Costa's Hummingbird still around

Earlier this month we captured Bonnie Wunderlich's Costa's for the third time. (see previous Costa's posts) I worried that she might have left, so I went to Bonnie's place today to check. The hummer was still there but understandably really skittish. She would not feed with me around, so I just snapped a couple of photos and left. Mission accomplished. Hopefully, she'll hang around another month. And no, we have no intention of recapturing her again before October. But I seriously doubt if she'll ever be lured into a trap again. She appears to be fat and healthy. Bonnie takes good care of her feeders.

Cold Christmas camp

My husband prevailed upon me to spend Christmas at Black Gap Wildlife Management Area. We went Christmas eve and came back the day after Christmas. Water in our wash basin froze both nights we were there. I hate cold. He went fishing, but didn't catch many. I do not like camping. It's a lot of work and deprivation, without the comforts of home.



My private portable privy in the foreground

Northern Harrier

A beautiful day and I had a little time while waiting on the well repairman to get here. I didn't have enough energy to start a new project (cleaning the stucco tank or gathering sotol comes to mind) so I sat, actually sat down, at my oasis to watch birds. So far I've seen 28 species including a few Anna's Hummingbirds, 2 House Wrens, a Hermit Thrush and this Northern Harrier. I didn't know what it was while I was photographing it, but when it flew I saw the give-away white rump. I guess it's a 1st year bird.

The well man isn't here yet, but I'm not the least bored waiting. Before you ask what I do with the sotol, I use it for overhead shade on my canopy, photo blind, camouflage rain tanks, and the left over scraps and crooked stalks I cut up for kindling. No steak tastes better than one cooked over sotol.  I'll post photos soon...

Tufted Flycatcher revisited

It might be the last opportunity I'll ever have to see a TUFL, so I went with my sister-in-law, Dale Ohl, to see it one more time at Rio Grande Village (BBNP).  One birder was already there when we arrived at 9:00 AM, and within minutes more arrived. The bird was promptly located in a Cottonwood tree where Matt VanWallene had originally found it. It stayed just below the high canopy all morning. We were all saturated with photos by the time we left.

Erik Breden looking north, road in background, TUFL in tree above

Black Vultures at a carcass in the Rio Grande River

Tufted Flycatcher---- YES!

I coerced my husband into taking me to the park to see the bird. It's a 5 hour round trip from Alpine and we stayed there 30 minutes, but it was well worth it. Here is a photo of some of the birders spreading out looking just minutes before the Tufted Flycatcher was spotted by one of them. We all rushed to the tree it was foraging in and got great looks and photos. The location is to the right of the far back person (four people in all) in the photo. I'm taking it looking east from Daniel's Ranch and the river is to the far right if you could see it. You have to click to enlarge the photo to see the person in the background.

And of the 108 photos I took of the bird, this is one of the better ones.

Nov 30: I decided to add this one because it shows the wingbars. Originally I discarded it because the background was so busy, but now have retrieved it from my trash bin. It was taken at the same approximate time as the above photo.

Costa's final documentation photos

I think I've done about as good as I'm able to do at photographing the leg band (see previous Costa's posts). At least I documented that it is banded, and without a doubt, the one we banded at Bonnie's place October 2009. The band is covered by feathers, so further attempts at photographing the numbers on it seem futile. Look closely. The band appears to be in good shape, not too tight, not too loose, no debris under it, and the seam lined up perfectly. But then it was banded by the best (Kelly Bryan), so I wouldn't expect less.

Costa's continuing saga

Again today, for about the fifth time, I went to Bonnie Wunderlich's to try to get photos of the Costa's right leg in order to see the band that we assume is there. (We originally banded her Oct 29, 2009)

I started my vigil at 8:30 AM and didn't see her until 11:30. In spite of the raging wind that caused me to abandon my portable blind and sit out in the open, I got a decent shots, except they were of the wrong leg. Next time.

Costa's Hummingbird revisited

This morning I went to see my friend, Bonnie Wunderlich, to again photograph her Costa's Hummingbird that I had originally photographed on Oct 21. After I got set up in my blind a Cactus Wren came right up to me, so I retracted my 400mm zoom lens all the way in to 100mm in order to get the whole bird in the frame. So far, so good.

But then I forgot to put it back out when the hummer came in, so all the shots I took were worthless. Bummer. It never came back to the feeder again, but did go to an ocotillo bloom where I got a couple of decent shots, but I had been hoping to photograph the leg while it was perched to see the band. Next time.

Afterglow

Today, November 8th, marks the wedding anniversary of my late husband, Sherwood Kolb, and me. We got married on my late mother's birthday to make the day double special. Sherwood worked very hard alongside me to create this oasis. After a hard day's work we enjoyed sitting beside our tiny caged trees and watching the sun disappear behind the mountains to the west, as it created an afterglow on the mountain to the east. It looked then much as it looked this evening, except now the trees are huge and the oasis is truly an oasis, ever thirsting for water.

