Early this month I went to my second falconry field meet and met some pretty awesome birds (and people!). For this meet, I was able to photograph more birds around the headquarters. This will be a photo-heavy post with little words. The beauty of these birds will do the speaking…
I saw a couple of great Falcons:
3/4 Gyr + 1/4 Saker Falcon
Barbary Falcon
Peales Falcon, a subspecies of the Peregrine
And my first Goshawk! Too bad I couldn’t count her as a life bird.
Northern Goshawk
Someone had a Golden Eagle that I could get close to near the weathering yard – this bird is massive!
Golden Eagle
I watched multiple Red-tailed Hawks hunt…
Nikita, my friend’s Red-tailed Hawk on the lookout
Meallan, my friend’s Red-tailed Hawk
Including my friend’s adult Red-tail that I also saw in the beginning of the year. She successfully caught one squirrel and we tried to get another.
Isis, protecting her kill
Isis, my friend’s Red-tailed Hawk on her lure
Once again, I watched my friend’s Harris Hawk, Rogue, hunt. This time, she hunted with other Hawks that belonged to new friends.
Group hunting with Harris’s Hawks
My friend’s Harris’s Hawk
I also had the pleasure of seeing my favorite little raptor, the American Kestrel.
Hank, my friend’s American Kestrel in flight
Hank, my friend’s American Kestrel on his lure
Clover, my friend’s imprinted American Kestrel
Clover and Sid my friends’ American Kestrels, hunting together
To end this post, I’ll share some mug shots of three different Red-tailed Hawks that were in the weathering yard. It’s amazing how different they can look!
Red-tailed Hawk with transitioning eye color
A darker Red-tailed Hawk
This Red-tailed Hawk looks like it has puffy cheeks
American Oystercatchers are birds who I’ve been wanting to photograph for a while. I got very close to them before – but at the time I was not even a birder. Oystercatchers are very unique though, so at the time I actually did know what I was looking at.
American Oystercatcher from March 2010 in Sandy Hook, New Jersey
One of tow pair of American Oystercatcher that I enjoyed before I was a birder
Now that I am a birder, I wanted to get close again because they are a very cool looking bird! We had a nice surprise on the beach at Cape May Meadows – a pair was hanging out at the beach right near sunset, so the lighting was perfect!
American Oystercatcher at sunset
I didn’t get great photos of them together because I went closer to the side of them (my friends got great shots of the couple from a different angle), but I was still very happy with what I did get!
One of my most memorable moments from last Fall’s trip to Cape May was a beach full of Black Skimmers that we happened to stumble upon on our last morning after breakfast.
Black Skimmer flock from 2012
I was looking forward to the possibility of seeing them once again this year – and I was not disappointed! We learned that these birds like to gather near the 2nd Avenue jetty during the Fall months before they move on. Once again, after breakfast, we headed to the beach. First, we ran into Royal, Common and Forster’s Terns gathered near the shoreline.
I have been extremely busy lately with buying a new house, getting it ready, packing and moving. In between all of this madness I went to Cape May with my friends for our annual Fall migration trip. I still do not have the time to write about it, so I will leave you with some photos for a preview of what to expect. And I will say this – as far as the ratio of good-to-bad photos, this was my most successful trip yet even though the main point of it was birding rather than photography.
One of a pair of American Oystercatchers
Forster’s Tern flying by
A Sanderling running away from the waves
A beach full of Black Skimmers
Snowy Egrets at Forsythe NWR
Young Herring Gull flying by
Ruddy Turnstone on the rocks
Like what you see? Check back for more later this month!
One bird who I never thought I would get nice photos of perched and away from feeders was the Ruby-throated Hummingbird. They are so fast and tend to disappear into the trees when they are done feeding. Sure, it was fairly easy to get them in a photo that had a feeder in it, but nothing about that looks natural at all. My secret is to use fallen branches around my bird feeders.
In 2011, I had the Hummingbird feeder hanging from a branch that was attached to my poles. It provided the perfect perch – and the perfect photo opportunities.
Hummingbird feeder set up 2011
Later in the summer, the Hummingbirds were so busy feeding that they did not mind me standing nearby and snapping away while they got ready to feed. You could never guess by these photos that the feeder is so close.
Hummingbird from 2011
Hummingbird from 2011
This year, I have the feeder in a different location, closer to my deck so that it is always in the shade. I got the bright idea to attach a branch to the end of these poles when I started to work outside more. I took a photo of the set-up this morning with my iPhone. Just as I was about to take the photo, while standing within feet of the feeder, one of my guests flew in (look toward the right on the branches).
