Odds and Ends

Just thought I would post up a few individual photos of some fairly uncommon birds we have seen over the past week.

This Black-necked Stilt was performing it’s stilt act in the marsh pond Friday evening. I really like the stilts bubble gum pink legs and their bobble heads as they march about picking for aquatic insects.

The Clapper Rails are shy, nervous, and reclusive birds that are often heard but rarely seen out in the open. These rails are sometimes referred to as “marsh hens”due to their almost chicken like appearance. I saw these two swim across a small portion of water in the salt marsh and then climb up into the safety of the dried reeds along the edge. I suspect it could be a mated pair.

I heard this Common Loon before I saw it floating by along the salt marsh. The loons have an eerie yodeling or laughing wail that can almost send chills up your spine especially at night.

I spotted this male Painted Bunting in among some scrub pines near the marsh. The painted bunting is the most colorful North American songbird and has also been called a flying rainbow. You may notice this one has been banded. There is a banding program in place to help keep track and count of these birds which are considered a species of serious concern due mostly to loss of habitat from clear cutting woodland areas for development. We actually witnessed the banding process last summer and it was quite interesting. Each bird gets two different colored bands on both legs. The color and placement signify location and year, and are used to identify individual birds.

Black-necked Stilt

Clapper Rails

Common Loon

Male Painted Bunting

63 thoughts on “Odds and Ends”

norasphotos4u on April 28, 2013 at 4:41 pm said:

These are all great – but love that bunting

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- Phil Lanoue on April 28, 2013 at 4:50 pm said:
  
  Thanks very much! The PB is quite the colorful fellow isn’t he?! 🙂
  
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Chillbrook on April 28, 2013 at 4:41 pm said:

Such wonderful pictures of some very beautiful birds Phil. I love your picture of the clapper rails, superbly composed. The birds are posing perfectly.

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- Phil Lanoue on April 28, 2013 at 4:52 pm said:
  
  Thanks so much Adrian and I’m very happy you especially like the rails. I only had a chance to get a few frames of the pair before they scurried off. I got some singles, but I also really liked these two together.
  
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meyer23 on April 28, 2013 at 4:42 pm said:

Nice shots. The second ist my favorite.

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- Phil Lanoue on April 28, 2013 at 4:53 pm said:
  
  Thank you very much! Glad to hear you like the clapper rails, they are an interesting bird and I am always happy when I see one but two together is even better.
  
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pixelspielerei on April 28, 2013 at 4:43 pm said:

They are so cute! ☺

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- Phil Lanoue on April 28, 2013 at 4:53 pm said:
  
  Oh there is plenty of cuteness alright! 😀
  
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Deb W. Trotter on April 28, 2013 at 4:45 pm said:

Lovely photos of beautiful birds. Thanks for sharing.

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- Phil Lanoue on April 28, 2013 at 4:53 pm said:
  
  Thanks so much for looking and commenting Deb!
  
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Charlie@Seattle Trekker on April 28, 2013 at 4:54 pm said:

Very interesting, great photography.

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- Phil Lanoue on April 29, 2013 at 11:41 am said:
  
  Thanks very much for checking them out Charlie.
  
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suburbanferndaleark on April 28, 2013 at 4:56 pm said:

Love the simple color palate on the black necked stilt shot. Great composition. Great capture. I am green with envy over your painted bunting shot. What a knockout!

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- Phil Lanoue on April 29, 2013 at 11:42 am said:
  
  So glad you enjoyed these photos! I love the bubble gum pink legs on the stilt and people come to our area here from all over in hopes of getting a glimpse of a PB.
  
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dinajohnston on April 28, 2013 at 5:32 pm said:

All great shots! That bunting is perfect! Love the clappers. They are still on my list.

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- Phil Lanoue on April 29, 2013 at 11:43 am said:
  
  Thanks very much, glad you liked the pics! I think this may have been the first time I ever saw a pair of clappers together like that.
  
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kybedard on April 28, 2013 at 6:40 pm said:

Such great pictures of some very beautiful birds…Love it. Camera looks kind of expensive..lol

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- Phil Lanoue on April 29, 2013 at 11:44 am said:
  
  Thank you very much for looking and commenting, I appreciate it.
  
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Jane Lurie on April 28, 2013 at 6:58 pm said:

Beautiful, Phil. Your Painted Bunting is gorgeous— I see them here so rarely and they are incredible. Your Black-necked Stilt and its reflection is terrific. Thanks!

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- Phil Lanoue on April 29, 2013 at 11:46 am said:
  
  Thanks so much Jane, I was very happy to see the stilt. When I first saw it the bird was completely backlit but within seconds it flew to the other side where I had a chance to get just a few frames on it with decent lighting before it took off. I just missed the flight shot because I was looking down at the camera to adjust settings for a potential flight.
  
