10comments This Week's Miscreants

There has been a lot of activity at the landfill since my last post.  The migrants are coming back full force.  Over the last week I've seen: both species of kinglets, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-throated Warbler, Eastern Kingbird, Lincoln's Sparrow, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, and more. 

Field Sparrow

Barn Swallow

Lincoln's Sparrow

Blue-winged Teal

This is an immature Red-headed Woodpecker.  You can tell he's am immature because of the brownish wash on the head, adult's entire heads are bright red.  I see this guy in the same spot every day, pecking around on the same couple trees.  He won't ever let me approach close enough to get the photographs I want.  I might have to set up a stake out sometime soon and catch him unawares. 

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3comments Vesper Sparrow

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9comments Blue-winged Teal

After shooting some pyros at a pair of Mallards a flock of Blue-winged Teal came out of the cattails and landed at the other end of the pond.  I walked their way with pyros (and camera) in hand but they flushed before I got to them.  They flew north and I was able to take a couple pics in the amazing light before they were gone.  Check out those amazing blue and green speculums!

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1comments Sparrow in the Wind

A group of immature White-crowned Sparrows have been hanging around the same tree, frantically picking at bits of food and I suppose seeds on the side of the road.  They are interesting to watch because the are constantly bickering and fighting back and forth trying to establish who is in charge and at the top of the pecking order.  The wind was strong Saturday when I took these pictures, making them at bit comical with their ruffled feathers.

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1comments Meadowlark and Friends

Even Eastern Meadowlarks sometimes just need a good stretch. 

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6comments 3/18/11: Red-wings and Sparrows

I took some more video of the landfill this week.  I was trying to get some footage of an Eastern Meadowlark but he was not cooperating.  So instead I went back to the Red-winged Blackbirds which always enjoy putting on a show.  Also in the video is a Song Sparrow and a juvenile White-crowned Sparrow.  And in the background in the last clip you can hear the Southern Leopard Frogs calling.



In other news: a group of Rusty Blackbirds were seen on Wednesday, the first butterflies of the season were seen Thursday, and I saw my first Tree Swallow last night.  All in all a good week.  I hope to get some more video of the migrants when they start coming through so stay tuned.

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9comments Early March at the Fill

Here is a video of the landfill today around five o'clock.  It gets pretty quiet and serene when all the trucks are gone and the dust settles.  Sorry for all the wind in the background but it's a landfill, it stays windy. Mostly just Red-winged Blackbirds and Song Sparrows now. I'm still waiting to see the first swallow of the year.

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