Finding ourselves down by the shore, our bird last week was a Great Black-backed Gull. This week we'll try our luck with a species found in the forests of the east.

Good luck and great birding!

Posted by Kevin, F.C.D. at 07:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Last week our bird was an American Pipit. In the Rocky Mountains portion of their range, this species tends to be more pale than in other areas (this one was in Wyoming's Bighorn Mtns.). For this week we go back to the shoreline for another tricky group, a member of the Laridae family. Good luck and great birding!

Posted by Kevin, F.C.D. at 06:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Those "dabbling duck" hens can be quite a challenge sometimes and last week's was a Northern Pintail. For this week, another species that can be a little confusing - good luck!

I noticed this morning that we're approaching a milestone for this little blog of mine as this is entry #498, just two away from 500. Sometime in the next month or so I'll also be hitting my 3rd "blogiversary" - I'll have to look up the exact date of my first post and maybe we can have a big party (or not).

Lot's of birds on the move, they say, so here's hoping you have a great week birding!

Posted by Kevin, F.C.D. at 07:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

One of my favorite yard birds from my Florida days (and what a big voice for such a little bird!), last week's quiz bird was Carolina Wren. This week we'll take to the water and a bird that may soon be found on a lake or pond near you as southbound migration continues - good luck and great birding!

Posted by Kevin, F.C.D. at 07:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Well, here it is, Friday already, and time for another weekly quiz! Last week our little group of nesting birds were Brandt's Cormorants photographed near Monterey, California. For this week we have one of my favorite yard birds from my Florida days. Good luck and I hope your birding week has been as good as mine!

Posted by Kevin, F.C.D. at 07:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

The answer to last week's quiz was Western Kingbird and, for this week, I dug down into my film archives for this group of birds making use of a large rock along the coast for a rookery. Good luck and good birding!

Posted by Kevin, F.C.D. at 06:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

After a couple of weeks of quizzes with birds that are mostly shades of brown, for this time we'll round just a touch of color. The answer to last week's quiz was Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus).

Though I haven't been writing much lately due to other distractions, others have been, so don't forget that, being Friday, John over at A D.C. Birding Blog has another edition of Loose Feathers posted. And the 82nd edition of I and the Bird is being hosted by Sycamore Canyon. I do have a couple of things to post, I just need to find time to work it around other projects I have happening.

Posted by Kevin, F.C.D. at 06:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Last week we had a big brown bird, a Barred Owl. This week's little brown bird might be a little more difficult - if there is any one family of birds that makes me crazy, it's this one. As always, good luck and good birding!

Posted by Kevin, F.C.D. at 11:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Are 1's and 8's wild today? Quiz #111 on 8-8-08?

Anyway, the answer for last week's quiz is Clapper Rail, seen out in the open in a rare pose rather than deep in the tall grasses of a marsh. For this week, our bird is from a family that I don't think we've quizzed before. Good luck and good birding!

Posted by Kevin, F.C.D. at 09:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Last week our bird in question was a not-very-blue Little Blue Heron, an immature in the early stages of molt to the, shall we say. proper color. For this week I've dug into my film archives for a bird you will rarely see out in the open like this. As always, good luck and good birding!

Posted by Kevin, F.C.D. at 06:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

We have video to help us with the answer to last week's "Light As A Feather" quiz. The fun part of this was that as I videotaping the bluebirds at their nest (who, as I type, are not far outside my trailer begging) I moved the tripod, looked down, saw the feather, and, within minutes, had the opportunity to get these clips:

The owner of the feather is, of course, Northern Flicker ("Red-shafted" or western race). It was kind of hard to keep up with his gyrations as he was bouncing around on that fallen tree chasing the ants - at about 12 seconds in notice how he tries to shake off the ants attacking his feet. The second flicker that makes a brief appearance is a fledgling. Congrats to those who answered correctly with so little to go on!

