Praying Mantis

There are about 2,200 species of Praying Mantis worldwide. This insect is carnivorous and they prey from small insects to frog, snake and even birds. There are about 20 native mantids in the U.S. And Chinese Mantis and European Mantis were introduced around 1895 and 1899 separately as a source of pest control for farm and garden. An interesting fact is that Praying Mantis is the only insect can rotate its head  completely around and their binocular vision allows them to see as far as 50 feet so they can identify their prey before making an instant kill.

(This mantis is about 3/4 inch. Click image to enlarge)

Females normally cannibalize their mates after copulation.  The male Chinese Mantis will preform a special courtship dance to attract female from feeding to mating. I am wondering if the male mantis realizes he might get beheaded after pleasure, would he reconsider his move? Mantis is also an easy caring pet. They only need    one cricket every few days and drink mist from leaves. Unfortunately, their life span is about one year. -- Linda

Pine Warbler

Among all the warblers migrating or passing through my yard, Pine Warblers (Dendroica pinus) are the only ones staying year round. They like to forage on top of pine trees for pine seeds. I often see them catch insects in the mid of the air. They come to suet or seed feeders more frequently during winter and they also like to search food on the ground. I have two pairs live in my backyard forest and they sing a sweet, musical trill (here their songs here).

The easiest way to identify this warbler is their two white wing bars. Male, as seen in this post, has yellow throat, breast and belly with olive-green back. Female is duller and less streaking on sides of breast. I will update this post when I photograph a female.

* Read my other video post  of  Pine Warbler here.  --Happy Birding! -- Linda

Boat-tailed Grackle

Few weeks ago I posted my first  Boat-tailed Grackle. People often think they are two different birds. If you don't see both male and female together, it's hard to believe they are same species. I think they are a beautiful couple even though they look so dissimilar :)

Boat-tailed Grackle, female

Boat-tailed Grackle, Tybee Island

See my other post of  Boat-tailed Grackle  here. Happy Birding! -- Linda

White-crowned Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys) breed in northern part of Canada and  few western states of United States. They winter mostly in lower 48 states. One interesting fact is that during migration, White-crowned Sparrows can fly 300 miles a night and stay awake for up to two weeks. Because the hot and humid weather in the south, I hardly see them in winter. First thing really caught my eyes were a flock of immature and few females foraging on ground. They are friendly and don't seem get bothered much if there are people around them.

(White-crowned Sparrow, male ...Click image to enlarge)

I took this picture when I was at Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest  few weeks ago. Among all the species, I also spotted White-throated Sparrows, Field Sparrows, House Sparrows, Savannah Sparrows and got a lifer, Green-tailed Towhee! A lot of places in the north have snow falling these days. That means more winter species will be arriving here. One thing I really want to photograph this season, is a Fox Sparrow, a large sparrow with a heavily streaked reddish chest. Their appearance adds colors in this gloomy winter days. I always find something amazing when I am not looking for any thing particular. I am sure they are somewhere near me, I just need to hear them first. Do you find the bird you really want to see this winter? :) 

-- Stay warm and happy birding! -- Linda

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)  is also called "sharpie", the smallest hawk in North America. They, like another similar larger hawk, Cooper's Hawk, mainly hunt birds for food. My backyard is a bird's heaven full of cardinals, chickadees, titmice, doves and many other birds. But it also becomes a Colosseum between birds and few hawks. Sharp-shinned Hawk, like most of hawks, females are much larger than males.  Mature adults have red eyes and a dark cape is connected to the nape and leads down to the back like in this picture (thanks James Fleullan to point this out). I snapped this one while I was shooting few sleeping Mourning Doves.

