The Great Backyard Bird Count Day 1

Today is the first day of the 2015 Great Backyard Bird Count. And, of course, I timed it to go with my monthly bird count at Lake Murray. Unfortunately, many species decided not to come out today. It was also extremely warm and dry out, too.  Most of the usual suspects were out and about.

Here are a few photos I took. I didn't take too many and half of these are of domestic birds:

Northern shovelers (all male)

American wigeon (all male)

This next one is of that domestic duck across the lake whom I haven't named.

The two Babbas, domestic geese:

And, I threw in this picture of a gopher trying to get some greens, lol. (he wasn't counted)

I also saw some horned grebes and a couple of western bluebirds, too. Conspicuously absent were scrub jays, Say's phoebe and swallows.

New Year's Day Shorebirds

Here we go, counting shorebirds on New Year's Day. But, today it was very cold in the morning, so not a lot of birds were out flying around. This resulting in me seeing almost no gulls, terns, starlings, or anything else that likes to fly around early in the morning.  Here are some highlights:

First, I was greeted by wigeon and northern pintail duck butts:

Some birds were far away, like these avocets as well as a whole lot of stilts, too:

Short-billed dowitchers were sleeping all over the place:

Least sandpipers:

Some of these guys were sleeping:

Willet and godwit:

Willets:

And, a few days ago, I did a Christmas Bird Count in Escondido.  I didn't take a lot of photos, but I did get some of the common ground doves:

Update on the domestics and killdeer

The bitey duck is still there and he's still bitey.  However, if you feed him promptly, he is not so bitey.  And, I've noticed that he only likes certain people, so the general public are not in any real danger of being bitten from what I've seen, unless some kid runs up and tries to chase him.  I gave him his food in a small bowl to which he spilled a third of it and then ate the rest, pushing the bowl around.  He then turned around and ate what was on the ground.  When I picked up the bowl, he tapped my shoe, but did not bite.

This scaup pigged out on the rice, too, when I moved away.  It's funny watching scaup walking on land.  After all the food was gone, the Pekin and the scaup were following me around.  I tried to lead the Pekin to some other Pekins, but as soon as he saw them, he turned around and went the other way.  Later, the Pekin's friend came to check up on him, but was detoured by two fishermen, so the two never got together.

Jill has been all alone lately.  I have no idea where her Canada goose friend and his white Chinese hybrid goose friend went to.  They probably went to a new place to eat and I just haven't found them, yet.  I thought those other two were both males, but maybe I was wrong and there's a female in that pair and maybe one is on a nest.

Louie comes up to Jill sometimes and makes googly eyes at her.  I think she's warming up to him and often grazes when he's nearby.

Louie often herds Jill to new places.  "Picked on" the Canada gander still hangs around, but keeps his distance when Louie is with Jill.  But, Jill and Louie are not a pair because if anything separates them or if Louie goes away, Jill does not follow.

The baby Canada goose (now two years old) just swims around calling, but doesn't hang around anyone most of the time.

 I saw some wigeons who look like they're starting to molt.  The mallards haven't started molted and they're late in doing so.  They should have started molting by now.

There were three wigeons by the lake walking path:

Smudge and her mate:

There are two male killdeer hanging out in Junior's territory.  One acts like Killer Jr, so I think he might be Killer's son, George IV.  The other might be his brother, or could be George III who generally travels with Junior who should be arriving soon.

And, I have a baby hummingbird in my yard.  Or, I did until a couple of days ago.  I think he's all on his own now and his mom has a new nest.

Bigboi, the Cayuga duck seems a lot better today.  Big Daddy is hanging out with Cinnamon.  I saw no sign of Oreo at all and I looked all over for him.  But, I did see him last week, so he might be OK.

Some fall migrating ducks

Just a few duck photos of our fall visitors beginning with some female cinnamon teal:

Where're the boys?

A ruddy duck, though they're here all year around, just not usually at this lake:

Wigeons:

And, there were a few killdeer around.  This one looks like Shy's Mate:

This could be his son, he looks a lot like Miracle:

Where is Spoonface?

I didn't take many photos today, but I am beginning to worry about Spoonface (Bossy).  I haven't seen him in almost a week.  If he could fly, I would feel better.  He has gone missing before, I hope he shows up again.

Today's photos include a couple of shy wigeons:

And, a snowy egret, close up.

Lots of killdeer

George seems to be hosting a family holiday get together on the mud flats that were created when the water level was lowered.  In the morning, I only saw George and Killer with their families, all nine of them (all except Killer Jr.):

I think this is one of George's daughters.  She looks a lot like her older siblings and her mom:

Later, I saw two extra killdeer. One looks a little bit like the M6 dad, but I think it might actually  might be Squiggy (in the center):

Stretch that wing!

 George and Martha were there.  Here's George in the middle standing on a stone.  Martha is to his right (our left):

Bye

 This young male was by himself.  I'm wondering if he's George's son, or a male coming to court one of George's daughters:

"Puffy Band" was there, too, but seemed extremely tired and weak.  That's him on the right:

 

Other birds:

Bossy Duck has lost more feathers.  I think a mean drake might be hurting him over by the benches in that area.  He's not as friendly now and stays away from other ducks.

I thought this was cute, seeing Louie the gander, sleeping.  He's a good flock leader:

Two wigeons I saw:

I saw them near a bunch of fishing line all strewn about, all over bushes, the ground, around rocks and everything.  The only reason why I was there was because I saw the Cooper's hawk catch something and I wanted to go see what she got.  

Baby Bob was briefly seen:

 

Blue-gray gnatcatcher.  There was a second one nearby, too.  He was difficult to photograph and get good lighting:

White-crowned sparrow:

Anna's hummingbird:

Buffleheads, teals and wigeons

First, before we get to the ducks  today at Lake Murray, I found this female killdeer all by herself.  I don't know who she is, but she seems similar to Georgina.  No other killdeer were seen today.

Also, here's a nice looking red-winged blackbird.

OK, now for some ducks.  First, a a female wigeon hanging around with the mallards:

Buffleheads:

Female green-winged teal:

A lady across the lake has named the Swedish that was dropped off at the lake last March, Oreo:

She calls his friend Aflac, but that would make him Aflac 3:

I thought I saw a spoon on this duck's face, so I thought it was Bossy (Spoonface), but from this angle, you can't see a spoon, so I am thinking twice about this being him:

Bigboi was not seen and since he's been ill lately, I am worried about him. I also haven't seen Curly lately, either.