Jackon's Interweb Blog

Shorebird sleuthing!

2008-06-27T21:46:00.007-05:00

Ok I came across a series of digital photos I took 4 years ago in Hawaii, in a little subfolder I had named "godwit". I remember spotting this bird on a grassy lawn by the beach, and determining that it was a godwit of some type, but the distance was too great for a sure ID and a private fence barred closer approach. I also remember spotting some smaller shorebirds in the same field, which I figured were too small and distant to bother with ID as I focused on the mystery godwit.

Stumbling across these 4 year old photos, I think it's probably a Marbled Godwit (which I believe is a decent find on Oahu), but I just noticed another shorebird in all the same shots, feeding near the godwit. Judging from the photos it looks like a large Pluvialis plover, which I assume is a non-breeding plumaged PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER. Actually a much more common bird in Hawaii than MAGO, Pacific Goldens are said to be the most numerous shorebird on the Hawaiian islands. Over-wintering birds are supposedly ubiquitous throughout the islands, even on suburban lawns, and a few stay through the summer.

Well I guess since I remember seeing and identifying distant birds as "godwit" and "smaller shorebird species", I can claim to have seen Pacific Golden Plover

Here are the crappy photos, including originals and photoshop-enlarged zooms showing the presumed Marbled Godwit and Pacific Golden-Plover - digiscoped with a Canon A40 handheld to a Kowa 82mm 32x wide-angle scope. June 2004.

some old Hawaii pics

2008-06-20T13:03:00.015-05:00

Found some old pics from Oahu, Hawaii while rumaging around through my old photo CDs. I took these in June 2004 with a Canon Powershot A40, except for the underwater shots taken with a waterproof disposable.

Colorado Photos

2008-02-22T17:31:00.009-06:00

Here are some various pics I took in the summer/fall of 2006 in Colorado. Several from Rocky Mountain National Park, Pawnee National Grassland, and elsewhere in the state.

Nebraska photography

2008-02-21T21:42:00.005-06:00

Here are some various photos I took in the fall of 2006 from west Nebraska (Chase, Perkins, and Keith Counties):

Western South Dakota

2008-02-21T20:34:00.015-06:00

Here are some pics, mostly scenics, that I took in late June-July 2006 in the Black Hills and prairies of west South Dakota.

Big Horn Mountains

2008-02-21T18:24:00.004-06:00

Some scenic shots I took July 2006 in the Big Horn Mountains of northern Wyoming. It is a land of amazing beauty and quite different in scenery, flora, and fauna from the mountains I visited in the Black Hills of South Dakota and the Rockies of Colorado. More spruce/fir trees and my first ever wild Moose sightings!

West Texas Bugs

2008-02-20T17:19:00.004-06:00

Photos from Big Bend National Park, 8-10 November 2006:

White Peacock (Anartia jatrophae)
Tailed Orange (Pyrisitia proterpia)
West Coast Lady (Vanessa annabella)

Insect Identification needed

2008-02-20T16:59:00.002-06:00

Please submit corrections and identification comments about the bug photos below (Colorado, South Dokota/Wyoming, Nebraska, Arizona) to kinglet32@yahoo.com

Thanks!

Colorado Bugs

2008-02-20T16:19:00.024-06:00

Pics I took in Colorado from mid-June to late-July 2006. Thanks to Dave Ferguson and Rick Gillmore for ID help:

Top. Field Crescent (Phyciodes pulchella aka P. campestris)
1-2. unknown skipper (Hesperia or Polites sp. ?)
3. Elm Sphinx (Ceratomia amyntor)
4. Large Marble (Euchloe ausonides)
5. underwing moth sp. ()
6. Elm Sphinx (Ceratomia amyntor)
7. Chryxus Arctic (Oeneis chryxus)
8. Polygonia gracilis zephyrus - Zephyr Anglewing or "Hoary Comma"
9-11. Bramble Hairstreak (Callophrys dumetorum)
12-13. Anicia Checkerspot (Euphydryas anicia, probably ssp. capella)
14. Western Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio rutulus)
15. Chryxus Arctic (Oeneis chryxus)
16. Polygonia gracilis zephyrus - Zephyr Anglewing or "Hoary Comma"
17-19. Speyeria hesperis - Hesperis Fritillary
20. Behr's Hairstreak (Satyrium behrii)
21. Juniper Hairstreak (Callophrys gryneus)
22. Ruddy Copper (Lycaena rubidus)
23. Riding's Satyr (Neominois ridingsii)
24. Silvery Blue (Glaucopsyche lygdamus)
25. Speyeria sp., probably S. hesperis
26. Anicia Checkerspot (Euphydryas anicia, probably ssp. capella)

