Close encounter with a Prairie Falcon on the Carrizo Plain

Returning from a long road trip to northern California, Marlene and I veered through the Carrizo Plain. We left the smoggy oil fields of Kern County west of Bakersfield and climbed the mountains on a thin ribbon of pavement, barely wider than a single-lane road. Down the other side of the mountain we drove into an enclosed dry, barren, grassland, surrounded by mountains. In the lowest part of the valley was Soda Lake--a dry alkali lake bed--tucked away in the inland of San Luis Obispo County.

As barren as it was, there was little opportunity for spotting, much less photographing, birds. But at one point we spotted a Prairie Falcon on a fence post and were able to drive slowly by it and obtain the photos below.

Prairie Falcon. Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County, California. November 29, 2015. Greg Gillson.

Royal and Elegant Terns

A year ago I wrote about the identification the larger orange-billed terns in southern California (see ID: Elegant, Royal, and Caspian Terns). That ID article showed birds in flight.

Recently I walked out on the beach near the Oceanside harbor and encountered a flock of about 40 terns resting on the beach. Most were Royal Terns as expected for this time of year. A few were Elegant Terns--it's getting on the late side for them.

One of these birds is not like the others.

Most of the birds above are Royal Terns. The bird on the far right is an Elegant Tern. Let's take a closer look at two together.

Elegant Tern (left) and Royal Tern (right). Oceanside, California. November 8, 2015. Greg Gillson.

There are 3 marks to note on these non-breeding terns on the beach: size, bill, crest.

1. Royal Terns are a bit larger than Elegant Terns.
2. The bill on Royal Tern is stout and dark orange. The bill on Elegant Tern is thin and down-curved and often yellower.
3. The crest on Royal Tern is short and bushy, straight back from the eye. The eye is usually isolated from the crest and the crown above the eye is usually extensively white. The longer crest on Elegant Tern encircles the eye, starts on the crown above the eye and wraps down the nape.

Royal Tern

Both Royal and Elegant Terns have fully black crowns (including forehead) in the breeding season (April-June?) and thus are even more similar looking then.

Elegant Tern

Royal Tern

Elegant Tern

Royal Tern

Elegant Tern

Elegant Tern

Elegant Tern.

Royal Tern

Royal Tern

Elegant Tern

Two crops of Yellow-rumped Warbler at Lake Hodges

Which one do you like better?

Most of the photos I present are cropped tightly. So I present below the original cropping and two alternates.

Original frame; no cropping.

Less tightly cropped.

Yellow-rumped Warbler. Tightly cropped. Lake Hodges, California. November 26, 2015. Greg Gillson.

Heermann's Gull at Oceanside

Presented below is a 2nd cycle Heermann's Gull. For more information on this gull and photos of a breeding plumage adult click here.

Heermann's Gull. Oceanside, California. November 8, 2015. Greg Gillson.

Scaly-breasted Munia at Lake Hodges

A few weeks ago I presented some photos of Scaly-breasted Munias in Carlsbad. Recently I found 5 more birds at Lake Hodges near Rancho Bernardo.

Scaly-breasted Munia, male. Lake Hodges, California. November 26, 2015. Greg Gillson.

Scaly-breasted Munia, female. Lake Hodges, California. November 26, 2015. Greg Gillson.

BirdLog is dead! Long live eBird Mobile!

eBird Mobile for Android just came out, joining eBird Mobile for iOS that has been available for about 5 months. These Apps replace BirdLog.

eBird is a real-time online checklist program by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society. It was first introduced in 2002. Frankly, I wasn't enamored with it until 2010-2011 when useful tools showed up that allowed anyone to view recent bird sightings maps and frequency and abundance bar charts anywhere in the world. Other enhancements that followed included selectable alerts and photos embedded in the checklists. In December 2011 I called eBird "an absolutely indispensable real time world-wide bird status and distribution tool." eBird can even make you a better birder.

