Falcons: Part I

On to Falcons.

There are five Falcons common to the United States: American Kestrel, Merlin, Crested Caracara, Peregrine, and Prairie. The Gyrfalcon is a rare visitor to the northern states in the lower 48, but more common in Alaska. The Aplomado Falcon once roamed the southern parts of Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, but had disappeared entirely for many years. It has recently been introduced  in Texas, and hopefully will regain its original territory.

Here then are the Falcons, starting with the American Kestrel:

American Kestrel Male

American Kestrel Female

Eagles

Continuing with photos from my book Birds of Western United States we come to Eagles:

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle with 20 pound Salmon

Bald Eagles Fighting

Bad Eagle

Juvenile Bald Eagle

Golden Eagle

Golden Eagle

Ducks: Part IV

Last of the Ducks:

Surf Scoter

White Winged Scoter

Wood Duck Male and Female

Wood Duck Male

Ducks: Part III

Continuing with Ducks:

Northern Pintail

Northern Shoveler

Redhead

Ring-necked Duck

Ruddy Duck

Ducks: Part III

Part III of Ducks.

There are a great many species of Ducks, Geese, and Swans throughout the world. 51 species common to the United States. (39 Ducks, 8 Geese and 3 Swans).

There are many types of Ducks, and different organizations and/or people have their own "types." Simply though, Ducks are either "Dabbling" or "Diving".  There are 16 species of Dabbling Ducks. They are most often found in shallow water. They eat from just below the surface or by dunking their head under water to glean plants and insects. They may also come on land eating grasses and insects.

In the United States there are 23 species of Diving Ducks. Diving Ducks are agile swimmers and more often found in deeper water. While their food choices include insects and plants, they also catch fish.

You could also classify ducks as "sea ducks" or "fresh water ducks" which is useful information to know.

Green Winged Teal

Harlequin Duck

Lesser  Scaup

Leucistic Mallard Duck

Long Tailed Duck

Mallard Duck

Ducks: Part II

Continuing with photos from my new book, part II of Ducks:

Canvasback

Cinnamon Teal

Eurasion Wigeon

Fulvous Whistling Duck

Gadwall

Lesser Scaup

Prairie Warbler

Taking a break from the Blog series on my new book, Christine and I went to Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge to try and find the reported Prairie Warbler.

This was the 12th reported sighting for Arizona since reporting began umpteen years ago. 

Chasing a single bird seems pretty much impossible. Think about it. It isn't a flock of a particular rare bird. Not even a pair. It is a single bird. In this case, a 4.75 inch bird that is constantly in thick trees. One thing I learned early on in my "photo birding career" is that birds have wings -- and they are not afraid to use them. You could be looking at a bird and then a moment later it is gone. So imagine going to that same spot two or three days later hoping it is still around. That seems like a "fools errand." But, as luck would have it, sometimes chasing birds works. In terms of rare warblers, it has worked for me in chasing Prothonotary Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Black and White Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush, Tennessee Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Northern Parula, Palm Warbler, Rufous Capped Warbler, and Yellow-throated Warbler. All of whom are rare to Arizona. 

Here are some photos then of the Prairie Warlber:

Ducks

For the Ducks I'll take a few at a time:

American Wigeon Female

American Wigeon Male

Barrows Goldeneye Male and Female

Black Bellied Whistling Duck

Blue Winged Teal

Bufflehead

Merganser

Continuing with Mergansers:

Common Merganser

Hooded Merganser Male

Common Merganser Female

Common Merganser Male and Female

Coots

Continuing with Coots:

American Coot

Common Gallinule

Chickadee, Bushtit, Titmouse, Verdin

Continuing with Chapters from my new book, Birds of the Western United States, we come to Chickadee, Bushtit, Titmouse, and Verdin:

Bridled Titmouse

Bushtit

Mountain Chickadee

Verdin

Verdin

Verdin