Hummingbird feeder set up 2013
Now I can get closer – and the feeder is also closer to a tree so that the Hummingbirds can fly for cover if needed. They typically perch on the open branch before feeding and go to the tree after.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird male
I am extremely satisfied with the results of this set up! These are only two of the successful photos I was able to get yesterday as the sun was going down. The light was a bit dark, but it was even and the closeness helped me get so many great photos!
Ruby-throated Hummingbird female
Ruby-throated Hummingbird female
I also get photos of the Hummingbirds in my closest tree since it is right next to my upper deck, but not everyone has this same convenience!
Ruby-throated Hummingbird in the tree next to my deck
Comparing the above photo – can you even tell that the first two were taken on a lone branch rather than on an actual tree??
Tips on feeding Hummingbirds
There is no need to buy a pre-made Hummingbird mixture – all you need are two very cheap ingredients: water and sugar. Use 1-part sugar for every 4-parts of water; for example, I make two cups of water and mix in 1/2 cup of sugar (or a 1/4 cup of sugar for every cup of water).
Here is how I prepare it:
Bring the water to a boil and remove from the heat.
Immediately add the sugar and mix until it is completely dissolved.
Cover and allow to cool
Add to the Hummingbird feeders in small portions and put the rest away in the refrigerator. I store mine in a water bottle.
Replace the mixture in the feeders every one to three days – depending on the temperature (if it is 90+ degrees, I replace every day).
Do not use artificial sweeteners, honey, Jell-O or brown sugar – stick with table sugar. There is no need to use food coloring – your feeder should be bright enough to attract your guest. Try not to place in the direct sun so that the mixture lasts longer. Remember that sugar water will get moldy if it sits for too long – even the batch in your refrigerator should last no more than two weeks.
The weather has been beautiful all week in my area and I have been taking full advantage of it by setting up my office outside on my covered deck. This gives me a fantastic view of my backyard and feeders.
My set up from this past week. Complete with a Chickadee.
The biggest action have been the Hummingbirds. I currently only have one feeder, but this should change soon because the little fellas are constantly battling over it. I have at least two adult males, two females and one young male.
Young male Ruby-throated Hummingbird
I always hear them chattering back and forth and at other birds, but they are so fast that I hardly have any good photos to show for it.
A dual between Hummingbirds
My earliest migrants are the same as last year – the American Redstarts. I also had a Chestnut-sided and Yellow Warbler visit early on, along with many Red-eyed Vireos.
American Redstart
Chestnut-sided Warbler from last year
My biggest surprise migrant was a new bird for me – a Black-billed Cuckoo! After seeing nothing out of the ordinary during my usual walk along my creek and around through my woods, I noticed a “different” bird fly into the trees as I was nearing my yard. I put my binoculars up and had an initial thought of what it could be. I took a couple of [bad] photos to confirm that it was indeed a young Black-billed Cuckoo. Life bird!!
Yesterday, while photographing Hummingbirds, a couple of House Finches flew onto my nearest branches with a yellow bird. At first, I dismissed it for a Goldfinch but should have known better! I realized that it was a Warbler when it flew into my tree. Thankfully, I was able to see it again in the open – a Prairie Warbler! My first “visual” of one this year. Before this, I’ve only heard them in the spring.
Prairie Warbler
In the previous years, I had some great visitors and I am hoping for the same good turn out – or maybe even some new yard birds?
Between my neighborhood Great Horned Owl and the local Barred Owl family, this really seems to be the month of the Owl for me. I am enjoying every bit of it!
On Sunday, I visited the local Barred Owl family with a friend. I had every intention of spending an entire morning with them – and I did from 8:30AM to 12:30PM. We could hear one of the babies as soon as we started on the trail from the parking area and eventually found one baby not far off the trail. The baby flew to another tree right below an adult.
Barred Owl baby
By staying for the full morning I witnessed some really cool things that I may have otherwise missed:
Mom and baby shared a moment together that did not involve food exchange.
Mom and baby Barred Owl share a tender moment
A Red-shouldered Hawk was screaming at the Owls. The adult Owl seemed unconcerned even after the Hawk swooped past it’s baby. The Hawk showed up again later in the morning.
Red-shouldered Hawk
We believe the Hawk was after an already dead Crow that was in the bog. The story behind this Crow is unknown to us. All we know is that after the Hawk left, Mom went into the bog and lifted a Crow out.
Mom Barred Owl with a Crow
Mom Barred Owl with a Crow
The juvenile Owl decided to preen a single feather even after it already fell off. Notice how he is holding the feather with his feet.
Young Barred Owl cleaning a single feather
One of the babies decided to take a bath in the bog.
Barred Owl inside the bog for a bath
After the bath, the young Owl had some preening to do.
Barred Owl Juvenile shaking off some water
Barred Owl Juvenile scratching an itch
We caught the young Owl on the perfect perch.
Young Barred Owl on a nice perch above the bog
The Owls sometimes came to us.