(Click image to enlarge)

It was a quiet, sunny afternoon, there were 6 doves napping on a Tulip Poplar tree. After taking few shots, one dove suddenly flapped its wings and flew off...Immediately I sensed here must be a hawk near by. So I patiently waited and did not want to make any movement. Within few seconds, the rest of doves seemed to sense the danger signals sent by their watch guard, they all woke up and took off. As doves flew away, this hawk silently landed on the same spot where doves were. Wow, super excited, I quickly snapped few shots. Hawk investigated his surrounding, ignored my presence and he came closer. "He must be hungry", I thought. A glimpse from his fierce red eye caught my full attention and I just understood how beautiful this hawk was.

I remember seeing a pair confined Cooper's Hawks at a local nature center. They claimed that those two hawks could not be released back to the wild due to whatever the reasons. I believe wild birds, like any wildlife, they will heal and recover and they appear to be the happiest and the most glorious when they can perform the things they love to do the most, to hunt, to breed and to fly! No one wants to be captured, why any one has any right to keep a wildlife away from their nature habitat?  - Linda

Mourning Dove

Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) is the most common dove in North America and you can find them always perch on telephone wires, on top of the roof or forage seeds on ground. The first time caught my attention was not seeing them but hearing their unique calls, sounded like "ooo-woo, woo-woo-woo" cooing in the early spring. Later I learned that their wings make this unusual whistling sound when taking off or upon landing. One thing they like to do the most is to roost on my deck or near by trees. They seem to find peace and comfort around my presence, or vice versa. Unfortunately, having good time of roosting and napping also makes them become the primary target of dangerous hawks, especially Cooper's Hawk!

(Click photo to enlarge)

What can I say... Everyone needs to put food on table, there is no exception for wildlife. This dove ran away for her life.  Not only did I preserve her image, she escaped hawk's talons. Soon I will hear them cooing and singing and new generation starts!  -- Happy Birding! -- Linda

Ring-billed Gull

Ring-billed Gulls (Larus delawarensis) are very sociable and they are opportunists. They are comfortable around human and you often find them congregate on beach, golf course and large parking lot near lakes or seashore. From their name, you can immediately tell that there is a black band circled around their bill. Many other gulls have either black dot or red dot around the bill. So pay attention when you see a gull next time. It will take up to three years to grow into an adult gull. Their plumage changes dramatically during the first three years. Breeding adults have a white head and non-breeding ones have brown-streaked head pattern (as shown in this photo).

 

( Non-breeding Ring-billed Gull ..Click image to enlarge)

I photographed this gull in flight near southeastern Georgia, a harbor city called Brunswick.  While waiting in a  fast food restaurant drive-thru lane ordering my lunch, few gulls were circling around parking lot and seemed to occupy the whole place. This gull suddenly flapped his long wings and flew towards cars without any warning! Omg! I don't know what this gull have in mind but one thing I do know is no one will throw their French fries or hamburgers in the air. 

Hearing few kids screaming to their parent "mommy, daddy...look that bird...", I quickly switched to the passenger seat and snapped few shots. I seem to forget my surroundings such as people, things or even sounds when my finger starts clicking ...With limited time and cars that in front of me started moving slowly, I was panicky that people behind me would be upset because no one at my driver seat to drive forward. Soon it came to my turn to pick up my order at the drive-thru window, I was glad cars behind me did not even honk me. I guessed everyone just enjoying the show, "gulls in flight" :)  Not sure how good or bad those shots were, I quickly pulled back my camera, slid back to the driver's seat and drove forward and got my order. At least my lunch is safe  :D

Speaking of these opportunist gulls, it reminds me a magic encounter my friend told me when he went to Coney Island. Read  full story here and I hope you enjoy it! Happy Birding! - Linda

My other post: some  fun fact of Ring-billed Gull

Carolina Chickadee

Carolina Chickadees (Poecile carolinensis ) are the most popular and abundant birds in the southeast of United States. No matter any weather condition, they are the first ones showing up at my feeders daily. I am fascinated by their inquisitive personality and acrobatic movement. They like to form a small group but they also like to keep some space between each other when foraging. At the regions where Black-caped Chickadee (click link to hear songs) and Carolina Chickadee (click to here their calls and songs) overlaps, hybridization happens occasionally. The interesting fact is that hybrids can sing songs of both parents and that makes me wondering that hybrid figures are smarter :) ...Happy Birding! - Linda

See other post of Carolina Chickadee here.

