Franklin's - 30 Mar. 2009

Yep, Franklin's Gulls are now back in central Iowa.  Here are a couple shots from below Saylorville Dam, Polk County.

Sunday Birding - 29 Mar 2009

Ashley and I went out birding today around Story County.  The most unexpected bird today was a LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE that we found in NE Story County (it actually flew across the road into Marshall County as well).  See Ashley's photo below:

Some of the wetlands around Colo provided some waterfowl including all (5) usual geese species:

Snow Goose (20)

Ross's Goose (20)

Cackling Goose (2)

Canada Goose (10)

Greater White-fronted Goose (~300)

Canvasback

Ring-necked Duck

Green-winged Teal

Blue-winged Teal

Mallard

Gadwall

Northern Shoveler

American Coot

Pie-billed Grebe

The below Pie-billed Grebe also stayed still while Ashley got to photograph it (or maybe it was frozen stiff?  The windchill this morning was about 10 degrees).

We also found several Wilson's Snipe near Colo.  Later in the day, one posed nicely (see Ashley's photo below):

We came across several enormous flocks of LAPLAND LONGSPURS throughout the day.  The day total would easily be a couple thousand.

We also found RUSTY BLACKBIRDS in several locations today which as a treat.  Thinking back, I think it has been several years since I've come across some...

Good Birding,

Cory Gregory & Ashley Casey

Mexico Overview

It was a very enjoyable week spent in west Mexico at the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Group meeting.  Such a nice venue and lots of nice people as well.

The birding was great too!  I tallied about 170 species including several Mexican endemics.  Of the 170 species, I managed to photograph about 80 of them.

Can't wait until I can visit Mexico again!

Mazatlan - 14 Mar. 2009

Today was our last day in Mexico.  However, our shuttle didn't come until after noon!   Hence, one last chance at new birds!  Nathan and I headed 20 minutes north in a taxi until we stopped at a coastal lagoon.

The early morning was rather dampened by RAIN of all things.  It was the first rain I had seen the entire week and it happened to fall while we were out birding.  Alas, it didn't last all that long and we were still able to bird a bit.

The actual lagoon had hundreds of shorebirds and a good variety of gulls, terns, waterfowl, etc.  I must admit, I feel a tad obligated to post a picture of a Long-billed Curlew!!  Although I don't work with them on the wintering grounds, it'll be a matter of weeks before I see them on the breeding grounds in Nebraska.  Here is a female:

We heard a curious bunch of scolding birds and after tracing it all down, we found the source, a Colima Pygmy-Owl!  It was obscured by brush but I managed this quick photo before it flew on:

We came upon a tree with several Black-throated Magpie-Jays, a northwest Mexican endemic.  These jays with their incredibly long tails were a treat to both see and photograph:

Last but not least, the Sinaloa Crow was a common species during our stay in Mexico.  Flocks were constantly beeing seen along the road.  I snapped a quick shot in flight:

Overall, we had great luck, even picking up a flock of Elegant Quail along one of the roads!  Unfortunately, I had to quickly return to pack and get ready for the shuttle to arrive. 

The day yielded the following new trip birds:

(*) = Mexican endemic

Beardless-Tyrannulet, Northern 

Bunting, Varied
Cardinal, Northern 

* Chachalaca, Rufous-bellied 

Curlew, Long-billed 

Dove, Mourning 

Egret, Reddish 

Flycatcher, Brown-crested 

Flycatcher, Pacific-slope 

Gadwall Godwit, Marbled 

Grassquit, Blue-black 

Grebe, Eared 

Hawk, Gray 

Heron, Little Blue 

Kingfisher, Belted 

Night-Heron, Yellow-crowned 

Osprey 

Pintail, Northern 

Plover, Black-bellied 

Plover, Semipalmated 

* Pygmy-Owl, Colima 

* Quail, Elegant 

Sandpiper, Western 

Sparrow, Lincoln's 

Tern, Royal 

Titmouse, Bridled 

* Trogon, Citreoline 

Vireo, Warbling 

Warbler, Virginia's 

* Woodpecker, Golden-cheeked 

Woodpecker, Ladder-backed 

* Wren, Happy

Mazatlan - 13 Mar. 2009

Today was a slow day for birding. 

Early on I decided to finally photograph some swallows from my patio.  Below is a Northern Rough-winged Swallow:

 

Later in the afternoon, some of us decided to bird the city park further south in town.  Many of the same species were there but we did manage a couple new species.  Overall, I added the following species to the trip list today:

Ibis, White 

Scaup, Lesser 

Tanager, Western 

Thrush, Rufous-backed