Found on bark beside large treehole in park.

Location is based on my familiarity with the park. I don't have GPS on my camera. The tree was about five feet off the main path along the creek in this area. The treehole is large, visible, ground-level, and the only one in this area. Pretty hard to miss.

White Rock lake, Winfrey Point
Mockingbird With Nesting Material
I took this on the last day of January. I though it was too early for a mockingbird to be nesting then did a bit of research. Found out the male will build 3 or more nests then let his mate choose which nest to lay eggs in first. Nests with eggs have been seen by early March so it makes sense he would be getting an early start on building those multiple nests. They rarely reuse nests so the female would be moving from nest to nest as each clutch fledges and she is ready to lay more eggs. So this is one of those rare times I can identify gender on a mockingbird, with the timing and the twig in beak, this should be a male.

Un Zanate macho tratando de alcanzar el contenido de un sobre de chimichurri, una salsa típicamente añadida en la compra de una pizza de cierta marca.
Cuando observé al Zanate, realizando maromas en el suelo con tal de introducir el pico en el aguajero de la bolsa, intenté quitárselo, debido a su (de por sí para el humano) alto contenido calórico que probablemente sea dañino para animales, incluso traté de asustarlo para que soltase el objeto, pero se aferró al plástico y voló hacia una percha baja, fuera de mi alcance.
Este particular escenario aparenta no ser tan raro. Durante un conteo de aves previo, de aproximadamente un año atrás tomada esta fotografía presencié el mismo comportamiento (esa vez junto a una compañera) con la misma especie, en el mismo parque; es probable que el sabor u olor del chimichurri resulte atractivo para las aves, en las que los zanates suelen ser los más intrépidos y exploradores. Sin embargo, este y otros muchos tipos de sucesos (menos sutiles y más dañinos) donde se ve implicada cualquier figura errática, ajena al medio natural interfiriendo con el desarrollo cotidiano de los seres vivos no humanos, son reflejo del efecto negativo que tiene la urbanización mal planificada, una cultura consumista con poco tacto y respeto hacia su fauna y flora circundante.

A male Great-tailed grackle trying to reach the contents of a packet of chimichurri, a sauce typically added when buying a certain brand of pizza.
When I saw the grackle, performing somersaults on the ground in order to introduce the beak into the hole in the bag, I tried to remove it, due to its (in itself for humans) high caloric content that is probably harmful to animals, I even tried to frightening him into letting go of the object, but it clung to the plastic and flew to a low perch, out of reach.
This particular scenario appears not to be so rare. During a previous bird count, about a year ago this photograph was taken, I witnessed the same behavior (this time with a companion) with the same species, in the same park; the taste or smell of chimichurri is likely to be attractive to birds, of which grackles are often the most intrepid and curious. However, this and many other types of events (less subtle and more harmful) where any erratic figure is involved, alien to the natural environment interfering with the daily development of non-human living beings, are a reflection of the negative effect that urbanization has poorly planned, a consumerist culture with little tact and respect for its surrounding fauna and flora.

My daughter (age 11 at the time) brought home "Turkey Eggs" from a hike with a friend. I was horrified and made the girls take me back to where they'd found them.

There was no nest to speak of and it was in an abandoned barn/shed. I went back for a couple weeks in a row and kept seeing a Turkey Vulture spook from the shed. One day, it became apparent that my "Turkey Eggs" were really Turkey Vulture eggs. I was over the moon! I went back once a week for several weeks for photos.

Sadly, the last time I went back, it was obvious that (possibly) a raccoon had found the chicks. Feathers and parts and pieces strewn all over, in and outside the shed.

A family of San Joaquin Kit foxes including an adult male and female with 6 pups was seen on 2 consecutive days. A photo is of a pup with a Yellow-rumped Warbler, Dendroica coronata.
Also photos of the adults, pups and a den.

