Red-winged Blackbirds

Tags

Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, european starling, photography, postaday, red-winged blackbird

Starting in late summer, when you drive on Wildlife Drive, flocks of birds often fly in and out of both sides of the road in front of you. There could be hundreds of them, and they are mostly Red-winged Blackbirds, European Starlings, and sparrows, sometimes mixed together. The moment you stop your car to look closer, the birds land and disappear in the dried reed and grasses. Last week I stopped long enough to find them and take some photos.

Dried reed. Deceiving, right? The birds were there.

Male Red-winged Blackbird.

Female Red-winged Blackbird.

Female Red-winged Blackbird eating a fruit.

Male Red-winged Blackbird.

Male Red-winged Blackbird.

Finally, a European Starling perched above the reeds, on a road sign.

European Starling.

Back to Refuge and Other Birds

Tags

Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, goldfinch, house finch, northern cardinal, osprey, photography, postaday, red-winged blackbird, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, snowy egret

This week I went to the Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge again, after a 5-month hiatus. Greenhead flies were already out and I had to keep my car windows closed, except for brief moments to take a photo. Shots taken through the windows turned out badly. Here are some better ones taken with the window quickly open.

Snowy Egret.

Male Osprey keeping an eye on his nest.

Female Osprey feeding the young ones.

Since I was inside the car and not wearing a mask, a female Red-winged Blackbird could not resist acting like a Karen.

Female Red-winged Blackbird: “Wear your MASK!”

Following are photos taken recently at home of other birds.

Male Northern Cardinal.

Male House Finch.

Goldfinch.

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have been coming in greater numbers. Capturing their flight is usually a challenge, but here are some of the better shots.

Female Ruby-throated Hummingbird.

Female Ruby-throated Hummingbird.

Female Ruby-throated Hummingbird.

Female Ruby-throated Hummingbird.

Feisty Red-winged Blackbird

Tags

boat-tailed grackle, horseshoe crab, photography, postaday, red-winged blackbird

Red-winged Blackbirds were very active at the beach at Fortescue, NJ while the birds were feasting on Horseshoe Crab eggs. I couldn’t help noticing the following male who seemed quite feisty patrolling the beach close to its territory in the dunes.

Male Red-winged Blackbird.

Male Red-winged Blackbird.

Male Red-winged Blackbird: “You guys keep out of my way!”

When not on the beach, he perched on a nearby tree and belted out his warning calls.

Male Red-winged Blackbird.

Male Red-winged Blackbird.

He was not scared of and studiously ignored a bigger Boat-tailed Grackle that was only a short distance away, singing his own warning calls.

Male Red-winged Blackbird and Boat-tailed Grackle.

Weekend Photos

Tags

Chipmunk, cygnet, Eastern Blue Bird, Great Swamp, mute swan, photography, postaday, red-winged blackbird

I took the following photos today while visiting the Great Swamp of New Jersey, on a very windy and cold day. There were not too many birds or animals around, but some may be good eye candy for the weekend.

Eastern Blue Bird.

Red-winged Blackbird.

Mute Swan Cygnet.

A Chipmunk ran across my path then took refuge in a tree hole.

Chipmunk.

Birds in Autumn

Tags

american goldfinch, bald eagle, Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, canada geese, Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, photography, postaday, red-winged blackbird

The American Goldfinch stands out with its bright yellow coloring in Spring and Summer. The rest of the year, when they are not breeding, their colors are more subdued, even drab, although they still remain very cute.

American Goldfinch.

American Goldfinch.

Another ubiquitous bird is the Red-winged Blackbird.

Red-winged Blackbird at Edwin B Forsythe NWR..

The female Red-winged Blackbird does not have that red and yellow patch on her wings.

Female Red-winged Blackbird at Edwin B Forsythe NWR..

In the fall, Red-winged Blackbirds often join with European Starlings to form flocks of birds that roam through refuges, importuning even Bald Eagles.

Bald Eagle at Blackwater NWR being buzzed by Red-winged Blackbird.

The smaller birds temporarily took over a favorite perch of the Bald Eagles at Blackwater NWR.

Red -winged Blackbirds swarming a Bald Eagle favorite tree.

Finallly, many flocks of Canada Geese flew over the non-migrating Bald Eagle.

Canada Geese flying over Bald Eagle at Blackwater NWR.

Canada Geese at Blackwater NWR.

Rookery at Ocean City 3

Tags

Black-crowned Night Heron, Ocean City Welcome Center, photography, postaday, red-winged blackbird, rookery

Black-crowned Night Herons are a major presence at  the rookery next to the Welcome Center at Ocean City, NJ. These birds hunt for their food starting at dusk, and their eyes are one of their most noticeable features.

