Birds – Page 7 – Wildlife Intrigued

Ready for My Close-up…by Brad Marks

Welcome to February everyone! Well, as of last Saturday, we are officially back home – our winter southern migration has come to an end. Thankfully, Ol’ Man Winter took pity and welcomed us back with rather nice weather – at least for this time of the year in the Midwestern tundra. Have to say I am rather exhausted from our extended southern stay. Not sure if that is the results of daily nonstop birding or having to haul this damn boat anchor around ..while daily nonstop birding. Need to take a few days to recover and start getting everything back in order from the trip – emails to read (6,600 to be exact), transfer all the photos to NAS (727G worth) and a host of other things sure to numb the mind. One bright spot to mention, I made it to 12th on the top 100 Texas Birders list and shockingly 79th on the top US Birders list! The former will fall now that we have left that great state, but we can continue to work on the overall stats (work being code for I’ll continue birding as normal and just check in from time to time to see where I happen to be ha). While I get things back in order, Brad is going to take the helm and bring you an outing from a MUCH warmer time.

Take it away Brad…

After Brian and I successfully completed the world’s first ever International Warbler Watch and Walk in the Woods or IW4 (link here), I spent a morning with my friend, Ray, in his back yard. Ray’s photography style specializes in his kids, and close-up photos of nature. He has dozens of projects going on simultaneously and occasionally, just occasionally, I can get him to “focus” long enough for a photo walk in the woods. In reality, the walk was mostly in the wooded ravine in his back yard. The general area where we both live is on the edge of a bluff overlooking the Illinois River. Most of the houses are surrounded by ravines and woods full of wildlife, both furred and feathered. Wooded lot lines get all confused when ravines are involved, which is a polite way to say we wandered a bit.

Hit the jump to read more about our ravine wanderings.

Act One of Thrushapalooza

At first, I was going to go on a long rant on what I think about the new WordPress comments administration page, then I decided not to end our truly enjoyable migration on a sour note. The current schedule has us leaving the great state of Texas sometime tomorrow depending on how close we adhere – we are retired, schedule, smedules. For those keeping score out there, this means I am likely at the high-water mark on the top 100 Texas birders list. The last regen of the list puts me at #12 with 223 species (and 3 exotic escapees). My new friend Tim H. sits on top with his 300 tallies as he undertakes his Texas Big Year endeavor – he is off to a great start! Actually, what I am really proud of is I broke into the top 100 birders in all of US at #99. Both of these standings will start dropping quickly with our return home, but I can bask in the glory for another day ha. Oh, and it feels good to know I am only 77 species from my Average Year goal (link here).

Keeping with the celebration theme, going with a rather festive featured feathered friend.

Varied Thrush found at Corn Creek Field Station at Desert NwR, Las Vegas, NV in January 2024

Hit the jump to read about this surprise desert visitor.

Open Wide…by Brad Marks

First off, let’s welcome Brad and Jan who are now safely back from assignment across the pond. Can’t wait to read about all their finds in future posts.

As for us, we are officially out of the Rio Grande Valley now and technically on the homeward phase of our southern migration. Currently outside San Antonio at one of my favorite parks in Texas, Guadalupe River State Park. Unfortunately, it is rainy and cold but far “birdier” than expected – added 11 birds for the year here so far, which officially puts me over 200 species for this year’s Average Year. (link here). Right on par with my 2023 high water mark and well above last year’s 325 mark. Now 2/3rds of the way to the 300 goal and we haven’t even made it out of the first month. Best part is we continue to meet wonderful people from near and far. Before I forget, I need to apologize to the couple from Canada I met today as I accidentally gave them a bad ID. Somehow a Downy Woodpecker I was tracking in a nearby tree secretly swapped in a Ladderback WP when I was distracted. Just noticed the error when I was reviewing my shots – Downy, Downy, hot mess of twigs, Downy, crappy shot of a tree trunk, Downy, Downy, Ladderback WTH hehehe. Sorry about that. Ironically, the Merlin Photo ID functionality I was showing you at the time was correct (to the rest of the fine people conversed with on today’s hike, no other errors were discovered ha).