For this week we return to a "regular" photo and a bird that may be a little confusing in this plumage phase.

A couple of links of note: It's Friday so the latest edition of Loose Feathers is up at A D.C. Birding Blog and the 80th edition of I and the Bird is hosted this time around at The Hawk Owl's Nest.

Posted by Kevin, F.C.D. at 06:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Every once in a while I just have to throw an evil twist into the weekly quiz, like way back when the subject wasn't even a bird at all. This week is one of those weeks. All you get is this feather. If you know the eastern and western variants of this species, it may not be that hard. Or not.

Last week's bird was one you will find only in southern Arizona or Northern Mexico, the Arizona Woodpecker (Picoides arizonae). Have fun with this week's quiz and, as always, good luck and great birding!

P.S. - A quick check of the bluebird nest this morning found the adults still bringing food, so we'll have to wait another day or two to find them out and about (if it's tomorrow, I'm working an "astro" schedule - giving me a free morning - and might be able to catch them on fledging day . . . )

Posted by Kevin, F.C.D. at 07:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Last week's speedster running down the beach was a Sanderling. For this week we explore the southwest once again for a bird you'll only find in a small area within the continental U.S.

Being Friday, the latest edition of Loose Feathers is up at A D.C. Birding Blog; the newest edition of I and the Bird is also up at 10,000 Birds. This is the 3rd anniversary edition -congratulations to Mike as well everyone who has hosted or contributed over these past three years!

Posted by Kevin, F.C.D. at 06:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Last week we had a Violet-green Swallow (would probably qualify as a "drab adult' per Sibley) for our quiz bird. I took the photo on one of 2 days that several of them were landing in front of one of the campground host's rv gathering up pine needles, presumably for nesting material. For this week, being a summer holiday weekend, we'll do what a lot of other folks might be doing - go to the beach to look at shorebirds (though it is probably a bit early in the season to see this species in this plumage). Good luck and great birding!

Posted by Kevin, F.C.D. at 02:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Last week's quiz featured a rather motley looking Red Crossbill. A small flock spent a couple of days ravaging the emerging cones in Blue Spruce right in front of the Visitor Center, then left. Who knows where they ran off to after that. For this week we have a species that I watched (also over a couple days) coming into the area of the campground where I live to gather nesting material. Now I just see them flying around - guess they got all they needed from here. As always, good luck and great birding!

Don't forget to check out the latest edition of Loose Feathers over at A D.C. Birding Blog. As always there are some great links - down in the "Environment" section check out the article on Gristmill from NASA climate scientist James Hansen (the one whose been warning us for 20 years now . . . ).

Posted by Kevin, F.C.D. at 07:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Singing his heart out for us last week was a Green-tailed Towhee. Though I still have a nice collection of birds to draw from for these weekly entries, I always like adding something new to my catalog. This week's quiz bird is one of two "new" birds I photographed this week that I was able to choose from for this edition. Good luck and great birding!

Posted by Kevin, F.C.D. at 06:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

It's Friday again and time for another mystery bird. Our bird last week was a Chipping Sparrow; for this week a species that, now that I have the song etched in my brain, is really quite common around Bryce since I seem to hear them just about everywhere I go. This species is a new addition to my catalog of bird photographs, so I'm happy about that, needless to say. There's a close relative that is found in the park's lower elevations that I need to go seek out, too.

Another 2 weeks has zipped on by and the newest edition (#77) of "I and the Bird" is being hosted over at Great Auk - or Greatest Auk?, so there's lots of good reading to be had about birds and birders.

In addition to my weekly quiz, Friday also means another edition of Loose Feathers is up over at A D.C. Birding Blog.

Posted by Kevin, F.C.D. at 06:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Our bird last week was a Loggerhead Shrike. For this week, while there a some with larger ranges, it is still one of the most widespread species in North America. Good luck and great birding!

