It's a...?

Many years ago I noticed and remarked upon (in the LOS News, I think) one of the hummingbirds in Audubon's Ruby-throated Hummingbird watercolor, said to have been painted in Louisiana in the 1820s. At the time, the bird seemed to me to be a good candidate for a Black-chinned Hummingbird.  That would possibly make it a first Louisiana record, and more interestingly the image would predate the description of the species by a couple of decades.

I was recently looking through my book of Audubon watercolors and noticed this bird again.  I decided to scan the plate using a more modern scanner than what I had back in the '90s.  The image quality is limited by the printing process, but the outer primary of the bird is tolerably clear.  To my eyes, the outer web of the outer primary still looks like it widens more than it would on a Ruby-throat.  Hummingbird banders that can see the differences with their eyes closed would have a more valuable opinion than mine, of course.  It would also help to see the original watercolor, which I don't guess I ever will...

Keep in mind that Audubon had a keen eye and mind for minor details, as evidenced by his observation of the rough wing on a Rough-winged Swallow.  Also keep in mind the fact that this image is not a copy of an engraving, but of the original watercolor.  In other words, this is a copy of the image that Audubon made by hand, not of a second generation product.

What will winter bring?

With fall and winter on the horizon, it's time to start thinking about birds that might turn up in the backyard.  Even with good long looks, a few possibilities pose ID challenges.  Life would be great if all of the birds that turn up at our feeders were well-marked adult males.  The odds argue against that, so there's plenty to keep us on our toes.  Consider the following:

The birds above are so drab that if you notice them at all, they might make you wonder if they're worth a second look.  Are they?    

The yellow bird above isn't well-marked, but once winter arrives, some "drab" birds will actually look pretty bright if they pop up in the yard.  That alone would warrant a second look at this bird, if the fact that it's hanging out on a hummingbird feeder doesn't.  What's the most important thing to look at on this bird?

Green and white female-type hummingbirds are always fun.  If you're lucky enough to get a good look, there are a few things to size up when narrowing down an ID.  Sometimes it takes a good study of a photo to get the ID right.  Bill size, the shape and pattern of the tail, and the shape and size of wing feathers can all provide a good clue.  Is a green and white hummer a big deal, or just a Ruby-throat?  

Six-lined Racerunner

As I was walking a trail through dense growth in Peveto Woods yesterday, I noticed a twitch in the tip of a goldenrod stalk a few yards ahead.  I held still, waiting to see if it would twitch again.  When it did, I started to wonder if a skulking warbler, perhaps a Common Yellowthroat, was working the stalk.  I watched as the twitch moved over to the next goldenrod stalk, but I couldn't locate a bird.  Finally, dialing through the layers of vegetation, I noticed direct movement.  It took a few seconds to realize that what I saw moving was a lizard with long, thin stripes, a six-lined racerunner.  

A few of these lizards have popped up at Peveto lately.  To be honest, I don't remember them ever being there in the past, but others seem to remember their presence.  Unless someone is seeding the sanctuary with reptiles, the increase in lizard numbers would seem to be part of the recovery in species diversity on the cheniers following the destruction of the past decade's hurricanes.  

Cameron Parish, Sunday, September 1

I've had a head cold the past few days, and I felt too bad to go to the coast on Saturday, but on Sunday I thought a head full of ragweed pollen might be just the thing to make me forget about my cold.  Luckily, it wasn't that bad.  The Giant Ragweed flowers are ready to pop open any day now, though, throwing their bitter yellow pollen into the wind. 

 

  



The action along the coast was typical of what it's been for the past week or two.  Lots of gnatcatchers, flycatchers, and Yellow Warblers, such as the one below. 

 

And some more cool dragonflies:

 



  

Swallows have been barreling through in big numbers for a couple of weeks now, led in numbers by Barns, but with a good showing of Bank and Cliff Swallows.  Every time I looked up today there were swallows heading west along the coast.  As the day got late, they began to line up on wires. 

  







Here's a shot of Cliff Swallow, Barn Swallow, and Bank Swallow, the three big migrants today. 

  

With miles of wire, you wouldn't think turf wars would be a problem, but swallows seem to like to fight.   

 

Labor Day weekend is a big deal on Holly Beach, and the crowds were out.  Surprisingly, a few flocks of gulls were hanging out between the communities of tents and campers up and down the beach.  I wasn't planning to stop to scope the birds out because of all of the human activity, but as I passed I noticed that one of the brown juvenile Laughing Gulls seemed to be a little different brown from the others. 

 

 

 



One U-turn later, I was surprised to see there was actually a Parasitic Jaeger hanging out.  I thought I'd have to get out in Dave Patton's Jaeger-chasing boat to see one in Cameron Parish, but it was pretty nice to see one from the steadiness of dry land.