Monday, August 31, 2009

Hummingbird Youtube

Ehh, the webcam was too low-quality, so I strapped my higher quality camera out there. It can't stream video though, but I got some footage and put it on youtube. I might make more videos like this in the future, check out my youtube link in the sidebar for the latest additions.

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Breaking News! Giant Swallowtail Visits Yard

I don't see these very often up there, but a Giant Swallowtail visited the yard today! It went to the Phlox first, then checked out the Rose Mallow. Video proof, though not very close...:

Walk down road: August 30th

Location: Far Eastern Calhoun County, MI, near Albion

I decided to walk down the road to a local pig farm's pond. Here is the list of species seen, followed by a detailed description:

On the way there:
Birds:
Northern Cardinal
Unknown Call
American Crow
American Goldfinch
Black-capped Chickadee
Blue Jay
Possible Indigo Bunting

Notable Insects:
Tiger Swallowtail
Carolina Locust

At the pig farm's pond:
Birds:
Cedar Waxwing
Mallard
House Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Great Blue Heron
Teal sp.
White-breasted Nuthatch
Turkey Vulture

Reptiles:
Painted Turtle

On the way back home:
Birds:
Red-tailed Hawk
Eastern Bluebird
Empid. spp.
Eastern Phoebe
Gray Catbird

Mammals:
White-tailed Deer

Wildflowers:
Aster spp.
Joe-pie Weed
Goldenrod

The Details:
Basically the only thing active around the house were Northern Cardinals. I know from my past experiences researching these birds in Ohio they had a fledgling, you could hear it begging. For a minute I thought this was going to be the only thing I would see, not much activity. Further down the road was an unknown call, sadly I don't know all my calls yet. Then I heard some angry crows off in the distance, were they mobbing something? Next, I found a beautiful Tiger Swallowtail on a thistle, but I didn't bring my camera. Further down the road near someone's yard were a small flock of American Goldfinches, they seemed pretty cheerful.Next were some Black-capped Chickadees, and a Blue Jay calling from somewhere. When I almost got to the pig farm, I heard what sounded like an Indigo Bunting call, but I was not for sure.

The pig farm's pond was full of activity. In some buttonbushes in the middle of the pond, sat a female Red-winged Blackbird, surrounded by House Sparrows and Cedar Waxwings. The Waxwings were the most prominent bird there, there had to be at least 50 of them. Standing not to far from the shore was a Great Blue Heron. There were a couple of Mallards in the pond, and later a female teal of some sort came out, but I didn't get a good enough look for an id, maybe a blue-winged. Before I left, I noted a Turkey Vulture circling not far away, and a White-breasted Nuthatch calling from nearby. There were Painted Turtles sunning themselves on various rocks and logs sticking out of the water

On my way back, first thing I saw was a small doe White-tailed Deer by the road. I watched her for a while before she finally ran away. Then a Red-tailed hawk called from a distance. Finally I got to someone's yard and could see birds in a tree. One of them was an empidonax of some sort, and the rest looked thrush-like. When they flew, glimpes of blue indicated they were Bluebirds. At the edge of the yard, I watched a Phoebe fly out and capture an insect. Also on the way home, I finally ticked off my last bird for the walk, a Gray Catbird.

Saturday, August 29, 2009

My Lifelist of Birds, IOC order and names

Birds seen in Michigan, Central Ohio, Northern Wisconsin, Maryland, Central Pennsylvania and Southern Texas