Black-crowned Night Heron.

Immature Black-crowned Night Heron.

Despite their size these Herons are easily intimidated by the Red-winged Blackbird, a fierce defender of its territory. I saw a Blackbird chase a Heron into a tree.

Red-winged Blackbird and Black-crowned Night Heron.

Pursued by the Blackbird, the Heron tried to hide among the branches. Unfortunately, too many leaves shielded the small Blackbird from the camera.

Black-crowned Night Heron very wary of Red-winged Blackbird.

Black-crowned Night Heron.

Red-winged Blackbird

Tags

Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, photography, postaday, red-winged blackbird

Red-winged Blackbirds are everywhere at the refuge, with the male birds sporting red and yellow shoulder badges. This time of the year the males fly to find high perches from which they belt out their incessant songs. They show no fear of cars and humans, and are easy to photograh.

Red-winged Blackbird.

Red-winged Blackbird singing.

Young Red-winged Blackbird.

Red-winged Blackbird.

Bird Diversity

Tags

black skimmer, peacock, photography, postaday, red-winged blackbird, snow goose, snowy egret

Going through some unpublished photos I took over the last few months, I am struck by the many different kinds of birds that live in our small part of New Jersey. Here’s how diversity looks among birds.

Juvenile Red-winged Blackbird.

Black Skimmer.

Snow Geese. They are not all white.

Peacock.

Snowy Egret.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Waiting

Tags

blue jay, photography, postaday, red-winged blackbird, weekly photo challenge

The link for this challenge is: https://dailypost.wordpress.com/photo-challenges/waiting-2017/

Blue Jay waiting.

Juvenile Red-winged Blackbird waiting.

Flying Lesson

Tags

photography, postaday, red-winged blackbird

Daddy Red-winged Blackbird: “Sonny, here’s how you begin. Lift your wings and start flapping them.”

Juvenile Red-winged Blackbird: “No, I won’t do that! I just want food!”

Red-Winged Blackbird

Tags

Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, photography, postaday, red-winged blackbird

The male Red-winged Blackbird is easily recognized by his red and yellow shoulder patches and his propensity to sing for any reason from the top of reeds or bushes. I saw the one pictured below at the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Maryland more than a week ago. He was not shy, stood his ground, and continued serenading even as my car came nearer to him.

Red-winged Blackbird.

Red-winged Blackbird.

Red-winged Blackbird.

Red-winged Blackbird.

Dive-Bombing

Tags

Black-crowned Night Heron, photography, postaday, red-winged blackbird

Going through my files from this past June, I found the following series showing a Red-winged Blackbird dive-bombing a Black-crowned Night Heron that had strayed too close to its nest. This all happened in less than a minute near the Ocean City Welcome Center in New Jersey.

Red-winged Blackbird dive-bombing Black-crowned Night Heron.

Red-winged Blackbird lifting up for another dive!

Red-winged Blackbird chasing Black-crowned Night Heron.

Black-crowned Night Heron landing. Note gap on its back.

Black-crowned Night Heron: “OMG, what was that?!”

Avian Aria

Tags

Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, photography, postaday, red-winged blackbird

The Red-winged Blackbird, an ubiquitous bird in North America, likes to sing. The other day I saw and heard one belting out a famous aria.

Red-winged Blackbird tenor coming on stage. He looked right.

He looked left. Female blackbirds were getting their handkerchiefs ready.

He started the aria: “E lucevan le stelle …”

He paused briefly. Female blackbirds were sobbing.

He then sang the most beautiful notes: “O! dolci baci, o languide carezze, mentr’io fremente le belle forme disciogliea dai veli!”

My apologies to Puccini and any opera lover that I may have offended. If you want to hear a human tenor sing E lucevan le stelle from Tosca, here’s the best:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mX7ugJ5NM8

2014 Photos: Odds and Ends – 2

Tags

mourning dove, photography, postaday, red-winged blackbird, skunk

Last September, flocks of red-winged blackbirds were swooping up and down around me at the Abbott Marshlands. A few landed close by and I took the following shot of a juvenile blackbird. Note the more mature bird with more brilliant coloring beyond it.

Juvenile red-winged blackbird

Many mourning doves live in our area, and here are two examples.

Mourning dove

Mourning dove gathering materials for nest

In early October, I was hiking at the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge when a skunk crossed the road and scurried toward me, coming as close as 30 ft. Uh, oh! I stopped and squeezed a few shots, including the one below. Fortunately, the skunk went back into the bushes and did not spray anything. However, it was an omen. The following day, I was told that my job had been eliminated.

Skunk