Photo Study Of Birds At Bombay Hook NWR, June 6th, 2011

    An American White Pelican and a White-faced Ibis were both reported seen at Bombay Hook NWR yesterday. But that was yesterday! Alas, these two vagrants appear to have
    flown the coop.  However, Bombay Hook still did not disappoint. There were lots of birds and many of them were nesting, building nests or with young. There were even fourteen
    different Ruby-throated Hummingbirds at the Nature Center Feeders.

Hummingbirds At Nature Center

Male Black-necked Stilt On The Nest Next To A Recently Hatched Fuzzball At Bear Swamp

Black-crowned Night-Heron At Bear Swamp

Male Blue Grosbeak At Shearness

Female American Goldfinch At Raymond's

Monarch Butterfly On Milkweed Flower At Bear Swamp

Killdeer Guarding Nest At Shearness

 
Male Wilson's Phalarope In Breeding Plumage At Raymond's

      The Wilson's Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor) is a small wader (9.1 inches in length.) This bird, the largest of the three phalaropes, breeds on the prairies of North America in
    western Canada and United States. It is migratory, wintering around the central Andes in South America where it can be found in inland saline lakes of Argentina, Bolivia,
    Chile and Peru. .They are passage migrants through Central America in March/April and again during September/October. The species is a rare vagrant to western Europe.
    The Wilson's Phalarope is often very tame and approachable. Its common name commemorates the American ornithologist Alexander Wilson. The bird has lobed toes and a
    fine straight black bill. All three species of phalarope forage while swimming, sometimes whirling in a circle to create a vortex that brings small invertebrates to the surface for
    easier capture. Wilson's Phalarope also relies on the standard sandpiper feeding behavior, e.g. probing through the mud. But its probing is erratic and energetic in comparison to
    other sandpipers. To catch prey, a Wilson's Phalarope will wade rapidly with its bill open in the water. It may also capture flying insects. The typical avian sex roles are reversed
    in the three phalarope species. Females are larger and more brightly colored than males. Also, the females pursue males, compete for nesting territory, and will aggressively
    defend their nests and chosen mates. Once the females lay their eggs, they begin their southward migration, leaving the males to incubate the eggs. Three to four eggs are laid in
    a ground nest near water. The young feed themselves. (Cornell BNA; Wikipedia; Sibley Guide To Birds)

Glossy Ibis At Shearness

Bouncing Snowy Egret At Raymond's

   Species Seen Today:

    To see a larger image of any of the photos below, please click on either the thumbnails or captions...thanks!

     © Howard B. Eskin 2011      Please email your comments to hbeskin@voicenet.com    Please click here to go back to Bird Webpage Index