South Florida Birding (December 2005)

For Christmas, I took the family to South Florida to visit my parents. I really didn't plan on doing much birding, but I took my camera and binoculars just in case. I saw some interested birds, mostly by accident while I was doing other things. I did make a special trip to FAU for burrowing owls, but since it's only a block from my parents, it's hardly out of the way. I'm hoping to go back over the summer and spend some time in the Everglades.

Loggerhead Shrike

While looking for burrowing owls on the FAU campus, I found this shrike. Also called "butcher birds" because they impale their prey on thorns and barbed wire so they can tear them apart. You can't really see it in the photo, but these birds have hooked beaks, just like birds of prey. 

Burrowing Owl (1)

On the campus of Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton there is a burrowing owl sanctuary. The owls are pretty easy to find, just look for the sandy mounds. 

Burrowing Owl (2)

In all, I guess we saw 10 diffent birds. The sandy spot next to this owl is the burrow entrace. With a 300mm lens, this was as close as I could get. Get too close and they zip right down the burrow. 

Eastern Screech Owl (1)

During my parents Christmas party, a pair of owls flew into the back yard. Despite the noise and activity, they didn't seem bothered. 

Eastern Screech Owl (2)

They soon discovered a woodpecker nest box that I had built for my Dad. I was sure that the hole would be too small; but 

Eastern Screech Owl (3)

It didn't take them long to make themselves at home. 

Brown Pelican

I read recently that these birds are endangered. I would never have guessed. They are very common on the gulf coast. This non-breeding adult (no black crest on the head) was looking for a handout when I came back from a day of fishing. 

India Birding (December 2005)

In December of 2005, I made a trip to Bangalore India. While there, I made a side trip to the Bheemeshwari fish camp on the Cauvery River, about 100 KM south of Bangalore. We stayed in log huts and fished the mornings and evenings. During the middle of the day, I walked some of the trails around the camp and looked for birds. Before the trip, I studied common birds of the area, hoping to see 15 or 20. I was really pleased to see almost all the birds I had studied, plus many more. I saw over 40 birds that I could identify, and more that I couldn't.

Black Kite

Before heading to the Cauvery, I was working in Bangalore. While there, I only saw 1 kind of bird - the black kite. These raptors are common scavengers around the cities.

White-Browed Wagtail

Wagtails are common birds on the Cauvery River. They are usually found on the water edge in pairs.

Spotted Dove

These doves are widespread in India. I saw a few around the camp.

Little Egret

I expected to see more wading birds, but this was the only egret or heron I saw.

Red-Wattled Lapwing

 

Large-Billed Crow

A couple of crows hung around the camp dining hall one evening.

Grey Headed Fish Eagle

There were a lot of eagles and hawks hunting on the river. When I was fishing, I didn't carry my larger camera. I still managed to get a couple of long shots from the camp.

Common Myna

There were always myna birds around the camp, usually in pairs.

Brahminy Kite

This kite was perched in a tree right in the center of the camp. It seemed to be resting during the middle of the day. These kites are usually around the coast, but they also show up on the larger rivers.

Black Drongo

Terrible photo, but with the back lighting it was the best I could do. You can tell it's a drongo by the large split tail.

Common Kingfisher

There are 4 kingfishers common on the Cauvery. This one is the smallest and most common. I also saw a pied kingfisher and a white throated kingfisher. I wasn't able to find the stork billed kingfisher.

White Throated Kingfisher

White Throated Kingfisher

The previous picture of the white throated kingfisher is terrible, but Hugh Proudman has come to the rescue with this photo he took at the
in northern India at the Bharatpur bird reserve. 

Indian Grey Hornbill

I was really hoping to see a hornbill and I was really lucky to see four breeding pairs. They were very skittish and almost impossible to get close to. I only got one shot and this was the best I could do. Females lay eggs in a tree cavity, and then the male seals the cavity hole with mud and bird droppings, feeding the female through a small hole.

Green Bee-eater (India)

Small Green Bee-eater (India)

Along with the wagtails, the bee-eaters were the most common bird along the river. These 2 birds were "hawking" insects.

Indian Roller

Here's a bonus picture of an Indian Roller taken by Hugh Proudman in
Rajasthan. Hugh's using the same camera that I have, so there's hope for me yet.