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  - Jane Lurie on April 29, 2013 at 11:50 am said:
    
    Those camera settings really get in the way! 🙂
    
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    - Phil Lanoue on April 29, 2013 at 12:03 pm said:
      
      Yes if it’s not that it’s some tree branches that feel the need to jump right in front of me just as I am about to take a photo. 😦 😉
      
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Bella Remy Photography on April 28, 2013 at 7:41 pm said:

I am amazed how close you got to these birds. You say the clapper rails are shy, but yet they’re in your lap ! You must be the rare bird whisperer.

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- Phil Lanoue on April 29, 2013 at 11:48 am said:
  
  I was a bit surprised they got so close, I know they saw me but they only wanted to continue on heading to the marsh pond so they ended up kind of ignoring me. First time I saw a pair together like that too.
  
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Gunta on April 28, 2013 at 7:42 pm said:

They’re all simply beautiful, but the stilt is my favorite. It’s the fashion accessory pink legs that do it for me! The reflection ain’t bad either. 😀 The bunting looks like it belongs in the tropics.

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- Phil Lanoue on April 29, 2013 at 11:49 am said:
  
  Oh yeah I really like those pink bubble gum colored legs they have! So fashionable.
  Yes the PB does look quite tropical and people come from all over to spot one.
  See more pics of the stilts here:
  https://phillanoue.com/black-necked-stilts/
  
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shoreacres on April 28, 2013 at 8:08 pm said:

I’ve just been astonished by the number of bloggers around here (SE TX to central LA) reporting scads of colorful songbirds the past couple of weeks: scarlet tanagers, warblers of all sorts, orioles, indigo buntings, and of course the painted buntings. There’s a blogger close to me who has a flock of the darned things! With no cover for them, I’m stuck with the herons and such, but it’s so good to know they’re out and about.

I got to see stilts this winter at the Anahuac wildlife refuge. They’re wonderful birds. And I saw a loon,once. (Well, I’ve known a lot of loons, actually, but just one was a bird.)

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- Phil Lanoue on April 29, 2013 at 11:51 am said:
  
  Interestingly I too have seen reports of some of the colorful songbirds showing up. If their numbers are increasing rather then the suspected decrease, that would be outstanding news!
  I really like the stilts and do not see them very frequently. See more photos of some here:
  https://phillanoue.com/black-necked-stilts/
  
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lylekrahn on April 28, 2013 at 11:36 pm said:

I think my favourite is the loon. I’m probably influenced by the wonder sounds they make.

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- Phil Lanoue on April 29, 2013 at 11:53 am said:
  
  If you are ever out in a foggy evening and hear that loon cry off in the distance it can be quite memorable.
  They are interesting birds for sure.
  
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janmasyn on April 29, 2013 at 12:09 am said:

Beautiful pictures Phil, great job, as always. 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on April 29, 2013 at 11:53 am said:
  
  Thank you Jan I am very happy you like them.
  
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Lisaman on April 29, 2013 at 5:06 am said:

Stunnings pics and love the multi coloured one!!

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- Phil Lanoue on April 29, 2013 at 11:54 am said:
  
  Those PBs sure are cute and colorful aren’t they?! Thanks for looking!
  
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roughseasinthemed on April 29, 2013 at 5:09 am said:

I misread your post and thought it said black-legged not black-necked, and thought but their legs are pink!

And the colours of the bunting are just surreal, definitely every colour of the rainbow.

My chickens don’t look like clappers. I love the way the loon is drifting peacefully down the water. S/he looks so tranquil, calm and serene. No alligators around presumably.

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- Phil Lanoue on April 29, 2013 at 11:56 am said:
  
  Yes I really like the bubble gum pink legs on the stilts, very interesting birds indeed.
  The PB has all the colors of the rainbow, even a little violet hidden away in places.
  There was no alligator in the salt marsh when that loon went drifting by but there were two in there the next night.
  Those gators are really starting to get active. 🙂
  
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Maggie Davey on April 29, 2013 at 9:08 am said:

i just love these pictures, Phil! The stilt is so like our UK’s blackwinged stilt and the loon like our great northern loon. You were so clever to catch the clapper rails like that, as I know from our water rails they are so shy it is virtually impossible to photograph them. Your painted bunting, though – oh wow! He is so beautiful! It’s a great name, as the yellow and green feathers particulary, look just like brush strokes. Brilliants pics, Phil, thank you!

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- Phil Lanoue on April 29, 2013 at 11:58 am said:
  
  Thanks very much for your kind comments Maggie and I am very happy you enjoyed these photos of birds I really like but don’t often see. When the PBs hit our area people come from all over to hopefully see some, they are so colorful.
  I believe this was the first time I have ever caught a pair of clappers together like that.
  