The power of eBird was greatly enhanced in 2012 by the introduction of BirdLog by BirdsEye Nature Apps. I called BirdLog the "'killer app' for eBirders!" Now one could submit bird sightings directly from the field on their smart phone! No more transcribing field notes into eBird on your computer at the end of the day. It is so easy that you just start a new checklist for each new location during your birding trip and keep track of the birds as you see them. In July 2013 I wrote an eBird best practices post on using BirdLog. These best practices apply equally to the new eBird Mobile.

You know what's even better? eBird Mobile is 1) FREE! and 2) one App covers the whole world! Previously, BirdLog for each region (North America, Mexico and Central America, Australia and New Zealand, etc.) was priced at $10 each, while a world App was $20. eBird Mobile is now available in 5 languages.

In February 2011 I wrote: "Just as binoculars and field guide has defined a birder for the past 75 years, I believe eBird will define what it means to be a birder in the coming decades."  I believe this to be more true than ever, and now with eBird Mobile it is free and so much easier!

Many thanks go to the developers of BirdLog for making field data entry into eBird so wonderfully easy. Now that this functionality is moved directly to the eBird team, I expect even smoother integration and regular enhancements. Well done to all involved! Congratulations.

How to identify birds in flight

Birds fly. At least, most can. In fact, “flight is the defining characteristic of birds” (as Jonathan Alderfer and Jon Dunn and Kenn Kaufman write). Then why don't field guides teach us to identify birds in flight?

Depending upon the type of birding you are doing, your first detection of a bird may be of a bird in flight. For instance, you are walking along a hedgerow and previously unseen sparrows fly up from the grass and disappear into the brambles. You turn a corner and a bird takes off from a tree and flies away. Movement catches your eye and you see a flock of birds flying in formation overhead. You scope out the ocean from a promontory and view numerous birds winging by offshore.

These are the common ways that we see birds. It only makes sense that your field guide should tell you how to identify these birds in flight. But they don’t. Oh, some occasionally mention the unique flight styles of a certain few birds. There are a few specialized guides for hawks and ducks in flight. But these books are often based only on shape and pattern, not actually the behavior of flight that might help you to identify distant or quickly-viewed birds.

This manual teaches you the basic mechanics of flight and gives you the vocabulary necessary to describe a bird in flight in such a way that you may identify it to family or even species by flight alone. Combine flight style with flight call notes or key observable plumage field marks, and most birds in flight are readily identifiable.

---

The above text is the introduction to my 38-page manual on how to identify birds in flight. As far as I know there is no other book or manual that explains how to go about describing flight characters in order to identify birds. Flight style mechanics, silhouette and shape, flapping and flight path progression, and other ID clues are all brought together in a "Bird flight style identification worksheet." This is followed by 11 examples describing the flight style differences between such groups and species as West Coast Shearwaters, European Starling versus Cedar Waxwing, Crows and Ravens in flight, Late autumn sparrows in the weedy marsh, Flight style comparison: Red-winged Blackbird and Brown-headed Cowbird, Flight of American Robin, and several more.

Using what you learn here, and the examples given, you will be able to describe flight characters and learn the ID of flying birds you observe.

The entire manual is now loaded into a stand-alone page on my Greg in San Diego blog. It is here: How to Identify Birds in Flight.

Book Review: Better Birding

Princeton University Press sent me this new bird book to review. I am very interested in teaching others to improve their field birding skills. So naturally, I was anticipating this new offering.

Better Birding: tips, tools & concepts for the field. George L. Armistead and Brian L. Sullivan. Publication date December 8, 2015. Paperback 360 pages. 8.5 x 5.5 inches.

The first thing I had to do when reading this book is to adjust my preconceptions. You see, based on the title, I was expecting the entire book to be a "how to" manual, similar to Alderfer and Dunn's National Geographic Birding Essentials (2007). In fact, it is a guide for explaining tricky identification problems in North American birds using more than just plumage. It is thus more similar to Kaufman's Field Guide to Advanced Birding (2011). In this regard the book does not disappoint.

