Friday, August 29, 2014

Avian portraits

Egyptian Goose
Snowy Egret
Double-Crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Finch invasion

This past year I have been observing some recently introduced bird species in my area: the Pin-Tailed Whydah and the Scaly-Breasted Munia (aka Spice Finch, aka Nutmeg Mannikin).
Male whydah

Female whydah

Two Munias

Just this week some little brown jobs have showed up-- which, according to a more experienced local birder, are juvenile whydahs! This species is a brood parasite, and their young are being raised by the Munias.


There has also been a Zebra Finch in my backyard:

Monday, August 11, 2014

Nestful of swallows

The same babies at the top of my previous post, one week later (the fourth is still in the nest, but hidden behind its siblings):

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Miscellaneous juvenile avifauna

Barn Swallow nestlings
California Towhee
Egyptian Goose gosling
Black Phoebe
Western Bluebird fledgeling
Mockingbird fledgeling, just out of nest