While I catch up on the techy birding paperwork and start drawing up this year’s stretch goals for the staff, going to turn you over to Brad to update you with another assignment from across the pond.

Take it away Brad…

No, this isn’t about dentists, so you can all relax — this won’t hurt a bit.

Jan and I had the recent fortune of being able to visit with her English relatives in, where else, England. The extended family (Jan’s cousin Louise and her husband Steve, Louise’s mum Margaret and dad John, the pups Finn and Red, and Jan and I) decided to take an October holiday. We stayed in a thatched roof cottage in Dorset near the English Channel. During one of the “warmer” days (upper 40’s Fahrenheit) most of us took a trip seaside (John elected to stay warm in the cottage). In October you ask? Yes, why not.

All of us enjoyed the trip through the English countryside (via the C-roads) to Lyme Regis on the coast of the English Channel. For those unfamiliar with C-roads across the pond, think of a very narrow single-lane road lined with tall hedge sprouting from the edge of the pavement. I forgot to mention, there is still two-way traffic on a C-road. Steve was driving, thankfully, (not quite sure they trust my driving on the other side of the road yet after the sunroof incident) and secured one of the eight parking spaces near the beach. Once Steve paid the small fee to park the car (I didn’t have any of the English parking apps on my phone), we started a stroll along the beach. Remember, this is taking place in October in England. That means the words “beach” and “shivering “will most likely appear in the same sentence.

Lyme Regis is known for many things, but the most recent famous fact anyone can recall is Mary Anning’s discovery of the first plesiosaur skeleton in 1823. At the time, women simply didn’t do archeology (Jurassic thinking, by the way) so her work was largely dismissed by the establishment. Oh sure, the establishment took the credit. However, none of the credit made it to Mary until after her passing. She also discovered the first known pterosaur (later to be called a pterodactyl) outside of Germany. Mary pioneered the study of coprolites (fossilized poo). Sort of poetic with the times she lived in, don’t you think?

The area around Lyme Regis has become known as the Jurassic Coast.

European Herring Gull found by Brad Marks

Hit the jump to learn about some Gully behavior.

A Wriend of Mine

Mother Nature has decided I need a break from birding and has turned off the heater down here in south Texas. It has been 20 days of intense birding since the calendar turned and now officially at 179+2 provisionals. That puts me on par with our best Average Year back in 2023 (link here) and significantly ahead of our 2024 productivity (link here) – swapping the Texas and Arizona trips really hurt our numbers last year. Needless to say, plenty of new blog fodder this young year to take us well into 2027. In the midst of all the tin filling I completely forgot to announce the official start of our 18th year here at Intrigued. For all the staff, we’ll officially celebrate once everyone gets back from the field. Note, Brad and Jan are due back to the mainland soon, so get the place tidied up and stoke up the furnace.

Speaking of Brad and Jan, they actually beat me to today’s featured feathered friend.

Cactus Wren found at Kartchner Caverns State Park in Benson, AZ in January 2024

Hit the jump if you are “Wren” for it! (the puns will continue until you beg for mercy ha)

RRedbird

Apologies for being a bit out of pocket as of late. All our field staff including me are ..well..out in the field. Among them, Brad and Jan are filling up their tins abroad and Linda and I are dealing with the wet and cold weather currently ravaging south Texas. Surprisingly, the birding has been pretty impressive given the conditions. My brother Ron flew down to join in some birding for a week and just got on the plane to return to Chicago where it is snowing with a windchill of -4 – okay, I’ll stop complaining about our weather. In Ron’s short time here we were able to find him just under 150 new birds for his Average Year tally. That puts him at roughly 100 in the top 100 eBirders by species for the Texas region (note, actual positioning can fluctuate during the day based on reporting). Pretty impressive, but not to be outdone, with my extended time in Texas I am officially at 165 bird species. That puts me around 48th place for the entire Texas region. That is 52 birds ahead of last year’s pace, which you will recall, ended with a tally of 325 (see the finally updated full 2024 stats here). Shockingly, that means in the 15 days so far this year I already have 55% of the annual goal of 300. Tells you how hard it gets to find new birds as the year progresses. I do want to give a shoutout to all the wonderful birders we have met down here, including Steve and Lisa who guided us through Santa Ana NWR yesterday. Always willing to strike up a conversation and assist with any sightings. Warms my heart to know the birding community bonds continue to be strong.