The 18-page introduction describes the design of the book with the catch-phrase "Wide-Angle Birding." Bird identification is not just plumage. Birds are not just field marks; they are living entities. Behavior, habitat, natural history, and taxonomy helps separate one species from another.

"You learn more when you can also zoom out and see the big picture--see the bird in context. Sometimes you have to lower your binoculars and step away from the scope, look at your surroundings and habitat the bird is in, consider the conditions, and use your ears. Relying too much on the view through your optics can actually hinder your attempts at identification."

So, then, rather than telling how to better identify birds, the rest of the book is dedicated to showing how to identify individual species from among groups of North American birds. For instance, the first "chapter" covers the 5 loon species. Each age group and gender is covered--from the easy breeding-plumaged adults to the more difficult juveniles and immatures. This "Loon" section has 18 pages that is divided into about 6 pages of text and 12 pages of photos (44 different loon photos of all species and ages). A bit of natural history is given as an overview to all loons, then each species account covers identification individually by age class.

The book continues with 23 more groups that prove to be an identification challenge, such as White Herons, Tropical Terns, Godwits, Small Wrens, Swifts, Yellow-bellied Kingbirds, Pipits, and Cowbirds. The book contains hundreds of color bird photos and collages. The groups were chosen for 3 reasons as Armistead and Sullivan explain. The group represented an opportunity to build core birding skills. The group could use a refreshed identification treatment. The group was interesting to the authors.

Each new group has a "Focus on" sentence telling you what to look for when identifying the bird. It could be voice, range, habitat, or perhaps structure of bill or body. It tells you what plumage features to concentrate on for each group, whether head, rump, or wing pattern. This then leads you into a "Hints and Considerations" section that uses bullet points to specifically apply the "Focus on" point to individual species. The "Identification" section further refines identification techniques for the group before covering each species individually.

In July I reviewed Birding by Impression: A different approach to knowing and identifying birds by Karlson and Rosselet (2015, Review here). The ideas are similar. Both volumes stress 'holistic' birding--the bird in its living context, not just field marks on a page. These volumes complement each other nicely, I think.

Song Sparrow at Oceanside

Here's a photo of a Song Sparrow on the cement wall at the San Luis Rey River Mouth in Oceanside. I was able to place the camera right on the wall for a low angle photo right down the length of the wall. My 100-400mm camera lens shoots best at f7.1. Fully extended to 400mm gives my camera about 12x magnification and only a very few inches of depth of field as can be seen by how quickly the cement wall goes out of focus in front and behind the bird.

Song Sparrow. Oceanside, California. November 8, 2015. Greg Gillson.

ID Challenge: Mew Gull NOT!

I photographed this small gull in Oceanside a few weeks ago. The tiny bill and round head made me seriously consider this as a possible rare Mew Gull, rather than the common Ring-billed Gull. I did observe Mew Gulls here last winter, and one was reported nearby recently, so I was on the look-out.

Small gull. Oceanside, California. November 8, 2015. Greg Gillson.

I remember an identification article that appeared in American Birds March 1980: "A method for separating juvenal and first-winter Ring-billed Gulls (Larus delewarensis) and Common Gulls (Larus canus)" by Anthony J. Lauro and Barbara J. Spencer. (pdf here)

This article was the first to show that the wing covert tip shape and color is the key to separating these very similar-looking birds in immature plumage. The wing coverts of immature Mew Gulls have medium dark solid rounded centers with pale edge. The wing coverts of immature Ring-billed Gulls have darker pointed centers with wider whiter tips.

Though the wing covert feathers are worn and faded, the photo below shows the pointed dark tips on the individual wing covert centers consistent with Ring-billed Gull, and not Mew Gull.

Hooked! Brandt's Cormorant at Oceanside

This Brandt's Cormorant was in the Oceanside marina recently. It was acting a bit dumpy.