South Dakota & Wyoming Leps

2008-02-20T11:50:00.018-06:00

Here are some various bug photos I took from late June to late July in western South Dakota (Black Hills and the plains of Harding County) and the Bighorn Mountains of northern Wyoming. I've labeled [SD] for pics taken in Black Hills, and [WY] for those taken in the Big Horns of Wyoming.

1. Oslar's Roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes oslari) [SD]
2. Checkered White (Pontia protodice) [SD]
3. Edith's Copper (Lycaena editha) [WY]
4-7. Oslar's Roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes oslari) [SD]
8-10. Draco Skipper (Polites draco) [WY]
11-12. Blue Copper (Lycaena heteronea) [WY]
13-17. Mariposa Copper (Lycaena mariposa) [WY]
18-19. Edith's Copper (Lycaena editha) [WY]
20-21. Pink-edged Sulphur (Colias interior) [WY]
22. unknown moth [WY]
23-24. Mariposa Copper (Lycaena mariposa) [WY]
25. Greenish Blue (Plebejus saepiolus) [SD]
26. Common Wood-Nymph (Cercyonis pegala) [SD]
27. Hackberry Emperor (Asterocampa celtis) [SD]
28. unknown underwing moth [SD]
29. Weidemeyer's Admiral (Limenitis weidemeyerii) [WY]
30. Common Ringlet (Coenonympha tullia) [SD]
31. Bronze Copper (Lycaena hyllus) [SD]
32. Garita Skipperling (Oarisma garita) [SD]
33. Boisduval's Blue (Plebejus icarioides) [SD]
34. duskywing sp. (Erynnis sp.) [SD]
35. Siva Hairstreak (Callophrys gryneus siva) [SD]
36. duskywing sp. (Erynnis sp.) [SD]
37-38. unknown skipper (Lerema accius??) [SD]
39-41. Bronze Copper (Lycaena hyllus) [SD]
42. Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa) [SD?]
43. duskywing sp. (Erynnis sp.) [SD]
44. Common Branded Skipper (Hesperia comma) [SD]
45-46. Juba Skipper (Hesperia juba) [SD]
47. Little Wood Satyr (Megisto cymel) [SD]
48. Bronze Copper (Lycaena hyllus) [SD]
49. Coral Hairstreak (Satyrium titus) [SD]
50. Striped Hairstreak (Satyrium liparops) [SD]
51. Pale Crescent (Phyciodes pallida) [SD]
52. Common Branded Skipper (Hesperia comma) [SD]

Western Nebraska Leps August - October 2006

2008-02-20T11:25:00.008-06:00

Bug photos from Western Nebraska, late summer 2006 - From top to bottom:

1-2. Tiger Beetle (Cicindela pulchra or C. scutellaris ??)
3. Pawnee Skipper (Hesperia leonardus pawnee) - found deceased on my jeep's grill
4. Western Pygmy-Blue (Brephidium exilis)
5. Gorgone Checkerspot (Chlosyne gorgone) with Melissa Blues (Plebejus melissa)
6. Marine Blue (Leptotes marina)
7. buckmoth sp. (possiblyHemileuca nevadensis ?)

Western Leps

2008-02-20T11:07:00.006-06:00

Thought I'd post some photos from the summer/fall of 2006 that I took while working out west in the Rocky Mountains and western Great Plains. I've attempted to identify most of these bugs, but several are uncertain, and some I have no clue as to what they are (ie fritillaries), so please let me know if you have any corrections or ID comments. The photos are split into 4 main groups based on where/when I took them: Southeast Arizona, western Nebraska, western South Dakota/northern Wyoming, and Colorado.