I suspect there are some out there that could have predicted today’s featured feathered friend. After the last post on the Phainopepla, it just seems appropriate to go with another incredibly hard bird to spell that also has a spectacular punk-do.

Pyrrhuloxia found at Saguaro National Park outside Tucson, AZ in January 2024

Hit the jump to read more about this chunky member of the Cardinalidae family

Imperio

Okay, going to say firmly and for the record to our Texas friends…we are NOT responsible for the frigid temps that have made its way down here this week. Purely coincidental that we happened to have arrived around the same time of the cold snap. We are definitely not used to layering this much in the south and Linda actually had gloves on today while visiting Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville. So cold the Monkeys were considering cuddling up with the Lions. Fortunately, the birding has been living up to our high expectations. Currently at 112 species fresh into the new year. I am behind my 2024 Average Year stats (link here), but did manage to get the 2025 page created and updated (link here). For the curious, I ended last year at 325 checks thanks to a late surge in December. Currently sitting 35 species ahead of that pace, but 19 behind 2023. Many birds still left to tin down here and plenty of time to get that done – sitting pretty, enjoying the pretty colors!

Apologies to those back home, we feel for you suffering through the snow and temps in the teens ..no, no, we really do! (Brad, can you make sure the maintenance crew puts extra salt on our Intrigued HQ walkways).

Enough chit chat, time to get to work and present today’s featured feathered friend.

Phainopepla found at Saguaro National National Park, AZ in January 2024

Hit the jump to learn more about our “black robed” friend.

Two in the Bush…by Brad Marks

Welcome to 2025 everybody!! Admittedly, I am now officially 0 for 2 in actually getting the date right, but don’t worry, the year is still young…there will be plenty more mistakes ha. The Intrigued holiday break is officially past and those not already assigned to the field are back in the office, stoking the fireplaces, cleaning up after the raucous year end party and based on the last weather report, shoveling the parking lot and salting the walkways. Fortunately, Linda and I are getting ready to enjoy the sun-soaked days of South Padre Island. Birding has been excellent so far including some very successful chases to pad the 2024 Average Year (not updated, link here) and getting the 2025 version off to a great start. Best of all, we have met some extremely kind and helpful birders on our trip down here! A big thank you and shoutout to Tim, Q, Tom, Tonya and Arthur – best of luck on your 2025 birding goals. While I dig out the sunscreen and finish up all the 2024 paperwork (hope I didn’t leave all those staff expense reports in the fireplace, wink), Brad is going to bring you a few finds from Sin City.

Take it away Brad…

As Brian has stated many times over the years, he has quite a backlog of photos to process and write stories about. I’m nowhere near his backlog levels. Even if I am, it’s only because of the grueling travel schedule Intrigued HQ has Jan and I on this year. Looking back through the queue of stories, I found this one that I had started, but had “misplaced” and not taken the time to finish. This story is from our trip to Las Vegas during September 2023.

In the afterglow of seeing a Desert Tortoise (see here) in Red Rock Canyon outside of Las Vegas, Jan and I decided to drive to the Willow Springs Picnic area to see the Petroglyph Wall.

We arrived at the park late in the day, after 4:30pm. Shadows were long in the canyon. We weren’t hopeful of seeing many desert birds. The shadows also helped reduce the desert temperature to a comfortable range while standing outside of the air-conditioned rental car. Early Fall can be quite warm in the desert. Forget about that “dry heat” nonsense, hot is hot. While we did see a few musings carved in the stone at the Petroglyph Wall, that wasn’t the really interesting part.

As Jan and I walked further up the trails and into the shadows in the canyon, we were cranking up the ISO as we went. Our cameras (replaced with the next model since writing this story, they did each have over 200K clicks on them) were most effective up to about ISO 3200, but past that it’s really an iffy proposition to get publishable photos. As it was, I thought I was stretching the cameras to the max with high ISO, aperture as wide as the lens would allow and a slower shutter speed than I would like to be using. Nikon’s Vibration Reduction (VR) helped a bit, but not nearly enough to keep the other settings low enough to catch spastic little birds in the scrub brush.