Posted by Kevin, F.C.D. at 10:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

So this week we begin our second hundred quizzes with a bird that is widespread across much the U.S. and whose range also extends into portions of Canada and Mexico. Last week's quiz bird was a Downy Woodpecker.

In other news, I have decided to break down the quizzes into year-based categories in a bit of blog-related housekeeping. I've started with the 2008 editions and will be working as time permits or I'm bored and have nothing better to do (unless I can find a shortcut, I have to go through all 100 posts individually).

Around Delaware Bay, I have been able to find very little news about migrating Red Knots, which is a little disappointing. But then maybe no news is good news? There is a news item here noting that Horseshoe Crab numbers seem to be up slightly this year but there is no mention of shorebird numbers.

Once you've decided on the answer to this week's quiz, head on over to A D.C. Birding Blog for this week's Loose Feathers.

And last but not least, the 76th edition of I and the Bird is a little garden party being hosted by Wanderin' Weeta.

Posted by Kevin, F.C.D. at 06:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Looks like we have reached a milestone in the weekly quizzes - #100! In another month it will be 2 years since the first quiz, though I've missed an occasional week for various reasons, so the record isn't spotless. And I think at least a couple of times I snuck in something that wasn't a bird.

As far as last week goes, if you're looking for a little frustration, look no farther than the "peeps". That bird was one of three small sandpipers that can make you scratch your head. Of the 3 possibilities we can eliminate one right away - Least Sandpiper - since we have a good look at the legs which would be yellow on a Least. So that leaves with a choice between Semipalmated and Western. The first thing I would look at would be the bill - relatively short and blunt-tipped on a "Semipalm"; longer and slightly drooping on the Western. Everything I have seems to indicate that the Western will also have a somewhat light coloration on the head and my best guess is that this is likely a well-worn juvenile. So in a nutshell the answer is Western Sandpiper.

Have fun with this week's edition - best of luck and great birding!

Posted by Kevin, F.C.D. at 06:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Last week's bird, a Blackpoll Warbler, makes one of the most amazing journeys of all the members of the family. Most of the population nests in the Boreal forests of Western Canada and Alaska, then migrates first to the Canadian Maritimes and New England, followed by a 3,000 mile leap across the Atlantic to Venezuela and Brazil. Their journey north takes them across the Gulf of Mexico, then overland back to the breeding grounds. Fort DeSoto Park, near St. Petersburg, Florida, can be a great place during spring migration, the Blackpoll was photographed in one of the famous Mulberry trees that, if the timing is right, will be full of berries and a great place to find warblers, buntings, orioles, and others.

For this week, a challenging species I'd photographed a few years ago during the winter in Florida. They should be nearing their breeding grounds in Alaska by now and looking very different from what you see here. Good luck and great birding!

Posted by Kevin, F.C.D. at 07:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tomorrow, May 10, is International Migratory Bird Day and to celebrate I dug deep into my archives (it's from a slide!) for this week's quiz bird. This species is one I feature in my presentation Wings on the Wind, that, not coincidentally, will be tomorrow's night's featured Ranger Program here at Bryce (we're also having a birding walk Sunday morning if you are in the area and care to come along).

Before I forget, last week's bird was an American Bittern.

Note: David (and anyone else who wants to play): extra credit if you can tell me what kind of tree it is in . . . I know you know, though you may not be able to identify it from the photo )

Posted by Kevin, F.C.D. at 07:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

While I have now seen 3 of the 4 species of swallow that are said to occur here at Bryce, last week's quiz bird, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, still eludes me. For this week, a bird that is rarely seen but widespread across North America. Good luck and good birding!

A couple of gentle reminders on this Friday: Another 2 weeks has passed and the 74th edition of I and the Bird is being hosted at Con's World and the latest edition of Loose Feathers is up at A D.C. Birding Blog.