Brandt's Cormorant. Oceanside, California. November 8, 2015. Greg Gillson.

As is the case for many fish-eating birds near such busy fishing harbors, it grabbed a baited hook and now wears it as "jewelry." As you may imagine, such a hook may become infected or otherwise fatally injure a bird.

A web page on how to best free a bird from a fishhook is here.

Scaly-breasted Munia in Carlsbad

"Where do I find Scaly-breasted Munia?" Visiting birders have asked this question since late 2013 when the bird's status in California was officially changed from feral escaped cage bird to wild naturalized resident ("established population"). Scaly-breasted Munias can now officially be counted on your ABA list (American Birding Association).

According to eBird, Scaly-breasted Munias have been found in the last month in California from San Luis Obispo to the Mexican border near Tijuana.

Scaly-breasted Munia (thick bill partially hidden by leaf). Carlsbad, California. October, 2015. Greg Gillson.

Juvenile male Scaly-breasted Munia.

Scaly-breasted Munias are known in the pet trade as Nutmeg Mannikins or Spice Finches. It is endemic in Asia from India to the Philippines.

I've seen these birds just about 5 times now in San Diego County. They are truly tiny birds, only 4-1/2 inches long--about the size of a goldfinch, though a bit pudgier with shorter tails. They form small flocks that give finch-like twittering calls. Though I am very good at identifying birds by their calls, I still haven't learned this bird's vocal differences--perhaps because they are in flocks and I haven't really heard just one bird call distinctly.

In San Diego County they seem to like brushy river bottoms at lower elevations. When the San Diego Bird Atlas was written in 2004, this species was "sporadic" in the county. They are now found in river bottoms near the coast the entire length of the county. They also follow the San Diego River from Mission Bay to Santee. If I had to name one location where they are most frequently encountered it would be Lake Murray. Over 100 individuals have been seen lately, though I have never seen them there. Another place where they are frequent is Batiquitos Lagoon.

Cassin's Kingbird at Poinsettia Park, Carlsbad

As do most birders, I like to see birds I've never seen before--especially birds rare to an area. There are several rare birds in the San Diego area now, including many returning for multiple winters. I'll go see them if I have available time; but some are rather distant for a quick trip. Frankly, I'd rather find my own rare birds. But that means I don't see rare birds as often as if I chased after rare birds that others have already found.

Thus, I was exploring a new park I noticed on the map in Carlsbad. Poinsettia Park is quite large--perhaps a half mile to walk around, rimmed with trees and paved walkways. It is 42 acres, has 3 baseball fields, basketball court, and 10 tennis courts. (website here). The west side is along an ungroomed wet canyon with many trees. It looks like a great place for migrant or winter rarities to be found. It has food, water, and shelter. Less than a mile inland, it will have mild temperatures that should provide insects for food all winter .

I found several flocks of birds, but didn't find anything rare. I did get a couple photos of a cooperative Cassin's Kingbird on a fence.

Cassin's Kingbird. Carlsbad, California. October 25, 2015. Greg Gillson.

Last year I wrote an identification article on identifying the "yellow-bellied" kingbirds: "ID: Western, Cassin's, and Tropical Kingbirds."

California Flying Fish

When the ocean waters are especially warm in southern California one can view California Flying Fish. They are really more "gliding" fish than flying fish, as they don't flap their "wings" (pectoral fins). They gain speed under the water and then jump out, gliding on large pectoral fins. They frequently glide 150 feet before touching the water--and even then, their flight is not necessarily over.

Flying fish have forked tails. The lower lobe of the tail is much longer than the upper. As their glide slows and they drop closer to the water's surface an amazing thing happens. Rather than splash back into the water, they may vibrate their lower tail lobe in the water to pick up speed and extend their flight! Thus, a fish may combine several glides into a single flight reaching several hundred feet! They may stay out of the water for more than 30 seconds.

Up to 19 inches long--California Flying Fish are the world's largest.