This White-tailed Prairie Dog colony used to be easily visited at an I-80 rest area in Sweetwater Co., WY. The animals have since been removed by highway officials since they considered the prairie dogs a rabies threat to pets at the rest area or so I have been told. This is the same area as the iNat record at:
http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/199679
but several weeks later. Image 4 shows a pair mating.

So there I was, at Disneyland with the family, and of course my mind is on what wildlife I might be able to scrounge out of the park. The 7D Mark II and 400mm lens was too big to lug around all day, so I did the best I could with my little Sony bridge camera. Enjoy!

The Osprey dove and caught a fish. Almost immediately the Bald Eagle materialized and pursued the Osprey (Osprey Observation here). I didn't see the outcome because almost simultaneously, a Least Bittern flushed near my feet. The bittern was a lifer so I had to get it! This was all within a few minutes of leaving my car, so I knew it would be a good day!

October Big Day birding at Phinizy Swamp Nature Park, Richmond County, Georgia. October 8, 2022.

• Mostly sunny, with a high near 80.
• Sunrise 7:27 am; Sunset 7:03 pm
• Daylight Hours: 11 hours, 36 minutes (-2m 1s)
• Moon: 98.1% Waxing Gibbous
• Fifty-two bird species in one location! https://ebird.org/checklist/S120404524

Bald Eagle - Deadly Catch

Please note this is about a single event highlighting the behavior of bald eagles and that this series of photos includes a mallard duck preyed upon by one of the bald eagle which was also joined by juveniles in the sequence.

Make no mistake, this photo essay is the result of what ended up being a five-day time commitment, a stakeout of sort, dedicated to capturing a wild bald eagle catching and eating another bird. Here, I will not dwell on the details of the several misses in attention span on my part, camera misfires and related frustrations thereof, but rather go to detailing the wild action I witnessed and finally successfully photographed, yesterday. However, before going any further, I would like to point out that I take no joy in seeing the killing of any wildlife even when carried out by the forces of nature. Here, a wild bird was unceremoniously killed and consumed by another one higher up in the food chain. This may be troubling to some. However, let’s not forget that most humans do the same to birds that were kept in confined spaces until they are slaughtered, cooked and placed on dining plates. At least the prey in this photo album lived a free life until it met with its destiny.

This particular story began with a five-hour long anticipated arrival of no one but two mature bald eagles in a tree located a fair distance from a flock of mallard ducks gathered in partially ice-free water. The distance separating the ducks from the raptors was great enough to not cause concern to the potential preys. After more than 30 min, one of the bald eagles took to flight but to my disappointment flew away from my location and that of the mallards.

Several minutes later, however, a chaotic and noisy flock of ducks rose from the water surface and hurriedly dispersed in the distance. Most ducks were alerted to the stealthy return of the bald eagle. I, on the other hand, was caught by surprise. In spite of the mayhem, the raptor already had its sight on one of the remaining and somewhat unsuspecting ducks still in the water.

The eagle made a swift vertically banked turn and quickly descended towards its now chosen prey.

One of the mallards, a somewhat oblivious "sitting duck", experienced the tight and possibly deadly grip of the powerful eagle’s talons as it was plucked out of the water (not shown) but was dropped after a short distance. In a futile move, the duck submerged itself while the eagle landed on adjacent ice. After a short while, the possibly injured duck emerged from the water under the watchful eyes of its predator. The duck managed to take to flight with the eagle in pursuit. Ensuing was a short race for survival, at times looking somewhat promising for the duck, but its fate had already been sealed. The eagle moved for a final mid-air catch and went for the kill after making a landing on the ice pack. The whole scene lasted about one minute but likely seemed like a lifetime to the duck.

Shortly thereafter, out of nowhere arrived a beautiful specimen of juvenile bald eagle which intended to make the kill a disputed food source. Note that bald eagles develop their full white heads and tails only after 4 years. The mature eagle picked up its well-earned kill one more time but dropped it as a result of the juvenile’s harassment. Once again, that poor little duck got its feathers ruffled big time.

