I was out counting Grackles and Cowbirds this morning. After stumbling upon some great sites, though, a simple survey turned into a huge birding session.
Great-tailed Grackles and Bronzed Cowbirds fly from their plaza roost to their feeding grounds shortly after dawn. Red-winged Blackbirds, Brewer's Blackbirds, Yellow-headed Blackbirds and Brown-headed Cowbirds, all from the same family, can also be seen forming mixed flocks and feasting in the fields.
Mixed flock of Yellow-headed Blackbirds and Brown-headed Cowbirds
Less conspicuous, but present in similarly large numbers are a collection of winter sparrows. Clay-coloured in the biggest numbers, followed by Lark Sparrows, Vesper, Lincoln, Savannah and Chipping.
Clay-coloured Sparrow
The abundance of passerines and other food sources in the agricultural land west and north of Tequis. results in fantastic opportunities for birds of prey. This morning I had 12 American Kestrels, 1 Peregrine, 2 Red-tailed Hawks and 3 Black-shouldered Kites, not to mention a ridiculous number of these boys..
Crested Caracaras
In one recently ploughed field I had no less than 10 Caracaras. These resourceful birds will eat anything - insects, reptiles, small birds, fish. Later on in the morning, I had one feasting on a dead cow.
No comments:
Post a Comment