Gull to snap a few pics, and scanning the air and water for a large dark bird (other than Great Blue Herons, Ibis, or Cormorants). We did; however, manage to find a Neotropic Cormorant, posing nicely on a weed not far off the road.
Part way around, we met up with Edward Raynor, who had just refound the Common Gallinule (another rarity reported recently). He offered to try to help us refind it, as well as the Jaeger, and we took him up on it. We followed him to look for the Gallinule, all the while keeping our eyes peeled for any sign of the Jaeger. We found neither, and soon headed back around the lake check back where we started. We had stopped to scan the water, when Andrew said, "I think I've got it!" We all trained our binoculars on the distant speck. It looked promising, but unfortunately, it was heading the other direction and soon disappeared from sight. With our limited views- it was over a mile away- we weren't able to make a positive I.D. although we were all fairly sure that it had been the Jaeger. Close call number two!
We continued back around the lake, stopping occasionally to scan. While we did find a Least Bittern, several Buff-breasted Sandpipers, and two Sanderlings, all good finds; the real prize eluded us. And our time was running out! It was about 3:30, and we needed to leave by 4:00. We stopped again (we were now back to where it had first been seen) to talk to some more birders, who told us they had seen the Jaeger about an hour ago from the same place. It had been back while we were gone around the lake! While I was still talking to them, Andrew, who had been scanning the lake, sounded the alarm. Sure enough. There it was in all its glory, floating on the water about 3/4 of a mile off the shore. We soon had Edward's scope focused in on it, giving us beautiful looks. It even took off for us several times, allowing us to see the diagnostic Pomarine paddle-shaped tail.
What a great finish to a twitch! It was very gratifying to finally see the crazy critter after several near misses!
Bryant
We arrived at the Bottoms at about 1:30 to find the marsh bustling with bird activity. We stopped at the observation tower just inside the entrance to get our bearings and scope the marsh a bit. Our search turned up no large dark birds other than Great Blue Herons, Ibis, and Cormorants. The Jaeger should have stuck out like a sore thumb. We did, however, notice a couple of vehicles stopped beside the road up ahead. After leisurely checking the swallows perched nearby for Cave Swallows (there had been one reported) we made our way toward the parked vehicles. After a short conversation with the owners, who happened to be Tom Ewert and Dave Klema, we discovered that the Jaeger had just disappeared out of sight over a dike about a mile out on the central lake. If only we had hurried over there sooner, we would probably have seen it! No matter, it could probably be seen from the other side of the dike, and thankfully the road went around the lake giving a view of both sides. We headed out around the lake, stopping briefly beside a wounded Ring-billed Gull to snap a few pics, and scanning the air and water for a large dark bird (other than Great Blue Herons, Ibis, or Cormorants). We did; however, manage to find a Neotropic Cormorant, posing nicely on a weed not far off the road.
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| Ring-billed Gull: photo by Bryant |
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| Neotropic Cormorant: photo by Andrew |
Part way around, we met up with Edward Raynor, who had just refound the Common Gallinule (another rarity reported recently). He offered to try to help us refind it, as well as the Jaeger, and we took him up on it. We followed him to look for the Gallinule, all the while keeping our eyes peeled for any sign of the Jaeger. We found neither, and soon headed back around the lake check back where we started. We had stopped to scan the water, when Andrew said, "I think I've got it!" We all trained our binoculars on the distant speck. It looked promising, but unfortunately, it was heading the other direction and soon disappeared from sight. With our limited views- it was over a mile away- we weren't able to make a positive I.D. although we were all fairly sure that it had been the Jaeger. Close call number two!
We continued back around the lake, stopping occasionally to scan. While we did find a Least Bittern, several Buff-breasted Sandpipers, and two Sanderlings, all good finds; the real prize eluded us. And our time was running out! It was about 3:30, and we needed to leave by 4:00. We stopped again (we were now back to where it had first been seen) to talk to some more birders, who told us they had seen the Jaeger about an hour ago from the same place. It had been back while we were gone around the lake! While I was still talking to them, Andrew, who had been scanning the lake, sounded the alarm. Sure enough. There it was in all its glory, floating on the water about 3/4 of a mile off the shore. We soon had Edward's scope focused in on it, giving us beautiful looks. It even took off for us several times, allowing us to see the diagnostic Pomarine paddle-shaped tail.
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| Pomarine Jaeger: photo by Andrew |
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| Pomarine Jaeger, notice the odd paddle shaped protrusion for the end of the tail: photo by Andrew |
What a great finish to a twitch! It was very gratifying to finally see the crazy critter after several near misses!
Bryant
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
Black-chinned Hummingbird
I had an interesting female Archilochus hummingbird
start coming to my feeder about a week ago and since they are very
tricky to identify, I asked hummingbird expert Sheri Williamson what she
thought. I was elated when she emailed back and said that it was a
Black-chinned, since there are under twenty state records. (And nearly
all of the other records have been from far western Kansas.)
Migration is finally starting to pick up again, and I am very ready for it! I saw at least two, probably more, Alder Flycatchers near here the other morning. I had never seen an Alder before this year, and now I have seen five!
Several weeks ago I saw this Oriole that definitely at least has some Bullock's influence.
I have also managed to get a few butterfly pictures, although there haven't many around of late.
I'll finish with this Dickcissel picture.
Andrew
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| Black-chinned Hummingbird (left) |
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| Black-chinned Hummingbird. Notice the "clubbed" look to the wing that separates it from the more common Ruby-throated. |
Migration is finally starting to pick up again, and I am very ready for it! I saw at least two, probably more, Alder Flycatchers near here the other morning. I had never seen an Alder before this year, and now I have seen five!