Boat-tailed Grackle

I photographed this male Boat-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus major) at Clam Creek Picnic Area of Jekyll Island. A huge flock of males and females foraged on ground near the area parking lot. It's hard to miss it. At the first glance, I thought they were Common Grackles (here their sounds and calls  here). They made this harsh sound reminiscent of breaking sticks or ripping cloth (click this link to hear call notes of BTG) and I was sure they were not common grackles at all. I really like male's iridescent black body with this blue-greenish shine on it. I think females are also very pretty with brown through out. And if they don't flock together, people might mistakenly think female is another species.

Boat-tailed Grackle is a coastal specialist and I don't get to see them at piedmont region. I was so thrilled to see them and snap them from this trip! Happy birding! - Linda

* See my other post of Boat-tailed Grackle here.

Green-tailed Towhee

My friend, Iris and I made a New Year resolution that we want to get up early on New Year's day to see some cool birds! Thinking about this mysterious wondering bird, Green-tailed Towhee (Pipilo chlorurus) while stuck in traffic on my way back from Okefenokee NWR, my phone rang. We chit-chatted for a while and she asked me what does Linda have in mind on New Year's day. Without any hesitation, I told her I'm going to claim my lifer, the Green-tailed Towhee (GTTO)! She said "really?, Let's go then"! Most of local birders have being chasing this towhee since past two weeks when Rachel Cass spotted this bird during her Christmas Bird Count. Not me. Because my work obligation and less than perfect photographic condition, not seeing this bird, which reported to be last seen in 1953, made me suffered day in and day out. This towhee breeds in western part of United States and winters in Mexico. Few stray migrants have being spotted in the east coast occasionally. My best friend's call fulfilled my dream!

(2nd state record)

We met at 6:30 AM on New Year day and arrived Churchwell Rd near Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest  at around 8:45. It was a cool and breezing morning, Iris worried about me not having enough cloth on. I told her I am not cold at all. I guessed the excitement of searching my lifer overriding my feeling of any discomfort. Iris was all covered up from head to toes, holding her binocular and camera and listening attentively for this strange catlike "mew" sound. I followed her instruction standing in front of this berry bush and did not dare to make any move. At the first, we heard few "mew" calls and we both got so excited and then it's gone. Iris pointed out a yellow feral cat passing though bushes where this towhee reported to be found. We both looked at each other and got upset a little.  For the next one hour, we saw and heard nothing but these two Carolina Wrens calling and yelling back and forth and cow's "mooo" from a far distance. I promise you I got nothing in my mind at that quiet early morning hour but searching for my GTTO. ...Finally, our patience was paid off. I claimed my lifer at 9:50 AM! As soon as he made a move and perched on a low bush, we both snapped and snapped non stopping. I am sure he knew I was waiting and wanting to see him so badly and he, in return, exhibited a perfect pose! Thank you, Iris, you made my dream came true! This picture is dedicated to you, your friendship and all bird lovers like you all :)  

The rewards for two super early birds are seeing 20 species in one hour, plus my lifer "GTTO", and the coolest reward bonus was witnessing a new born calf....freshly got out of his mother's womb!

Iris discovered him and can you see how fresh and young he is!  I love life!!

Baby calf started standing up but he still could barely walk :) Mom was right by his side ..I love this moment! Do you see something else? If you do, let me know ^^

Though my friend brought me a lot of goodies to munching, we got so starving in the afternoon and we ended up having our best meal of the day at ...hahaha, guess where? We had 8 of them ... :DDDD

I hope you enjoy this post and now I have to get back to fix my broken site ..--Happy Birding! --Linda