Saturday, October 31, 2009
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Don't Choke!
9:30 AM
Ryan Ankeny
This little Pied-billed Grebe was determined to eat a frog that was half his size. He spent 15 minutes flipping that thing around and I'm not sure if he ever got it down. If he did he probably feel like I do after eating at the Cheesecake Factory.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
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Landfill Habitat
2:08 PM
Ryan Ankeny
There is a tremendous amount of habitat at the landfill most would not associate with such a place. There are large tracts of woodlands and swamp most likely totaling over 200 acres. The landfill was built on wetlands much like airports because historically it was the cheapest land to purchase in such large chunks. Most of it was drained but the areas that remain natural still have the tendency to hold water long after the rain has stopped.
Most of the mature woodlands consist of oaks and the typical mix you would expect to find in this part of the country. There are also fragments that consist almost entirely of ash and willows grow thick around the wet edges of roads and canals. The mitigated wetlands along the Outer Loop contain Bald Cypress and Sycamore trees that are starting to grow in size.
Dogwood trees, grapevine, various thistles, and the large Common Sunflower seem to be the plants providing the most food in the fall for the birds. The dogwood trees were denuded of their berries rather quickly and seemed to be the first thing to be eaten by the birds. All summer the goldfinches would fly from thistle to thistle, their undulating flight making them appear like sparks shooting away from a welder at work. Chickadees dangle from sunflower seed heads as they go about searching for food in their noisy manner.
Rustling in the trees overhead can all too quickly be dismissed as the fall foraging or nest building of a squirrel. If we take the time to look however, we may discover something a little less expected.
Most of the mature woodlands consist of oaks and the typical mix you would expect to find in this part of the country. There are also fragments that consist almost entirely of ash and willows grow thick around the wet edges of roads and canals. The mitigated wetlands along the Outer Loop contain Bald Cypress and Sycamore trees that are starting to grow in size.
Dogwood trees, grapevine, various thistles, and the large Common Sunflower seem to be the plants providing the most food in the fall for the birds. The dogwood trees were denuded of their berries rather quickly and seemed to be the first thing to be eaten by the birds. All summer the goldfinches would fly from thistle to thistle, their undulating flight making them appear like sparks shooting away from a welder at work. Chickadees dangle from sunflower seed heads as they go about searching for food in their noisy manner.
Rustling in the trees overhead can all too quickly be dismissed as the fall foraging or nest building of a squirrel. If we take the time to look however, we may discover something a little less expected.
Friday, October 16, 2009
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Savannah Sparrows
7:25 PM
Ryan Ankeny
The cold weather has arrived in the Bluegrass, unfortunately. But with the cold weather comes cold weather birds! Most of the warblers seem to have moved on and I am only seeing Palm here and there and more Yellow-rumps. Today I saw a rather large group of Savannah Sparrows feeding beside the road, maybe 10 or more birds together. I saw the first White-throated Sparrow, a juvenile, on the landfill October 6th. I'm also pretty sure I saw the white outer tail coverts of a Vesper Sparrow today as well.
Savannah Sparrows can be difficult to identify for new birders or for those whom haven't had the opportunity of seeing them before. To me the easiest field mark is the yellow above the lores. Fine streaks along the flanks, pinkish legs, and a bifurcated tail also are good indicators you are seeing a Savannah Sparrow.
Savannah Sparrows can be difficult to identify for new birders or for those whom haven't had the opportunity of seeing them before. To me the easiest field mark is the yellow above the lores. Fine streaks along the flanks, pinkish legs, and a bifurcated tail also are good indicators you are seeing a Savannah Sparrow.
Monday, October 5, 2009
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Resident Songbirds
11:35 PM
Ryan Ankeny
Today was a day for the most common of birds. Still some of my favorites.
Red-winged Blackbird
Carolina Chickadee
Carolina Wren
Red-winged Blackbird
Carolina Chickadee
Carolina WrenSaturday, October 3, 2009
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Warbler Action
10:55 AM
Ryan Ankeny
The fall migrants are starting to show up in numbers on the landfill. There were so many birds jumping from branch to branch that it sounded like popcorn. When I pished they came within feet of me. They seem to really like the willows and dogwoods while the goldfinches and Indigo Buntings favor the sunflowers. Here is a list of the warblers seen so far this fall: Chestnut-sided, Black-throated Green, Yellow-rumped, Tennessee, Nashville, Yellow, Black and White, Magnolia, Kentucky, and American Redstart.
Tennessee Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