Posted by Kevin, F.C.D. at 06:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Almost forgot what day of the week it was . . . Friday kind of snuck up on me. Last week's bird was a Black Phoebe; for this week a bird that is listed as "uncommon" here at Bryce, but supposed to be a local breeder. Gonna have to find one soon, I guess.

As always, good luck and great birding!

Posted by Kevin, F.C.D. at 07:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Our bird last week was a Least Tern, a species that I remember in Florida arriving from the south beginning in March and all but gone by the end of July. For this week we a western species to test your knowledge - good luck and good birding!

Every two weeks, of course, there is another presentation of I and the Bird and, this time, the host is my friend Snail from "Down Under". It's a wonderful presentation with a some great entries about birds and birding - go have a look!. As soon as I finish here, I'll do what I do every Friday and that is head over to see what John at A D.C. Birding Blog has to offer in the latest edition of Loose Feathers (a weekly must read).

Posted by Kevin, F.C.D. at 06:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Last week we had a bird of the Southwestern deserts, Gambel's Quail. For this week, since I spent a day "beachcombing" 500 miles from the nearest beach, I thought we should look at a bird you might see along the coast. Good luck and good birding!

Posted by Kevin, F.C.D. at 06:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The little dove in last week's quiz was a Common ground-dove. Since I have spent a fair amount of time this week chasing "game birds" (I don't like that name), I thought "why not have one for this week's quiz?" Good luck and great birding!

Posted by Kevin, F.C.D. at 11:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The answer to last week's quiz was Northern Mockingbird.With a limited range across North America and plumage variations across that range, our bird for #92 may be somewhat trickier. Good luck & good birding!

Posted by Kevin, F.C.D. at 05:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Last week's bird was a Dark-eyed Junco (gray headed race). For this week we have another gray bird that ranges across large parts of the country. They're supposed to be resident (but rare) here in the park; I'm still looking . . .

Good luck and good birding!

Posted by Kevin, F.C.D. at 08:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Here it is Friday already and time for another quiz! Our bird last week was a female Hooded Merganser. For this week we have a species I hadn't seen in the park for a few months now, but they have been seen along the roads the past few days foraging where the snow has melted. Good luck and good birding!

Posted by Kevin, F.C.D. at 08:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

In the past it has seemed to me that ducks (and geese) were always among the first to make the move north each spring. I know that I have seen a few now that there is a little open water around here again. So, with that in mind, have a go at this week's quiz bird.

The answer to last week's quiz: Wilson's Plover.

Good luck and good birding!

Posted by Kevin, F.C.D. at 06:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Our raptor in last week's quiz, possibly beginning its northward trek from South America by now, was a Swainson's Hawk. For this week a trip to the shore. Have fun and good birding!

Posted by Kevin, F.C.D. at 08:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The answer to last week's quiz was White-eyed Vireo; for this week we'll move out west for a bird that is a little larger and probably a litter meaner. Have fun, good luck, and good birding!

A couple of links worth noting on this snowy Friday: Grrlscientist over at Living the Scientific Life is the host for I and the Bird #69 and, as usual, there are some great entries all about birds and birding. Every Friday John at A D.C. Birding Blog offers up a new edition of Loose Feathers, a weekly must read for me because he always offers up some great links.

Posted by Kevin, F.C.D. at 08:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Last week's quiz bird was a winter plumaged Wilson's Phalarope photographed a few years ago in Orange County, California. For this week we venture back into the woodlands of the eastern part of the country. Good luck and good birding!

Posted by Kevin, F.C.D. at 08:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Our bird last week was a Pine Warbler, a species that could probably be easily confused with a number of other small birds of the eastern forests and woodlands. For this week it is back to one my favorite groups, the shorebirds (or waders for my friends outside of North America). Good luck and good birding!

Don't forget to pay a visit to the current edition of I and the Bird which is hosted this time around at Biological Ramblings. The theme is all about winter doldrums and, with the way birding is around Bryce these days, a great theme it is!

Posted by Kevin, F.C.D. at 08:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)