Southeast Arizona leps (from top to bottom):

1. California Gulch scenery
2. Common Streaky-Skipper (Celotes nessus)
3. Marine Blue (Leptotes marina)
4-5. Elada Checkerspot - two photos - (Texola elada)
6. Acacia Skipper (Cogia hippalus)
7. Tiny Checkerspot (Dymasia dymas)
8-9. Ceraunus Blue - two photos - (Hemiargus ceraunus)
10-11. Leda Ministreak - two photos - (Ministrymon leda)

bad day?

2008-02-11T20:20:00.001-06:00

Here's what to do if you're having a bad day at the office:

http://www.glumbert.com/media/baddayoffice

Let your feelings out

Western NCTX

2008-01-11T13:50:00.000-06:00

Took a day trip out to western North Central Texas with the old man today. Feeling lazy so I just copied and pasted an account of the day from an email I sent out,

Headed out west with my dad on Wednesday to show him
the areas out west. He had never see Hwy 222 etc.
Overall a beautiful day, but not very birdy.  We made
straight for Throckmorton via hwy 380, then looped
north towards Vernon and then back home via hwy
70/287.

Stopped for a short exploration of Fort Richardson
State Park in Jacksboro. Real nice tallgrass prairie
mixed with nice live oak thickets.  Lots of sparrows
and deer here, though we didn't stay long enough turn
up anything out of the ordinary.

Lake Throckmorton - no birds

Throckmorton cemetary - lots of owl pellets and
whitewash, but no owls.

Lark Buntings - several flocks throughout the day,
totaling several hundred birds

Sandhill Crane - 75 set down in a low field and out of
sight on the west side of 222 Throckmorton Co.

Prairie Falcon - 2

Red Crossbill - 20+ at the Vernon cemetary. Didn't
take long to find, as they were noisy as usual and
roaming all over the cemetary.

Red-breasted Nuthatch - 1 at Vernon cemetary

Ferruginous Hawk - 1 light adult over Vernon cemetary,
our only FEHA all day.

Harlan's Hawk - 1 dark juv. along 287 east of Electra

Barn Owl - 1 flushed from thick cedars at the Electra
cemetary, just north of the highway.  Like
Throckmorton Cemetary, there were lots of pellets and
whitewash.

Attached some pics my dad took with his Canon S3 (12x
optical zoom, image stabilizer)

Good birding to all in 2008!

Photos by Jack Hill:

19 May Migration

2007-05-19T20:04:00.000-05:00

So migration has been slowww this spring. Today was better though, with over a dozen warbler species between Arapaho and Prairie Creek. The predawn rains probably halted some of the migrants. Finally picked up Bay-breasted Warbler, first one of the spring I've seen. And only the SECOND Ovenbird of the whole spring!! Today's finds at Prairie Creek:

Great Egret - 1 dropped down onto the lawn and proceeded to snatch a poor Carolina Anole from his display perch
Yellow-billed Cuckoo - 2
Black-chinned Hummingbird - 1 male
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 2++
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher - 2
"Traill's" Flycatcher
Least Flycatcher
Great Crested Flycatcher
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 1
Gray-cheeked Thrush - 2-3 including a singer
Swainson's Thrush - 10+
Gray Catbird - 4
Blue-headed Vireo - 2+
Warbling Vireo - 1-2
Red-eyed Vireo - 5+
Yellow Warbler - 3
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 3-4
Magnolia Warbler - 8
Black-throated Green Warbler - 6-8
Blackburnian Warbler - 2-3 ad male, 2 fem/imm
Bay-breasted Warbler - 1 fem/imm
American Redstart - 1 ad male, 1 imm male, 3-4 fem/imm
Ovenbird - 1
Mourning Warbler - 1 ad m, 1 fem/imm
Common Yellowthroat - 2 fem/imm
Wilson's Warbler - 10
Canada Warbler - 1 fem/imm
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 1 HO
Baltimore Oriole - 2

Derek

11 May Migrants

2007-05-12T13:47:00.000-05:00

Slow migration yesterday at Prairie Creek, only 3 species of warblers

Yellow-breasted Chat - 1, singing
Nashville Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Swainson's Thrush

another BRSP pic

2007-05-10T06:45:00.000-05:00

Here's another Brewer's Sparrow pic, although this is from southwest Nebraska 19 September 2006. Out of the dozens or hundreds of Clay-colored and lesser numbers of Chipping I saw passing through western Nebraska that fall, I only saw one or two Brewer's and Field, so I took a pic. Fall birds are in fresher plumage than spring and I'm not sure if this is an adult or 1st yr bird.