List as of August 30th, 2009

Angela's LIfelist
Birds of the World: Recommended English Names
Please cite: Gill, F. and M.Wright. 2006. Birds of the World: Recommended English Names. Princeton NJ: Princeton University Press
Version 2.2 generated on 2009-08-25
English Name Scientific Name
ORDER GALLIFORMES
New World Quail Family Odontophoridae
Northern Bobwhite Colinus virginianus
Pheasants, Fowl & Allies Family Phasianidae
Wild Turkey Meleagris gallopavo
Ruffed Grouse Bonasa umbellus
Common Pheasant Phasianus colchicus
ORDER ANSERIFORMES
Ducks, Geese & Swans Family Anatidae
Black-bellied Whistling Duck Dendrocygna autumnalis
Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons
Snow Goose Chen caerulescens
Canada Goose Branta canadensis
Mute Swan Cygnus olor
Trumpeter Swan Cygnus buccinator
Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus
Wood Duck Aix sponsa
Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope
American Wigeon Anas americana
American Black Duck Anas rubripes
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
Mottled Duck Anas fulvigula
Blue-winged Teal Anas discors
Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata
Northern Pintail Anas acuta
Green-winged Teal Anas carolinensis
Redhead Aythya americana
Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris
Greater Scaup Aythya marila
Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis
Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis
Bufflehead Bucephala albeola
Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula
Hooded Merganser Lophodytes cucullatus
Common Merganser Mergus merganser
Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator
Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis
ORDER GAVIIFORMES
Loons Family Gaviidae
Great Northern Loon Gavia immer
ORDER PODICIPEDIFORMES
Grebes Family Podicipedidae
Least Grebe Tachybaptus dominicus
Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps
Horned Grebe Podiceps auritus
ORDER CICONIIFORMES
Storks Family Ciconiidae
Wood Stork Mycteria americana
ORDER PELECANIFORMES
Ibises, Spoonbills Family Threskiornithidae
American White Ibis Eudocimus albus
White-faced Ibis Plegadis chihi
Roseate Spoonbill Platalea ajaja
Herons, Bitterns Family Ardeidae
Yellow-crowned Night Heron Nyctanassa violacea
Green Heron Butorides virescens
Western Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias
Western Great Egret Ardea alba
Reddish Egret Egretta rufescens
Tricolored Heron Egretta tricolor
Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea
Snowy Egret Egretta thula
Frigatebirds Family Fregatidae
Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata magnificens
Pelicans Family Pelecanidae
American White Pelican Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis
Cormorants, shags Family Phalacrocoracidae
Neotropic Cormorant Phalacrocorax brasilianus
Double-crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus
Anhingas, darters Family Anhingidae
Anhinga Anhinga anhinga
ORDER ACCIPITRIFORMES
New World Vultures Family Cathartidae
Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura
Black Vulture Coragyps atratus
Ospreys Family Pandionidae
Western Osprey Pandion haliaetus
Kites, Hawks & Eagles Family Accipitridae
Swallow-tailed Kite Elanoides forficatus
White-tailed Kite Elanus leucurus
Mississippi Kite Ictinia mississippiensis
Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus
Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus
Cooper's Hawk Accipiter cooperii
Harris's Hawk Parabuteo unicinctus
Red-shouldered Hawk Buteo lineatus
Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platypterus
Swainson's Hawk Buteo swainsoni
White-tailed Hawk Buteo albicaudatus
Zone-tailed Hawk Buteo albonotatus
Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis
Ferruginous Hawk Buteo regalis
Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos
ORDER FALCONIFORMES
Caracaras, Falcons Family Falconidae
Northern Crested Caracara Caracara cheriway
American Kestrel Falco sparverius
Merlin Falco columbarius
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
ORDER GRUIFORMES
Rails, Crakes & Coots Family Rallidae
Sora Porzana carolina
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
American Coot Fulica americana
Cranes Family Gruidae
Sandhill Crane Grus canadensis
ORDER CHARADRIIFORMES
Stilts, Avocets Family Recurvirostridae
Black-necked Stilt Himantopus mexicanus
American Avocet Recurvirostra americana
Plovers Family Charadriidae
Semipalmated Plover Charadrius semipalmatus
Killdeer Charadrius vociferus
Sandpipers, Snipes Family Scolopacidae
