I was able to observe and photograph a Common Gallinule at Bath Nature Preserve over a period of several days. This was the first time anyone has recorded an observation of a Gallinule at Bath with eBird.
Common Gallinule
Breakfast Bunny
Or “Morning Rabbit.” I can’t decide.
Common Loon
I’ve never seen a Red-throated Loon. I still haven’t. I’ll keep hoping. Common Loon, Bath Nature Preserve, 2020-04-03.
Short-eared Owl
A new life bird for me, the Short-eared Owl. A pleasant surprise in the age of corona virus.
Junior
This is the cygnet (now grown up) from the two adult swans I’ve previously photographed. Note the red line under the bill, which is an indicator for Trumpeter Swan.
New Year Swans
The Trumpeter Swans returned to Bath Nature Preserve for a New Year’s Day visit. Hopefully they will evacuate to the south before they get frozen in to the Garden Bowl.
Bluebirds
Bluebirds mob around this derelict wasps nest.
Compare and Contrast Sparrows
My previous post featured a Field Sparrow, so I thought it would be a good comparison to now feature a bird that is easily confused with the Field Sparrow; namely the American Tree Sparrow. There are a few key distinctions, two of which can been seen in my photograph.
- The American Tree Sparrow has a bi-colored bill, typically black/yellow. The Field Sparrow has a pink bill.
- The darker eye-ring on the American Tree Sparrow is bisected by the rusty brown eye-line. The eye-ring on the Field Sparrow is unbroken and bright.
- If the chest is visible, the American Tree Sparrow has a black spot right in the center of it.
Fine Feather Detail
A close-up of a Field Sparrow from November 4th. Note the white eye-ring and pink bill, which are key field marks for this species.
The Shrike Returns
The Northern Shrike has returned to Bath Nature Preserve. Today’s weather was abysmal for photography, and I did not have any high hopes. So it was a very pleasant surprise when I saw this rare visitor in the tree tops.