California Flying Fish. Off San Diego, California. October 11, 2015. Greg Gillson.

Vibrating the lower tail lobe for another bout of gliding.

Off it glides again!

Green Heron in Encinitas

This Green Heron was at a small pond in Encinitas recently. It was an overcast day so the maroon and greenish hues are quite muted. Egrets and herons are photogenic birds. They are large and often allow close approach. So, after the first half-a-hundred photos of each bird it's hard to get something unique to get excited about. However, I thought the rusty grate to the large drain matched the heron's colors nicely and provided an interesting artistic accent that is lacking in many of my "documentary style" bird photos. Plus, it kind of follows the Rules of Thirds.

Green Heron. Encinitas, California. October 25, 2015. Greg Gillson.

Red-throated Pipit at Carlsbad, California

Yesterday when I posted about the grassland birds I saw last week at the Fiesta Island Dog Run, I didn't know I'd be going out this morning to look for the same birds. However, I went to a nearer location where Red-throated Pipits were reported. So, here's another post showing some of the same species reported in yesterday's post. But this time, I was successful in locating a Red-throated Pipit--a life bird!

A grassy field on Ponto Road in Carlsbad is also used as a dog run by local residents. It's a much smaller area with a dirt path/road around it. The field has scattered ice plant and other small weeds among the dirt--perfect for grassland birds such as pipits (70), horned larks (30), Say's phoebes (3), and meadowlarks (7). Since it was closer to home I could spend more time here.

American Pipit taking flight.

The pipits were very flighty. When the dogs came by they all took flight, circled around and landed out away from everyone. As they chased caterpillars they'd spread out. Eventually, they'd all end up in the same general area, even out on the open dirt. By just standing patiently, they'd creep by or be flushed near over time.

American Pipit showing rather dull, plain solid brown back.

The locomotion of pipits on the ground is rather steady walking with jerking head and bobbing tail. They stay pretty low and creep along horizontally as they walk, but then pull up suddenly to stop and look around before continuing on.

American Pipit with streaked breast and dark legs. Weak head pattern.

The Horned Larks were actually much less wary. They would often surprise me by flying up from underfoot--even though I was going incredibly slow and taking a few steps and stopping to scan around. They wouldn't fly around as much as the pipits when disturbed; more often they would just walk away.

Horned Lark.

Finally I spied the target pipit with the striped back and more contrasting plumage! The view was brief and rather distant. I never did hear it call, or if I did, it was not noticeably different from the American Pipits.

Red-throated Pipit showing dark-and-buff striped back and pink legs; yellowish throat of immature or winter adult.

When other birders came I spotted it again--finally 4 times and over a minute! Peter Ginsburg showed up with his scope and I did get a distant scope view--just before the dogs chased their ball right through the flock and they flew to the opposite side.

Red-throated Pipit. Carlsbad, California. November 1, 2015. Greg Gillson.

The Red-throated Pipit hid more in the thicker vegetation and little ruts and swales than the American Pipits did. So it was often many minutes between sightings. I was there for 2 hours and 40 minutes and saw the bird 4 times for less than 5 minutes total. I only moved a hundred feet or so across the field and back.

Red-throated Pipit showing strongly patterned facial markings; heavily streaked under parts.

At first when you look over the sparsely vegetated field it doesn't appear as if there are any birds out there. But by concentrating on a more distant spot you catch the birds scurrying along in your peripheral vision. This type of birding requires patience and slow, methodical scanning of each bird, over and over again. It's not as exciting as other forms of bird watching, but the rewards can be worth it!

Red-throated Pipit showing strongly striped back and affinity for thicker vegetation.

A bonus rare bird--a Sage Thrasher--also showed up. It's not as unusual as the Red-throated Pipit, but more regular in the Anza-Borrego desert in migration and winter, rather than along the coast. It had also been spotted by others earlier in the week.

Sage Thrasher. Carlsbad, California. November 1, 2015. Greg Gillson.