American Woodcock Scolopax minor
Wilson's Snipe Gallinago delicata
Long-billed Curlew Numenius americanus
Upland Sandpiper Bartramia longicauda
Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca
Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes
Solitary Sandpiper Tringa solitaria
Willet Tringa semipalmata
Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
Sanderling Calidris alba
Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla
Dunlin Calidris alpina
Ruff Philomachus pugnax
Gulls, Terns & Skimmers Family Laridae
Laughing Gull Leucophaeus atricilla
Franklin's Gull Leucophaeus pipixcan
Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis
Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus
American Herring Gull Larus smithsonianus
Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia
Royal Tern Thalasseus maximus
Common Tern Sterna hirundo
Forster's Tern Sterna forsteri
Black Tern Chlidonias niger
ORDER COLUMBIFORMES
Pigeons, Doves Family Columbidae
Common Pigeon Columba livia
Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto
Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura
White-winged Dove Zenaida asiatica
Inca Dove Columbina inca
White-tipped Dove Leptotila verreauxi
ORDER CUCULIFORMES
Cuckoos Family Cuculidae
Groove-billed Ani Crotophaga sulcirostris
Yellow-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus americanus
Black-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus erythropthalmus
ORDER STRIGIFORMES
Owls Family Strigidae
Eastern Screech Owl Megascops asio
Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus
Barred Owl Strix varia
ORDER CAPRIMULGIFORMES
Nightjars Family Caprimulgidae
Common Nighthawk Chordeiles minor
Chuck-will's-widow Caprimulgus carolinensis
Whip-poor-will Caprimulgus vociferus
ORDER APODIFORMES
Swifts Family Apodidae
Chimney Swift Chaetura pelagica
Hummingbirds Family Trochilidae
Buff-bellied Hummingbird Amazilia yucatanensis
Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris
Broad-tailed Hummingbird Selasphorus platycercus
Rufous Hummingbird Selasphorus rufus
ORDER CORACIIFORMES
Kingfishers Family Alcedinidae
Green Kingfisher Chloroceryle americana
Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon
ORDER PICIFORMES
Woodpeckers Family Picidae
Red-headed Woodpecker Melanerpes erythrocephalus
Golden-fronted Woodpecker Melanerpes aurifrons
Red-bellied Woodpecker Melanerpes carolinus
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius
Ladder-backed Woodpecker Picoides scalaris
Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens
Hairy Woodpecker Picoides villosus
Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus
Pileated Woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus
ORDER PASSERIFORMES
Tyrant Flycatchers Family Tyrannidae
Eastern Phoebe Sayornis phoebe
Olive-sided Flycatcher Contopus cooperi
Eastern Wood Pewee Contopus virens
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Empidonax flaviventris
Acadian Flycatcher Empidonax virescens
Alder Flycatcher Empidonax alnorum
Least Flycatcher Empidonax minimus
Vermilion Flycatcher Pyrocephalus rubinus
Great Kiskadee Pitangus sulphuratus
Couch's Kingbird Tyrannus couchii
Western Kingbird Tyrannus verticalis
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Tyrannus forficatus
Eastern Kingbird Tyrannus tyrannus
Grey Kingbird Tyrannus dominicensis
Great Crested Flycatcher Myiarchus crinitus
Brown-crested Flycatcher Myiarchus tyrannulus
Shrikes Family Laniidae
Loggerhead Shrike Lanius ludovicianus
Vireos, Greenlets Family Vireonidae
White-eyed Vireo Vireo griseus
Bell's Vireo Vireo bellii
Yellow-throated Vireo Vireo flavifrons
Blue-headed Vireo Vireo solitarius
Warbling Vireo Vireo gilvus
Philadelphia Vireo Vireo philadelphicus
Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus
Crows, Jays Family Corvidae
Grey Jay Perisoreus canadensis
Green Jay Cyanocorax luxuosus
Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata
American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos
Fish Crow Corvus ossifragus
Northern Raven Corvus corax
Waxwings Family Bombycillidae
Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum
Tits, chickadees Family Paridae
Carolina Chickadee Poecile carolinensis
Black-capped Chickadee Poecile atricapillus
Tufted Titmouse Baeolophus bicolor
Black-crested Titmouse Baeolophus atricristatus
Larks Family Alaudidae
Horned Lark Eremophila alpestris
Swallows, martins Family Hirundinidae
Sand Martin Riparia riparia
Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor
Purple Martin Progne subis