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FeyGirl on April 29, 2013 at 9:42 am said:

Such a lovely assortment… Fascinating to see the massive differences in their creations!

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- Phil Lanoue on April 29, 2013 at 11:59 am said:
  
  I am so happy you like these pics! I had not thought about it that way until you mentioned it but yes quite a difference among this group for sure! Thanks
  
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Littlesundog on April 29, 2013 at 9:54 am said:

Fabulous shots, Phil! I have never seen any of these species… it’s always educational to check out new faces!

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- Phil Lanoue on April 29, 2013 at 12:00 pm said:
  
  Well I am thrilled you enjoyed these photos and that they were firsts for you, thanks very much!
  
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Katariina Partala on April 29, 2013 at 11:06 am said:

I’ve never seen a bird like the painted bunting before!! He looks… interesting! :p At first I thought that you used photoshop or something to change its colours!! 😀

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- Phil Lanoue on April 29, 2013 at 12:00 pm said:
  
  No photoshop on the PB, that is really how they look in real life. 🙂 I’m glad you enjoyed seeing this colorful guy!
  
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Fergiemoto on April 29, 2013 at 11:44 am said:

What beautiful colors on that bunting! I’d love to see one of those, but I just looked it up on Wikipedia and learned that their range does not include my area. Hope you post more photos of this beautiful bird.

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- Phil Lanoue on April 29, 2013 at 12:02 pm said:
  
  Yes the PB is very colorful and I am very happy any chance I get to see one. I do have some additional photos and may post those at some point. Thanks very much for checking these out!
  
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mariayarri on April 29, 2013 at 1:38 pm said:

I love the Black-necked stilt`s coulered legs … and the Buntings colors .
But my favourite is the common loon … There are many bright summer nights that i´ve been listening to the loons a bit eerie song …. // Maria

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- Phil Lanoue on April 29, 2013 at 5:26 pm said:
  
  I’m very happy you liked these various bird photos Maria. Yes I really like those pink legs of the stilt and the PB is extremely colorful. That sound the loon makes is quite remarkable isn’t it?!
  
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Amy on April 29, 2013 at 1:49 pm said:

All four are beautiful, Phil! The colors of the Bunting are striking.

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- Phil Lanoue on April 29, 2013 at 5:27 pm said:
  
  Thanks Amy, yes that PB is a very colorful little guy for sure and great to watch and photograph.
  
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Tim Wells on April 29, 2013 at 4:23 pm said:

Thanks Phil for the pics! I try to get pictures of some of the birds at my feeder and pond here in North Charleston but most are really camera shy…We get a large variety of birds and they peck on our window if the feeder or the suet basket gets empty…soon it will be Hummingbird time? Looking forward to some pictures of them as well?
thanx again,
Tim

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- Phil Lanoue on April 29, 2013 at 5:28 pm said:
  
  Glad you enjoyed these photos Tim! Funny you should mention hummingbirds, we just had our first one of the season show up at our backyard feeder here this morning. I have many photos of the red-headed woodpeckers that fly in and around the trees behind our house. 🙂
  
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Cowboys and Crossbones on April 29, 2013 at 4:36 pm said:

I want to see a Painted Bunting in the flesh! How beautiful! And, I want the Black-Necked Stilt bird’s legs. Just sayin’! Thanks for showing me things I’d never get to see – and all in gorgeous photos!

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- Phil Lanoue on April 29, 2013 at 5:34 pm said:
  
  I think you would look great with long bubble gum pink legs and possibly dressed in painted bunting colors as well. I understand that look is all the rage in Paris these days!
  Thanks for checking these out!
  
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  - Cowboys and Crossbones on April 29, 2013 at 5:43 pm said:
    
    Ha! I would fit right in along the French then – although I don’t think I could coax Teddy into wearing a beret…
    
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    - Phil Lanoue on April 30, 2013 at 10:41 am said:
      
      I strongly suspect that boy will *never* wear a beret.
      
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Utasflow on April 30, 2013 at 2:41 am said:

Beautiful birds! The color-rings on the Bunting´s legg are matching his feathers 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on April 30, 2013 at 10:42 am said:
  
  Yes he is a colorful guy with some matching colorful jewelry!
  
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Aian Ramos on April 30, 2013 at 9:06 am said:

PB looks so unbelievably beautiful!!

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- Phil Lanoue on April 30, 2013 at 10:42 am said:
  
  He is a very pretty bird, so glad you like the photos!
  
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adinparadise on May 1, 2013 at 3:13 pm said:

The Black-Necked Stilt is superb. It really does look like it’s walking on stilts. The Bunting wins for sheer cuteness. 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on May 1, 2013 at 5:59 pm said:
  
  I really do like the stilts bubble gum pink legs and the PB is a very colorful guy isn’t he?! 🙂
  Thanks Sylvia!
  
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