Birds and deer

Yesterday and today have been perfect at the oasis so I've spent more time there than I normally do. In these two days I've identified 47 species of birds, and counting. And that's with my worn out binoculars and poor vision. I'm sure there are more species present.

And in case you think all there is at the oasis are birds, here are some Mule Deer drinking early this morning. The deer seem totally oblivious to the fact that the concrete spillway they're standing on goes straight down into nine feet of water. They probably couldn't care less since they know they won't fall in.

Alpine Chihuahuan Ravens

Today was quite windy so I mostly stayed indoors. I was surprised to see three ravens* perched on the utility wires behind the house. I don't remember ever seeing three together like that before, so even though I had sent my 400mm lens in for repair, I took photos of them with my 300mm lens. If there was any doubt as to their identity, the last photo dispels that, with the white neck skin clearly showing through during a gust of wind.

* I knew a group of crows was called a murder of crows, but I was surprise to learn that a group of ravens is called an unkindness of ravens.

Anna's Hummingbirds are back

This individual was probably here last year too, as he's banded. We're going to try to recapture him next week and see who he is. I'll keep you updated.

Update: We did recapture him and he was banded last year here at the oasis.

Peregrine Falcon sighting today

I heard what sounded like a Peregrine dive. Shortly thereafter, I located the bird and grabbed my camera. It appears to be an Anatum variation. I don't remember seeing that type here before. It's been many years since Peregrines nested here, due, I guess, to their declining numbers. It would be great if they nest here next year. This individual seems to have been successful in its dive because I see some type of rodent in its clutches. Sorry about the bad photos but at the long distance I felt lucky to have gotten anything. Click to enlarge.

Quail and hummers

I had decided to put a cage over my tray seed feeder to deter doves because I have so many of them, but then I discovered the Scaled Quail are now flying up to the feeder's 5 foot height and feeding on it, so I'm not going to do that after all. It would keep quail out too. This photo was taken in the soft late afternoon light. Normally this species would not look so rosy.

It seems all the Lucifers have migrated except for this young male. I'm so going to miss hummingbirds if none over-winter this year. A few Anna's have finally trickled in so maybe a couple of them will stay around until spring.

Lucifer Hummingbird

Hammond's Flycatcher

This may not be the first Hammond's Flycatcher at my oasis, but it's the first one I photographed and ID'd.

Hybrid hummingbird

Today we banded hummingbirds at the oasis and caught what appears to be a hybrid juvenile male. The bander (Kelly Bryan) says it's probably a hybrid between a Ruby-throated and  Black-chinned. Whatever it is, it's cool looking. I would love to see him as an adult with a full gorget.

Lovely oasis morning

With all the rain we've had this year, the oasis was a pleasure to explore in the cool of the morning. No mosquitos, no snakes, really great. I seldom have time to enjoy it. For those of you who can't come see for yourself, I took some photos.

Looking toward the wildlife pond from the hummingbird viewing area where visitors first arrive

Wildlife pond from east looking west in early morning light.

Looking toward the wildlife pond from the south edge of it. (Pretty hidden)

Looking SW over the wildlife pond.

Path through pine trees west of wildlife pond.

Looking east toward grotto water feature with early morning light filtering through.

Hummingbird migration

Migration is in full swing. Here's a handsome Allen's Hummingbird at our feeders in Alpine.

Adult male Allen's

Banding Leucistic hummer

Kelly Bryan, a licensed bander, banded the leucistic female Black-chinned (see August 3 posting). He figures it's less than a month out of the nest.

Albino (leucistic) hummingbird today

It's apparently a female Black-chinned Hummingbird. 

Here her dark roots are showing.

This last shot is included just for size comparison with a normal female Black-chinned.

Pre-oasis photo

I came across this photo while looking for something else. This was the oasis's humble origin. Photo taken about 30 years ago, and yes, that's me. The only thing recognizable is the mountain in the background. If I took a photo today from the exact spot this one was taken  you wouldn't be able to see the mountain for the trees.

Here is a photo looking in the same direction as my original garden, only taken from farther away. This photo taken in May of this year.

Injured hummer in Alpine

There's a pathetic female Black-chinned Hummingbird with a damaged bill at my feeders in Alpine. It acts normal, and I see it has been banded, probably a few months ago, but I don't have high expectations for it survival. I'm hoping to have a licensed bander trap it tomorrow and see if the bill is fixable.

Rain and no mosquitos

It doesn't get much better than that. There shouldn't be any more mosquitos until the first big rain next spring or summer. The gambusias are numerous enough now to keep them in check.

There aren't many birds right now and no migrant hummers yet, so I had to content myself with photographing the same old birds. I know you're tired of looking at Lucifer photos. This one is probably a juvenile male without any gorget feathers yet.

The next one is the same individual that I posted July 17 when he had one gorget feather. Now he has two. The second feather is in the center of his throat. Unfortunately, I didn't get a photo showing both feathers at the same time.