More Surprises
(click on a photo to enlarge)
Even more “eye candy” has shown up at the feeding station!
The usual morning routine around here is: re-stock the feeders and fill the birdbaths with fresh water; then set up the camera, take a little breakfast into the garage and sit for several hours at the open window that overlooks the feeding station. I keep thinking we’ve finally reached our peak in species diversity when something new inevitably flies in. This is the most rewarding part of a first year in a new place. Everything’s new and different and you never know what’s just around the corner or in the sky eying your feeders and birdbaths.
So, after the 5 minute appearance of a male Indigo Bunting last week, I had hope that another would show up. When I saw the patch of blue in the Bear Grass, I thought my wish had come true. Instead I got a new species for the feeding station — the larger and heavier Blue Grosbeak (Guiraca caerulea) had stopped by. Luckily it was a nicely colored male. He could be a migrant or has arrived on nesting territory. I’m hoping for the latter.
Blue Grosbeak (Guiraca caerulea), male
Indigo Buntings (Passerina cyanea) commonly associate with Lazuli Bunting (Passerina amoena) flocks. By now, amost all of the Lazuli Buntings have moved on — only one was seen at the feeders today. Nevertheless a different male Indigo Bunting finally did show up this week and this time he perched just where I hoped he would. Not quite as colorful as the last male but a gorgeous bird nevertheless.
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea), male
Besides the size difference between the two species, you’ll notice that the bunting’s bill is much more petite and he lacks the rufous wing-bars of the grosbeak. He has a lovely song, one which I’ve not heard since leaving Maryland. This bird is has not quite attained full breeding plumage (note the dark feathers on the back).
Finally saw my first female Bullock’s Oriole (Icterus bullockii). She shows more white feathering than the other oriole species. Her bill shows a characteristic coloration unique to this species. It’s uniformly more pale on the top and bottom than the other orioles which have a darker mandible on top.
Bullock’s Oriole (Icterus bullockii), female
There’s no going birding and finding upwards of 20 warbler species here in Arizona. Not that we don’t have great warblers. We just don’t get that magnificent wave of migrating warbler species seen in the eastern part of the country. I can’t complain. Recently we were able to see and add to our “life list” the rare and beautiful Rufous-capped Warbler (Basileuterus rufifrons) in Florida Canyon in the Santa Rita mountains. I also can’t complain when a beautiful little female Lucy’s Warbler (Vermivora luciae) arrives at the birdbath, wary but brave enough to take a sip and dip and then quickly flit off to preen in the safety of a leafy Mesquite.
Lucy’s Warbler (Vermivora luciae), female
If there is a downside to getting new species in your yard, it has to be these birds: the non-native House Sparrow and European Starling which, fortunately, don’t seem to be around this area, and the native cowbirds that lay their eggs in the nests of other birds. We have cowbirds. More on them in the next post.
Published by Arlene Ripley on May 14th, 2009 Tagged Arizona, Birds, Cochise County, Nature
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