Birding

Pileated Woodpecker

2009-03-29T09:41:00.000-07:00

Turns out there are a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers in my apartment complex. This one waited patiently for me to run, get my camera, try four different sets of batteries, and finally run back to take its picture.

Red-bellied Woodpecker, and WhatBird.com

2008-10-16T12:30:00.000-07:00

I saw a red-bellied woodpecker on the UF campus today, and of course had to look it up because woodpeckers' supposedly descriptive names are not particularly helpful. They all seem to have red on their heads, after all.

Because I was at work, I didn't have my bird book with me, and had to use the internet. For once, I found WhatBird.com helpful for identification, since I already knew the bird was a woodpecker. In general, I find this site unhelpful. Their bird identification algorithm never seems to work, despite the improvements they've made.

Once you do find the bird in question, it has a few fun facts about it. For instance: "A group of woodpeckers has many collective nouns, including a 'descent', 'drumming', and 'gatling' of woodpeckers." I had no idea. I'll just file that away to impress the next birder I meet.

Wren?

2008-09-05T10:48:00.000-07:00

I saw a wren in my apartment complex this morning. It was perched on a fence and making a racket, but by the time I fumbled my binoculars out of my backpack it flew off. I think it was a Carolina Wren, but I can't be certain.

Sante Fe River

2008-08-18T15:57:00.000-07:00

I went canoeing on the Sante Fe River this past Saturday, and it was basically a showcase for egrets and herons. I was canoeing with others and so did not have my binoculars with me (damn, damn, damn), but saw:

- Great Blue Herons
- White Ibises (many of these)
- Little Blue Herons
- Anhinga (female)
- Great Egret
- Yellow-crowned Night Heron (got a great close-up view)
- Wood Stork (so excited about this one)

Maybe this is the norm for this part of Florida, but I was pretty excited to see all these birds in one day.

Birds about town

2008-08-11T15:22:00.001-07:00

I have yet to undertake any dedicated birding trips in Gainesville, but I've added a few birds to my life list by keeping an eye open.

I spotted a loggerhead shrike just hanging out on top of a fence on the southwest end of the horse pasture on the UF campus. I noted its striking mask, smallish bill, black wings with white bits, and black tail with white side feathers. I thought it was quite pretty -- it has that smooth coloring effect like Cedar Waxwings do.

I also spotted a bunch of vultures eating something next to the road east of Gainesville on the SR-20. I was in a car, but was struck by two things: they didn't fly away as the car approached, and, despite the close view I had, I didn't see any red faces. I suspect they were Black Vultures instead of Turkey Vultures, but I think I'll wait to tick them off the list until I get a better view of one.

In St. Augustine I spotted an Eurasian Collared Dove. I noticed the black mark on the neck, so there's not much ambiguity there.

And, of course, I've seen lots of English sparrows, cattle egrets, and one cardinal.

Relocation

2008-03-13T15:44:00.000-07:00

I will be moving to Gainesville at the end of June, and am already looking forward to the birding opportunities. This blog, needless to say, will not take off until I make the move, but for those of you who, like me, are looking for birding resources specific to the Gainesville area, I recommend the home page of the Alachua County Audubon Society, which has a listing for birds seen in Alachua County.