After causing the mayhem, the juvenile bird flew to a distant location on the frozen lake whereas the mature bird stood near the kill but never went back to it.

Then, another juvenile made its entry and landed next to the mature eagle in a not so welcome move. The two birds finally came to rest side-by-side away from the now hopefully dead duck and remained there for a while without approaching the mallard lying motionless on the ice some distance away. It appears as though the two birds were related.

Recall there were two mature birds initially perched on a tall nearby tree. Well, the second bird finally came into the scene and went straight for the duck’s remains. The two white head eagles somewhat regrouped but only one retained access to the food.

As if the scene was not surreal enough, many of the mallards had returned to their initial location seemingly oblivious to the fate of one of their own and the drama unfolding on the ice a short distance away.

Drama. These guys all normally get along pretty well, but here a squirrel decided to start something and nearly got kicked in the head as reward. Moments later they were back to munching sunflower seeds side-by-side again.

How many Acorn Woodpeckers can fit into one Pyrex dish birdbath? Link to close-up photo observation of the woodpecker’s tongue: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/189914662

Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus) is a small woodpecker, 23cm (9 inches) long, with strong claws, short legs, and stiff tail feathers. Male has larger red cap at crown than female. They are sociable birds, generally found in small, vocal colonies of 2-12 birds. In the fall they drill small holes into tree trunks (or telephone poles) and pound an acorn into each hole for their winter food supply. Colonies use the same "granary tree" year after year. They are often found in California Oak woodlands.

"These colorful natives live in large groups in western oak woodlands where they consistently store thousands of acorns in trees helped by their fascinating social dynamics. Family groups hold territories, and one member is always on alert to guard the hoard from thieves while others race through the trees giving parrot-like waka-waka calls that serve as alerts and warnings for competitors to stay away. The family groups span generations, as young woodpeckers stay with their parents for several years to help raise more clutches. All members of an acorn Woodpecker family group spend much of their time storing acorns in a granary tree, which may see up to 50,000 holes."
From Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History website.

Irene's Woodpecker observations, worldwide: (I love woodpeckers!) https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=any&taxon_id=17599&user_id=aparrot1&verifiable=any

Audubon Guide to North American Birds https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/acorn-woodpecker

Bird songs, sound recordings, and species range map of Acorn Woodpecker: https://xeno-canto.org/species/Melanerpes-formicivorus

National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, ed. Jon L. Dunn, 7th ed., 2017, pp.306-307.

National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of Western North America, ed. Jon L. Dunn, 2008, pp. 245-245.

Monterey Birds, Don Roberson, 2nd ed. 2002, sponsored by Monterey Peninsula Audubon Society, p. 304.

E Bird https://ebird.org/explore and https://ebird.org/species/acowoo/

The Cornell Lab (Birds in U.S. and Canada) https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/ (enter common name) and https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Acorn_Woodpecker

An excellent book-- (The) Monterey Pine Forest: Coastal California's Living Legacy, 2nd. ed, The Monterey Pine Forest Watch, 2018, p. 17.

Merlin Bird ID (great app available for Iphones) by The Cornell Lab (Bird ID help for 8,500+ species) https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/

Comprehensive Feather I.D. tools and more: https://foundfeathers.org/resources/

Found Feathers (Worldwide): https://www.fws.gov/lab/featheratlas/idtool.php

Blue form of White-lipped Island Pitviper, from Komodo Islands
www.matthieu-berroneau.fr

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These ducks were so funny. When they saw me standing on a platform at the edge of the pond, they walked across the ice towards me, clearly thinking I was going to feed them. Seeing them all standing together expectantly made me laugh.

Curious collage of Mallards; it seems that they were all going after a large chunk of bread that landed at the water's edge. In further Observations, as posted, there seemed to be a couple breakaways with a chase.