Turkey Vulture & Eastern Bluebirds (Ben Di Labio)

Hello,

Today, March 28th, I observed a Turkey Vulture gliding arond on March Road
at Murphy's Cresent. Also, they're were 4 Eastern Bluebirds along March Road
near Second Line.

Good birding,
Ben Di Labio

Quiz 10: Who Am I?

Here are a few more to check your birding skills - take your guesses in the comments:

Photo #1

Photo #2

Good birding,
Bruce

Answers: Quiz 9 - Who Am I?

Here are the answers to Quiz #9:

Photo #1

Piping Plover

Shorebirds are always fun to identify. They come in all kinds of sizes and shapes. These are Piping Plovers, the 2 on the left are in winter plumage dark bill, pale back and legs. The plover on the right is in breeding plumage, with bright orange legs, and base of bill and a narrow breast band. Check your field guide and compare to Semipalmated Plover and Snowy Plover.

Photo #2

Black Vulture

The first image is a Black Vulture. Easy to Identify in flight by shape and flight pattern,rapid flapping and short glides. Note short broad wings, short tail, small dark head and pale (white) towards wing tips.

Good birding,
Bruce

Birding North Virginia & Washington, DC

March 21, 2009

Hi Everyone,

Just back from a short family trip to the Leesburg area in North Virginia. We were down visiting friends and touring around the Washington, DC area visiting many of the sites, museums and doing some birding.

Even though we were only 10 hours south of Ottawa, there was a tremendous difference in the birds. On March 15th, along Interstate 81 just south of Watertown, there was a steady migration of Snow Geese overhead with 10,000+ heading north in various flock sizes.

As we continued south into Pennsylvania the numbers of Turkey Vultures increased and Common Grackle, Red-winged blackbirds and American Robins were everywhere. During our stay, feeders were visited by many species including Tufted Titmouse, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Carolina Wren, and Pine Siskin while backyard activity included Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Bluebird, White-throated Sparrow and Fox Sparrow to name a few.

A visit to a few nature reserves in the area produced many new species including flocks of Yellow-rumped Warbler, American Pipit, a Brown Thrasher, and Tree Swallows. It won't be to long before many of these species reach the Ottawa area.

Northern Cardinals were plentful in the Leesburg,Virginia area.

The Tufted Titmouse was a regular visitor to the feeders.

At the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History we spent time looking at mounted specimens of birds including the extinct Carolina Parakeet which were once a common sight in the southeastern states. Sometimes birds ranged as far north as New York and Wisconsin. The last definite records in the wild were in 1904.

Good birding,
Bruce

Quiz 9: Who Am I?

Here we go...two more photos in Quiz #9:

Photo #1

Photo #2

I look forward to your guesses in comments.

Good birding,
Bruce

Answers: Quiz 8 - Who Am I?

Here are the answers for Quiz #8:

Photo #1

Northern Mockingbird

The overall grayish upper parts, whitish breast, long tail, and slim black bill are indicators for Northern Mockingbird. In flight, this bird has distinctive white wing patches and white outer tail feathers.

Photo #2

Reddish Egret

Even though you can't see the bill, you know it's a heron/egret by its shape. Note the body color, neck color and feathering and leg color: it's a dark morph Reddish Egret. It was activity feeding at Las Salinas, Cuba.

Good birding,
Bruce

Quiz 8: Who Am I?

Two photos to test your "Who am I?" skills:

Photo #1

Photo #2

Post your answers in the comments section!

Good birding,
Bruce