Blue-winged Warbler!

2007-05-09T17:54:00.000-05:00

Birding was slow today but the appearance of a Blue-winged Warbler spiced it up. Migrants from Arapaho Park and Prairie Creek Park, Dallas/Collin Co's., Texas:

Prairie Creek Park
-------
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Least Flycatcher
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1
Swainson's Thrush - 4
Gray Catbird - 1
BLUE-WINGED WARBLER - 1 fem/imm
Nashville Warbler - 1-2
Tennessee Warbler - 1
Black-and-white Warbler - 1
American Redstart - 1-2
Yellow Warbler - 1-2
Common Yellowthroat - 1
Magnolia Warbler - 3
Orange-crowned Warbler - 1, getting late
Wilson's Warbler
Northern Waterthrush - 1

Arapaho Park
--------
Green Heron - 1
Least Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe - pair feeding 2 fledglings
Warbling Vireo - 5
American Redstart - 1
Magnolia Warbler - 2-3
Wilson's Warbler - 5
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 1
Yellow Warbler - 5
Common Yellowthroat - 1

-DH

Thanks to the westerly winds...

2007-05-09T17:47:00.000-05:00

Crappy pics of the Brewer's Sparrow from the hood yesterday. Despite the poor photos that don't seem quite accurate, in person the ID was quite obvious, and on first sight the first thing that popped into my head was Cassin's/Brewer's Sparrow as this bird peered out of our sage bush, then moving up to the top twig for several seconds of clear view. When I caught sight of it's relatively shorter, notched tail I knew this was no Cassin's, it was a fine Brewer's Sparrow! Very dull face pattern, nice white eyering, and overall low contrast grayish sandy plumage. It hopped up onto the fence for a couple minutes for stunning looks. Got great looks at the finely streaked crown completely lacking white median stripe, very dull face pattern and overall plumage. Nape/sides of neck were NOT outstanding smooth gray as in a CCSP - on this bird it was just a dull sandy grayish with fine streaking blending it with the mantle and crown. Awesome bird and probably the 1st documented NCTX record of this species. These photos were taken a short while after the initial find as the bird moved from yard to yard but stayed in the same general area... I think it didn't want to stray too far from it's little slice of home aka the backyard sage bush! Photos taken 8 May 2007, Richardson, Dallas Co., Texas.

Conditions sucked for photography -these were taken with handheld Nikon A40 2mp camera held up to Leica 8x42 binoculars, in difficult light. The appearance of a dark whisker in the top photo was due to the shaded, backlit conditions... in all other views it seemed very faint or barely visible. In the same photo you can see some of the streaks on the sides of the neck. Compare pic of BRSP here which shows how much bolder the dark whisker can look in shade vs light.

-DH

Migrants 7 May 2007

2007-05-09T17:38:00.000-05:00

17 warbler species today and a LATE Swamp Sparrow

Prairie Creek Park, Dallas/Collin Co's., Texas
---------------
(Prothonotary Warbler) - 1 reported by others
Yellow Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Canada Warbler - 2
Tennessee Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Ovenbird
Common Yellowthroat
Mourning Warbler
American Redstart
Magnolia Warbler
Eastern Phoebe
Great Crested Flycatcher
Traill's Flycatcher
Blue-headed Vireo
Philadelphia Vireo
Baltimore Oriole

Arapaho Park, Dallas Co.
-----------
Canada Warbler - 3
American Redstart - 2
Wilson's Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Northern Waterthrush
Tennessee Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Northern Parula
Common Yellowthroat
Magnolia Warbler
Franklin's Gull - 3
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron - 1
Yellow-billed Cuckoo - 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 1
Eastern Phoebe - 2
Great Crested Flycatcher
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher - 1
Least Flycatcher
"Traill's" Flycatcher
Cedar Waxwing - 5
Philadelphia Vireo - 1
Warbling Vireo - 1
Red-eyed Vireo - 1
Summer Tanager - 1 fem.
Baltimore Oriole - 5++
Orchard Oriole - 5++
Swamp Sparrow - 1, Late
White-crowned Sparrow - 1 ssp. leucophrys

-DH