Nikon Birding at the Hummer Bird Celebration
Today proved to be another exciting day with excellent weather at the Hummer Bird Celebration. The humidity dropped and the sun was-a-blazin'. In a great way, though. I went right for Port Aransas to Paradise Pond to catch some glimpses of warblers I rarely see. And I was lucky! A male Canada Warbler and a male Kentucky Warbler were certainly the highlights of the day for me. Of course, my camera took a dive on me right as I started the morning forcing me to manually focus the entire day. Although, I shouldn't be surprised since I literally have taken my Nikon D200 through the devil's lair and back over these last six years. The Nikon D300s is next up for this birder!
This shot was all I could muster of the male Kentucky, but given it's secretive nature I was certainly pleased. This southeast breeder commonly comes through this area in migration.
This shot was all I could muster of the male Kentucky, but given it's secretive nature I was certainly pleased. This southeast breeder commonly comes through this area in migration.
This "Western" Willet was one of many that occupied the beaches. Since I was so close to the coast and I live inland I was dedicated to spending most of my time looking for shorebirds. We know this bird is a "Western," Willet (not yet a distinct species) by it's elongated look and longer bill. However, without an "Eastern" Willet to be found this sometimes can be difficult. Eastern breeders of this species migrate to the grasslands in southern South America while the western counterparts spend the winters on the southern USA Gulf Coast. Furthermore, I noticed how smooth the plumage was without much patterning on the coverts and flight feathers. This is also good for the "Western" Willet subspecies. Just make sure to sift through these birds carefully because they can be found together in the height of migration as we are in right now.
Sandwich Terns like this digiscoped bird above are resident year-round on the Texas coast. A little larger than a Common Tern this is a ghostly white tern with a long, slender black bill and a yellow tip. In flight, you might notice the strongly forked tail and the long, tapered wings. What else can you notice about the bird's attributes?
To compliment the rest of the birds I found these two Common Terns just relaxing in the sun. The first-fall bird is in the front and noted by the darker carpal bar (shoulder patch) and all dark bill. The adult, for comparison, lacks the full dark carpal bar and still has it's remaining dark hood. In amongst them, were dozens of Black Terns which are brown in coloration and much smaller in size.
I recommend everyone to get down to Rockport-Fulton, TX during migration to see these birds. Migration down here can always surprise you with a rarity. Now, I didn't have an mega rare bird today, but tomorrow is always a new day.
The "Sammich" Tern above was digiscoped using a Nikon Rig with a Nikon 85mm EDG Fieldscope. Coincidentally, they like yellow mustard on their sammies. Heinz of course) Good Birding to all and check out the Hummer Bird Celebration if you're in the area and if not, get your butt here next year.
I recommend everyone to get down to Rockport-Fulton, TX during migration to see these birds. Migration down here can always surprise you with a rarity. Now, I didn't have an mega rare bird today, but tomorrow is always a new day.
The "Sammich" Tern above was digiscoped using a Nikon Rig with a Nikon 85mm EDG Fieldscope. Coincidentally, they like yellow mustard on their sammies. Heinz of course) Good Birding to all and check out the Hummer Bird Celebration if you're in the area and if not, get your butt here next year.
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