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| Alder Flycatcher |
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| Oriole |
I have also managed to get a few butterfly pictures, although there haven't many around of late.
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| Delaware Skipper |
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| Pearl Crescent |
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| Southern Cloudywing |
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| Dickcissel |
Andrew
Monday, August 17, 2015
Quivira NWR on August 16th
Joseph texted me after church on Sunday and asked if I wanted to go to Quivira with him and Anthony. It did not take long for me to figure out that I did, and we set about getting plans laid.
We got to Quivira at about 3:00 and headed to the Big Salt Marsh right away. Anthony had just got a new camera, and he was eager to try it out. When we got to the east side of the marsh, we found it loaded with shorebirds and ducks. We picked out two Red-necked Phalaropes almost right away, feeding close to the shore. We tried to get closer and were quite disappointed when they flew. Luckily though, they circled back around and came right back to the same spot! The cameramen quickly, although not very quietly, crawled down on to the shore while the rest (Dwight, Franklin, and Michael) stayed up on the road. Shutters clicked madly as they made their way by us, not more than ten feet away! When they were past, we got up feeling rather smug and continued on our way. After our first loop, we came back and manged to get some more pics of one of them.
They were loads of peeps, but the most numerous bird was definitely the American Avocet. Their bold black and white pattern was quite striking when they flew.
We also managed to pick out this Western Sandpiper out of a small flock of peeps.
We saw several of these Dragonflies on the Wildlife Loop. I don't know what kind for sure, but I think Halloween Pennant is close. Do any of you know?
This female Blue-winged Teal was cooperative.
As was this Sachem.
I hadn't been to Quivira for a while and I am always amazed how many birds are there at this time of year!
Andrew
We got to Quivira at about 3:00 and headed to the Big Salt Marsh right away. Anthony had just got a new camera, and he was eager to try it out. When we got to the east side of the marsh, we found it loaded with shorebirds and ducks. We picked out two Red-necked Phalaropes almost right away, feeding close to the shore. We tried to get closer and were quite disappointed when they flew. Luckily though, they circled back around and came right back to the same spot! The cameramen quickly, although not very quietly, crawled down on to the shore while the rest (Dwight, Franklin, and Michael) stayed up on the road. Shutters clicked madly as they made their way by us, not more than ten feet away! When they were past, we got up feeling rather smug and continued on our way. After our first loop, we came back and manged to get some more pics of one of them.
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| Red-necked Phalaropes flying in. |
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| Red-necked Phalarope |
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| Red-necked Phalarope up close |
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| Red-necked Phalarope |
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| Red-necked Phalarope |
They were loads of peeps, but the most numerous bird was definitely the American Avocet. Their bold black and white pattern was quite striking when they flew.
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| Part of an Avocet flock |
We also managed to pick out this Western Sandpiper out of a small flock of peeps.
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| This Western Sandpiper was horribly backlit |
We saw several of these Dragonflies on the Wildlife Loop. I don't know what kind for sure, but I think Halloween Pennant is close. Do any of you know?
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| Halloween Pennant? |
At this time of year there are also large numbers of Snowy and Great Egrets.
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| Great and Snowy Egrets |
This female Blue-winged Teal was cooperative.
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| Blue-winged Teal |
As was this Sachem.
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| Sachem |
Andrew
Monday, August 10, 2015
Louisiana Waterthrush, A Reno County Nester?
This morning my dad and I were measuring a roofing job near Sylvia when I heard a loud and unfamiliar call coming from a nearby spring-fed swamp.
Luckily I had my birding gear along and trotted over to check it out. I was really surprised when a waterthrush popped out in response to my pishing. I assumed it would be a Northern Waterthrush (even though this would be near record early), but I was surprised to see its broad white "eyebrows" flaring out behind the eye, whitish underparts and an nearly unmarked throat. This was obviously a Louisiana Waterthrush!
Louisianas are fairly common in eastern Kansas, but are very scarce in the rest of the state. (This was a first county record.)
Louisianas nest as near by as eastern and extreme southern Kansas, but are typically found near clear, fast-moving streams a habitat not usually found in flat, dry Reno county. This stream, however, while not fast flowing, was crystal-clear. This bird seemed very skittish, skulking along the stream bank, but would vigorously chase other birds off other birds that came too near. This territorial behavior makes it seem possible it was nesting nearby. I thought I heard a second bird calling at one point, which would make this seem more likely.
Butterflies have been pretty slow lately, other than a few Least Skippers I saw while tracking down the waterthrush. I did find a Pipevine Swallowtail (county lifer!) the other day as well as this cooperative Goatweed Leafwing that teed up nicely on a willow twig.
Joseph
Luckily I had my birding gear along and trotted over to check it out. I was really surprised when a waterthrush popped out in response to my pishing. I assumed it would be a Northern Waterthrush (even though this would be near record early), but I was surprised to see its broad white "eyebrows" flaring out behind the eye, whitish underparts and an nearly unmarked throat. This was obviously a Louisiana Waterthrush!
Louisianas are fairly common in eastern Kansas, but are very scarce in the rest of the state. (This was a first county record.)
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| Per usual, my camera focused skillfully on the twig in the foreground when the waterthrush turned broadside. It would have been a nice pic... |
Louisianas nest as near by as eastern and extreme southern Kansas, but are typically found near clear, fast-moving streams
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| The habitat where I found the waterthrush |
Butterflies have been pretty slow lately, other than a few Least Skippers I saw while tracking down the waterthrush. I did find a Pipevine Swallowtail (county lifer!) the other day as well as this cooperative Goatweed Leafwing that teed up nicely on a willow twig.
Joseph
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