Barred Owl up close
They didn’t mind falling asleep even when we were nearby.
Barred Owl falling asleep
Spending a morning with Owls is a great way to start the day! Though, I could have done without the constant mosquito bites (even after putting on coats of spray).
Last year, a Barred Owl family put on a great show for the local birders and photographers. The at least one adult would perch out near the bog and watch over us as we explored her home. The babies were usually easy to find as they hissed back and forth begging for food. I wrote about them back in March, Last Summer’s Barred Owls.
One of the Barred Owl parents, taken last year
As time passed this year, we were thinking that the Owls did not have a successful nest. Adults were being seen, but babies were not and it was already two weeks past when we first saw them last year. Then yesterday, a local birder spotted the kids. A friend and I went out to find them and had no trouble at all. As soon as we arrived on the trail, we could hear the Owls calling back and forth. Both siblings were together in a tree.
Two bikers were making their way up the trail and, before we could even set up, the Owls flushed from the tree. One of the Owls ended up flying on a branch directly above us! We had to back away in order to take some photos and get some good looks. I was able to fill the frame with bird at 250mm.
Barred Owl baby calling to its sibling and parents, at 250mm
Zooming in all the way produced some nice head shots.
Barred Owl baby, at 400mm
On our way out, we ran across its sibling on the trail. He was on a very nice perch.
Barred Owl baby, at 200mm
Once again, this one was very close.
Barred Owl baby calling to the first sibling, at 400mm
I also got a couple of videos of them calling back and forth.
The lighting wasn’t favorable and I got eaten alive by mosquitoes (you can hear one in the second video), but it was still a great experience!
In other Owl news, the Great Horned Owl that appeared in my neighborhood last week is still here! Today, he stayed out in the open all day – I was able to show him to some neighbors. It’s great when such a beautiful and unique bird can be seen by many!
On Wednesday afternoon I heard a ruckus in the woods behind my house. My neighborhood Crows and Jays were going crazy – which usually means a predator is around. Most of the time, this predator is a Red-tailed Hawk just passing through, but lately they have been acting up from the visiting bears. I kept alert in case I had to bring in my bird feeders – I only have a few hanging from under my deck since their last visit.
Things were starting to get loud so I went to check it out… with my camera in hand, of course. As soon as I walked into the woods I could see what they were mobbing – a Great Horned Owl!! I’ve only ever heard an Owl in my woods (Eastern Screech-Owl for one night only) – this is the first time I actually saw one here. The birds flew into another tree so I climbed the incline and went after them. The Owl was in plain sight.
Great Horned Owl in my woods
The bird hopped around from tree-to-tree until finally settling up high in the treetops out of sight. For the next few hours, Crows, Jays and other small birds would yell and scream at the Owl on and off. I did relocate the bird later in the evening still in the same area that I had left it earlier.
Keeping an eye on the surrounding Crows and Jays
Getting fed up and wanting to rest
Eventually, things quieted down. I do hope that the Owl was able to get a meal before he left… or maybe he is still back there, hiding from the smaller birds. It would be great to gain a new resident!
Bringing binoculars and a long lens into the heart of a small city can raise some questions. “What are you taking photos of?” “Are you looking at birds??” are some questions that I am most always asked when I bird in downtown Binghamton, New York. There really isn’t much to see there aside from Pigeons and Sparrows, right? “There are Falcons here – look – one is perched right on top of that building.” Many people get an “a-ha!” moment when they realize that those Falcons are the reason that there are Pigeon and Sparrow wings scattered around the sidewalks. Some non-birders already know about these Falcons and love the fact that they keep the Pigeon population in tact. The young birds are loud and make their presence known. They train, hunt and eat in plain sight. This year, four birds successfully fledged.
Last week, I went out to find the recently fledged Falcons with a friend. We started on the top of one of the garages to get a higher view than from the streets. Three Falcons were found – two kids and one adult – all distant.
Finding Peregrine Falcons in Downtown Binghamton
It was hot and the birds were not moving around much so we decided to walk around at street-level to find the other birds. It wasn’t long before they started flying around.
Let the playing begin…
Two of the young chased each other around, locking talons a couple of times. In the three years of seeing Falcons here, this was my first time watching them actually play.
Sibling Falcons chasing each other
Sibling Falcons chasing each other
They would rest on top of the preferred perch – the Lady Justice that stood on top of the courthouse.
A preferred perch of the Falcons – Lady Justice above the courthouse
Another Falcon joins its sibling on Lady Justice
They didn’t perch for long though.
Taking a dive off of Lady Justice
Eventually three of the young were chasing each other around (I failed to get a photo of all three in one frame).
Chasing each other past Lady Justice’s base
One day I hope to see them actually catch a pigeon or exchange food. For now, watching them play was enough fun.