Northern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
American Cliff Swallow Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Cave Swallow Petrochelidon fulva
Goldcrests, kinglets Family Regulidae
Golden-crowned Kinglet Regulus satrapa
Ruby-crowned Kinglet Regulus calendula
Wrens Family Troglodytidae
Carolina Wren Thryothorus ludovicianus
Winter Wren Troglodytes troglodytes
House Wren Troglodytes aedon
Gnatcatchers Family Polioptilidae
Blue-grey Gnatcatcher Polioptila caerulea
Nuthatches Family Sittidae
Brown-headed Nuthatch Sitta pusilla
Red-breasted Nuthatch Sitta canadensis
White-breasted Nuthatch Sitta carolinensis
Treecreepers Family Certhiidae
Brown Creeper Certhia americana
Mockingbirds, Thrashers Family Mimidae
Grey Catbird Dumetella carolinensis
Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos
Brown Thrasher Toxostoma rufum
Long-billed Thrasher Toxostoma longirostre
Starlings Family Sturnidae
Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris
Thrushes Family Turdidae
Eastern Bluebird Sialia sialis
Veery Catharus fuscescens
Swainson's Thrush Catharus ustulatus
Hermit Thrush Catharus guttatus
Wood Thrush Hylocichla mustelina
American Robin Turdus migratorius
Old World Sparrows, Snowfinches Family Passeridae
House Sparrow Passer domesticus
Finches Family Fringillidae
Pine Siskin Carduelis pinus
American Goldfinch Carduelis tristis
Common Redpoll Carduelis flammea
Purple Finch Carpodacus purpureus
House Finch Carpodacus mexicanus
Red Crossbill Loxia curvirostra
New World Warblers Family Parulidae
Golden-winged Warbler Vermivora chrysoptera
Blue-winged Warbler Vermivora pinus
Tennessee Warbler Vermivora peregrina
Nashville Warbler Vermivora ruficapilla
Northern Parula Parula americana
Chestnut-sided Warbler Dendroica pensylvanica
American Yellow Warbler Dendroica aestiva
Blackpoll Warbler Dendroica striata
Bay-breasted Warbler Dendroica castanea
Blackburnian Warbler Dendroica fusca
Magnolia Warbler Dendroica magnolia
Cerulean Warbler Dendroica cerulea
Black-throated Blue Warbler Dendroica caerulescens
Yellow-rumped Warbler Dendroica coronata
Black-throated Green Warbler Dendroica virens
Yellow-throated Warbler Dendroica dominica
Prairie Warbler Dendroica discolor
Pine Warbler Dendroica pinus
Palm Warbler Dendroica palmarum
Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia
American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla
Prothonotary Warbler Protonotaria citrea
Worm-eating Warbler Helmitheros vermivorum
Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapilla
Northern Waterthrush Seiurus noveboracensis
Louisiana Waterthrush Seiurus motacilla
Kentucky Warbler Oporornis formosus
Connecticut Warbler Oporornis agilis
Mourning Warbler Oporornis philadelphia
Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas
Hooded Warbler Wilsonia citrina
Wilson's Warbler Wilsonia pusilla
Canada Warbler Wilsonia canadensis
Family Uncertain Family Incertae Sedis
Yellow-breasted Chat Icteria virens
Oropendolas, Orioles & Blackbirds Family Icteridae
Orchard Oriole Icterus spurius
Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula
Bronzed Cowbird Molothrus aeneus
Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater
Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus
Rusty Blackbird Euphagus carolinus
Brewer's Blackbird Euphagus cyanocephalus
Common Grackle Quiscalus quiscula
Great-tailed Grackle Quiscalus mexicanus
Eastern Meadowlark Sturnella magna
Bobolink Dolichonyx oryzivorus
Buntings, New World Sparrows & Allies Family Emberizidae
Fox Sparrow Passerella iliaca
Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia
Lincoln's Sparrow Melospiza lincolnii
Swamp Sparrow Melospiza georgiana
White-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys
White-throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis
Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis
Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis
American Tree Sparrow Spizella arborea
Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina
Field Sparrow Spizella pusilla
Eastern Towhee Pipilo erythrophthalmus
Olive Sparrow Arremonops rufivirgatus
Tanagers and Allies Family Thraupidae
Scarlet Tanager Piranga olivacea
Longspurs, snow buntings Family Calcariidae
Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis
Grosbeaks, Saltators & Allies Family Cardinalidae
Dickcissel Spiza americana
Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus
Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis
Blue Grosbeak Passerina caerulea
Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea
Painted Bunting Passerina ciris