Friday, July 31, 2015

My Favorite Backyard Bird This Summer ... Until Recently...

Orchard Oriole -- Parc Perlière -- Charleston, SC -- July 1, 2015

           Until recently, this bold, lovely, lemony Orchard Oriole frequented our oriole feeder daily.  When I first saw it, I thought "Warbler?!"  But no, Orchard Orioles are the smallest among the orioles and this was simply a female (or perhaps a first year male not yet in breeding plumage).  Originally, I thought female, but as the month progressed, I saw a few black feathers beginning to come out on his neck under the chin.  You will not see that in these photos though.  I spent many an early morning on the swing on the back deck and this bold bird would fly in and drink his fill from the feeder just a few feet away.  We had an understanding:  if I swung gently (and did not get up), he would come drink and perch prettily for me to admire him.  

Orchard Oriole -- Parc Perlière -- Charleston, SC -- July 1, 2015

Orchard Oriole -- Parc Perlière -- Charleston, SC -- July 1, 2015

          So why is he no longer my Favorite Backyard Bird this summer?  Well, he has departed.  I have not seen him in a week and with so many other birds to enjoy ....  Perhaps, I should give the title of Favorite Bird to the young, cry-baby Red-tailed Hawk who shows herself (clumsily) from time to time.  Yesterday, I watched her descend for a landing -- scary!  I could not actually see the landing as it was behind some trees.  She really did not look like she knew what to do so I doubt that it was graceful.  We certainly know when she is around whether we can see her or not.  Like many young Red-taileds, she cries a lot for attention.  And the mockingbirds then usually deliver -- divebombing her.  (I am guessing that this is a female because of her size -- she is HUGE!) 

          Speaking of Northern Mockingbirds, the family nesting in my Loropetalum by the front steps may qualify as Current Favorite Yard Bird.  I just discovered the nest 2 days ago when I unknowingly flushed the mama off of the nest.  She flew up to a branch in the pine and watched while I carefully moved some leaves to get a good look at her 3 mostly hairless and blind babies.  And no, neither she nor her mate divebombed me.  I have not been divebombed by a bird in my own yard in many years, not since I began feeding them.  They know where their treats are coming from!  I need to follow Nestwatching protocol so I will not be peaking into the nest until later in the weekend.  You should not look into a nest any more often than every 3 or 4 days.  Otherwise, it is simply considered too much disturbance.  I hope to be able to get a picture this weekend.  I estimated that the chicks were perhaps 2 (?) days old when I first saw them. 

          Who will be the next favorite yard bird?  Good question!  It will be either a rare bird or another bird that hangs out and captures my attention for awhile!  So, so long Oriole (I miss our morning rendez-vous), au revoir Red-tailed, goodbye Mockingbirds, and hello __________ ?  



Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Early Returning Piping Plovers!

North end of Folly Beach -- Lighthouse Heritage Preserve -- July 27, 2015

       Yes!  Piping Plovers are beginning to return to our beaches!  I had read of a couple of sightings in recent days but had not yet seen one myself until yesterday!   A quiet weekday morning, I decided to take a walk on the north end of Folly at the Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve -- taking my new scope to look for shorebirds.  It is somewhat early for shorebirds and I am beginning to feel impatient.  So I was delighted to find this guy just around the corner on the front beach.  Not wanting to stress this bird, but still wanting that photo, I sat down on the beach about 15 meters from him.  Pointing my big lens towards him, I determined that he was still not stressed.  So I sat, waited and hoped that he might become comfortable enough to come closer.  Sure enough, my patience paid off.  In typical plover feeding fashion, he zigzagged his course up along the water's edge towards me.  Perhaps this bold and beautiful bird was curious about the clickity click of my shutter.   Eventually, he fed his way past me at a distance of about 2.5 meters.  What a nice wildlife moment!

Piping Plover -- Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve -- Folly Beach, SC -- July 27, 2015

Piping Plover -- Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve -- Folly Beach, SC -- July 27, 2015

Piping Plover -- Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve -- Folly Beach, SC -- July 27, 2015

Piping Plover -- Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve -- Folly Beach, SC -- July 27, 2015

Piping Plover -- Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve -- Folly Beach, SC -- July 27, 2015

Piping Plover -- Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve -- Folly Beach, SC -- July 27, 2015


Piping Plover -- Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve -- Folly Beach, SC -- July 27, 2015

By the time of my arrival, the tide had receded such that many terns and pelicans had left Folly to roost on the exposed sandbars out by the Morris Island lighthouse.  It was difficult to differentiate species -- even with the scope.  I did note Sandwich terns, Royal terns, Least terns and possibly Gull-billed terns.  I managed to get a couple of flyover shots of a Royal Tern to add to this collection.

Royal Tern -- Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve -- Folly Beach, SC -- July 27, 2015


Royal Tern -- Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve -- Folly Beach, SC -- July 27, 2015

       It is such a treat to be able to enjoy our  beaches without the crush of a crowd.   Early mornings on weekdays in the summer is the best time for this activity.  In a couple of weeks, I will be back to work teaching French so I am glad to have been able to visit Folly yesterday and to be able to share that bold and beautiful Piping Plover in this post!