Sunday, May 18, 2014

BigBird Backyard Bird Sit


Wilson's Warbler in mesquite tree, May 13 2014, Mesa AZ.
Photo by Saija Lehtonen.


Last week photographer Jeff Stemshorn (a.k.a. BigBird) and his girlfriend, Wynn Ronstadt, were coming through town so we decided to have a BigBird Bird Sit at my place in Mesa. Saija Lehtonen and Annie Hummel Pancrazio also joined in on the backyard shenanigans. I've been having some good luck with migrants coming through my yard (warblers, flycatchers, vireos, grosbeaks) so we were hoping for a good turnout. Sure enough we had a hard-to-photograph Wilson's Warbler stop by.   Thankfully Saija was able to get an ID shot of the flittering flash of yellow feathers (which is what MY photos of the Wilson's looked like).

Brown-headed Cowbird, May 13 2014, Mesa AZ. Photo by Jeff Stemshorn.

Also in the mix of course, were White-Winged Doves, a pair of Eurasian Collared Doves, Mourning Doves,  Inca Doves, Gambel's Quail, Curve-billed Thrashers, Abert's Towhees, Northern Mockingbirds, Great-tailed Grackles, Brown-headed Cowbirds, House Finches, House Sparrows, Lesser Goldfinch, Anna's Hummingbirds and Black-chinned Hummingbirds.

Ash-throated Flycatcher in mesquite tree, May 13 2014, Mesa AZ. 
Photo by Peggy Thomas

Later the Ash-throated Flycatcher came by, performing aerobatics as he caught flies high in the mesquite tree.

Verdin at orange, May 13 2014, Mesa AZ. Photo by Saija Lehtonen.

Western Tanager in Palo Verde tree, May 13 2014, Mesa AZ.
Photo by Peggy Thomas.

 The Western Tanager stayed out of camera range during the bird sit, but reappeared later just long enough for an ID shot.


White-winged Dove, May 13 2014, Mesa AZ.  Photo by Jeff Stemshorn.

As the temperatures soar over the summer, we'll be having more Bird Sits, from the cool comfort of my kitchen, photographing through the bay windows.  Care to join us?


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