Here is part of a flock of Western Bluebirds that moves around in the area. We see them almost every day. In our travels around the country near here we have seen quite a number of Western Bluebirds. Oh, there are also two Pine Siskin getting a drink as well, not just weird Bluebirds. The bird bath where they are drinking is in the edge of our RV site and was put here by the owners of the park for the birds.
There are a lot of Chipping Sparrows here. We counted 17 on the ground at one time. It has been interesting watching the top of their head change from the dull drab winter color to the somewhat brighter red of the breeding plumage.
We have always had trouble getting birds of all species to pose out in the open so we can take decent images. Here is another Chipping Sparrow that is hiding behind some of the Juniper where it is perched. It seems an interesting though not perfect image.
The White-throated Sparrow is not very common here. We were fortunate enough to have one come into the ground feeding station. This image was taken through the window in the RV and the lighting and coloration are not the best.
The Pine Siskin is a small little bird found normally in higher elevations. Here is a single Pine Siskin. As we shall see they like the Niger Seed. Note their really pointed bill, perfect for grabbing the small seeds.
The Pine Siskin has yellow coloration on their flanks and tail area when in breeding plumage. Since we are in the transition from drab winter plumage to the more colorful breeding plumage we are seeing many birds in this changing of color. All birds don't automatically change the same day, it is gradual.
The bag this bird is hanging on is often called a Niger sock. It is filled with Niger seed and the bird take the seeds out through the holes in the mesh fabric. They also spill a lot on the ground, terribly messy eaters.
Here are several Siskin on the Niger sock. At times there are Lesser Goldfinch there as well and the Niger sock gets depleted quite rapidly. Send more Niger seed, quick.
We also have a suet feeder hanging in one of the Juniper. This is a Curve-billed Thrasher. He can go through a lot of suet in a short period of time. Send more suet along with Niger Seed.
Here is a Bushtit on the suet feeder. Notice the creme or yellowish colored eye. This is an attribute of the female Bushtit. The male has a really dark colored eye. The Bushtit forage actively in trees often hanging upside down to find bugs. Their diet is primarily insects and spiders but they will eat some berries.
Here is a small flock of about 16 Bushtit, they are really hard to count as they are constantly moving around. They travel through the RV park and pass through in a hurried frenzy. This image, taken by our friend Don Holtgren, shows a small flock of Bushtit. Don and his wife, Sharyl, are staying across the road and their RV site backs onto an open area so the Bushtit like the openness and bushes around their site. The lighting was not the brightest when the image was taken so the image is a little fuzzy but there are lots of Bushtit seen here. Thanks Don.
This is a Woodhouse's Scrubjay. The species was originally called a Western Scrubjay but in July 2016 the decision was made to split the Scrubjay into the Woodhouse's and California Scrubjay. Our personal feeling has always been that many of these bird splits occur to sell more bird books. You certainly would not want to have an old out dated bird book with incorrect bird names. Go buy the new book, the names have changed.
In the southwest you have multiple types of Dark-eyed Juncos. Here we have consistently seen three different ones. This is an Oregon Junco. Their identifying marks include their black or dark gray hood contrasting with a rusty brown back and flanks, white lower chest and abdomen and gray- or black-streaked wings.
This is a Pink-sided Junco. The sides are not really a pink color but they are tinged in color. Their identifying marks include the hood which is lighter gray, and a faint dark mask that can often be seen extending from the bill to the eyes. They have extensive pinkish brown wash on the flanks, usually extending deeper onto the chest than the Oregon junco’s darker flank coloration.
This is a Gray-headed Junco distinguished by the gray head, chest, and belly and a red patch on it back. There is also a Red-back Junco, which is the rarest junco variation, that is very similar to this Junco but the bill or beak is black, the throat is white and there are other minor differences. The Red-backed has a fairly limited range in the higher elevations of Arizona and New Mexico. We have not seen a Red-backed Junco here, yet.
Here is a Ladder-backed Woodpecker. They are a fairly common woodpecker in the southwest. We have seen them eating on the prickly pear cactus leaves. This one was moving around in among the prickly pear looking for anything to eat. Seems he has figured out how not to get stuck by the many spines.
This is a Female Phainopepla. The male is black and very shiny. The Phainopepla are responsible for spreading mistletoe around the southwest. In the spring the mistletoe forms juicy berries and the Phainopepla digest and get energy from the pulp of the berry, but the seed passes straight through. Their digestive system does not kill all the berries and they fly to another tree and the mistletoe berries are deposited on the new tree. The mistletoe will damage the infected tree. Here in the southwest you can see a lot of mistletoe on some trees.
We hope you enjoyed this brief view of some of the birds we have seen at the place where we are staying near Silver City New Mexico. This list is not all inclusive as there have been many others such as Cassin's Finch, Canyon Towhee, Gambel's Quail and others. We just wanted to share a few images of some of the residents whom live where we are visiting.
Let us know if you have any questions or comments - All the best - George & Deanna
No comments:
Post a Comment