Spring in Philadelphia - Heinz NWR

Plenty of signs of Spring at Heinz refuge in Philadelphia in the form of early migrants and early nesting activity.

A particular treat today was the presence of a pair of Blue-winged Teal, which I have found to be uncommon on the mid-Atlantic coast and rare in Vermont.

Blue-winged Teal

Blue-winged Teal - pair

 The eagles appear to be on the nest, but too distant for any photos. In the early migrant category, Eastern Phoebes are "fee - bee - ing", and a flock of Pine Warblers proclaimed their buzzy presence ...

Eastern Phoebe

Pine Warbler

In the early breeding/nesting activity category, there was vigorous singing by cardinals, Song Sparrows, blackbirds, and robins. A mallard hen was on the nest while her mate kept wary watch nearby.

Mallard - hen on nest

American Tree Swallows were staking claim to nest boxes and actively seeking to pair bond.

American Tree Swallows

American Tree Swallow

Carolina Wren males were singing with enthusiasm. I observed several individuals who were giving a buzzy call, were not singing, and who appeared to be in early stages of finding/building nests in hidden places.They were also less richly colored. I suspect these were females.

Carolina Wren (female?)

Carolina Wren (female?)

A good opening chapter to the season of really Good Birding!!

Wako and Green Cay This & That - 1

I don't have a "theme" for these, but I don't want to overlook them. So this is a first miscellany of this and that ...

Black-bellied Whistling Duck

Double-crested Cormorant

Eurasian Collared-Dove

Glossy Ibis

(Florida) Red-Shouldered Hawk

Boat-tailed Grackle - female

A note on the Mottled Duck - this species is very closely related to the Mallard. There is so much interbreeding, that the species is considered to be at risk of so much genetic mixing that its future is in doubt in some places. So it was comforting to realize at the end of the trip, that I had seen Mottled Ducks, but no Mallards, possibly a first for birding trips.

Mottled Duck

Blue-winged Teal

Good Birding ! !

Bottoms-up - ID Post 3

No. 13 - Mallard

No. 14 - Blue-winged Teal

No. 15 - Northern Pintail

No. 16 - Canada Goose

No. 17 - Gadwall - background, American Coot

No. 18 - Green-winged Teal

No. 19 - Northern Shoveler - background, Northern Pintail

Bottoms-up - ID Post 2

No. 7 - Northern Pintail - not as much pintail as when he ready for courtship and breeding

No. 8 - Northern Shoveler

No. 9 - Blue-winged Teal

No. 10 - Canada Goose

No. 11 - Gadwall

No. 12 - Mallard - (default duck)

Dabbler ID for #4

Happy New Year!!

Keeping things simple today, in case your mind is still fogged from partying. Just straightforward IDs.

 #16 - Gadwall, female

 #17 - Green-winged Teal, females

Green-winged Teal - male and female

#18 - Blue-winged Teal, non-breeding adult male

#19 - Northern Shoveler, non-breeding male

Northern Shoveler - non-breeding male, and male

#20 - Northern Pintail, female

Northern Pintail, male and female

Good Birding!!

Dabbler ID for #3

#11 - Blue-winged Teal, female - dark eye line, spots of white about the eye, white at base of dark beak. For the quiz, she was cropped out of the next photo. It's clear why attention goes to the male - an elegant bird.

Blue-winged Teal, male and female

 #12 - Mallard, female - Yellow beak with black on top, yellow legs, dark eye stripe, overall brown mottled. Blue speculum.

#13 - Northern Shoveler, young male - yellow eye and dark beak suggest a young male, though the plumage looks a lot like that of a female.

#14 - American Black Duck

 #15 American Widgeon, female - Like the teal above, when the female widgeon is in the presence of a male, he takes the attention away from her, as the next photo shows ...

American Widgeon - male and female

Good Birding!

Dabbler ID for #2

 #6 - American Black Duck - probably a female with her dirty green beak. Dark eyeline, head  and body dark - a female Mallard in gothic dress

 #7 - Blue-winged Teal - the give-away head of this preening male is hidden, as is the dark bill, but the blue wing should be all the clue that is needed. Note yellow legs.

#8 - Gadwall, female - She has an orange bill with dark on top, barely a suggestion of an eyeline, a hint of the white speculum, a generally plain brown head and body, and a sweet look.

 #9 - Mottled Duck - prominent eyeline like a female Mallard, but a much lighter, gray head, no black on top of bill. The close relationship to Mallard and black duck is evident in this Florida and southern species.

#10 - Northern Pintail, female - no sinuous neck on this hen, but the rather uniform brown head is the clue to her identity, plus mottled body and dark beak.

Gadwall hen being attended to by two drakes