Sure enough, there were two little birds teasing us mercilessly. These LBJ’s lived there and probably knew our cameras were being taxed. Both of them were within feet of the ever-darkening trail. Each would flit to the outside of their respective bush/shrub, pause for about 1/250^th of a second, and then bury themselves in the dark interiors again.

Bewick's Wren found at Red Rocks Canyon Conservation Area by Brad Marks

Hit the jump to read more about these very active finds.

An American Imposter

Although we have closed the Intrigued HQ so the staff can enjoy the holidays, thought I would jump in for one last post before the calendar turns. Some could accuse me of trying to pad the end of the year stats, but all the performance reviews are already in the books so this is pure bonus…in addition to giving me a break from all the last minute Texas birding I am trying to get in before we reset for the 2025 Average Year (link here – note not updated yet). Additional annual +1 opportunities are getting really slim. Currently sitting at 322 species for 2024 which is a boost from the 317 I was sitting at before we made our way down here. That now includes 2 new lifers from Bolivar Flats and Galveston Island – one of which was a rarity that took Linda and I a solid three days of hunting to finally get in the tin. Those in the Texas birding community know which one I am referring to, but I’ll keep the details for a future post. While looking at the queue I loaded up before we left home, decided to go with another rarity found during our January trip to Last Vegas.

American Robin found at Corn Creek Station in Desert NWR, Las Vegas, NV January 2024

Follow the jump to reveal this special rarity

A Greater Setback

I suppose you could say it is a fitting time for getting things “wrapped” up. All the excitement of seeing the festive colored boxes with their pretty bows bringing joy to kids and adults. The catalyst for this heartwarming affair, a jolly big-waisted fellow that shimmies down the chimney (or alternative burglary entry point into your homestead). Unfortunately, my coal colored gift this holiday year reflects some bad actions earlier in the year. To be exact, October 12th, one of those days that now takes its rightful place among my other noteworthy “mishaps”. The ankle specialist wasn’t wearing festive clothes yesterday, but he did take the time to wrap my gift in a shiny shade of black coal…ho, ho, ho, you are the proud recipient of a non-displaced double fracture! Grinch said WHAT!?!?! Now, in my joint’s defense I need to apologize for all the hurtful comments hurled at it since race-day. It was not faking it for sympathy, a stunt that it has pulled many times in the past – nope, it was damaged and now I am the proud receiver of a black boot that will loudly proclaim I’m damaged goods to anyone we come upon during the next 6 weeks. No running, of course, no long birding hikes (we’ll see) and beach time is likely right out. My Texas trip just took a mighty blow thanks in large part to the first orthopedic surgeon I went to in early November telling me it was nothing, take two aspirin and find your own way out of the office. Lost 4 weeks of recovery time and I’ve been doing chiro visits and physical therapy that was likely making it worse – shocked that it didn’t displace as a result of all the yanking and twisting. While I try to move on to the acceptance phase, decided it was an appropriate time to feature the totem animal for all runners.

Greater Roadrunner found at Saguaro National Park West, Tucson, AZ in January 2024

Hit the jump for some looks at a bird that probably has more running shoes in its closet than I do..and that is saying a LOT.

A Prickly Perch

We are in the heart of December and it’s busier than Santa’s workshop here at Intrigued. We have family Christmas gatherings to attend, staff performance reviews to administer, year end house/lot tasks to perform, RV prep and the most dreaded of all..packing for our migration south. We have about a week left to get all these items checked off our list. Now, the good news is we did have our Intrigued family holiday gathering and that went amazingly well – no law enforcement or ambulances needed this year which is a huge relief from the past. We probably owe that to Brad’s brilliant idea to move our performance reviews until AFTER the party hehehe. I probably was not supposed to reveal the source of that idea! In no small part to still being lamed up, I was able to chip away at my well-storied backlog of field excursions. Through a daily regiment in the digital darkroom, both the March 2023 trip through Alabama/Florida and the trip through New Mexico/Arizona/Nevada this last January are now completely processed. This provides plenty of fodder for posts while we are down south. Couple that with all the stories from Brad and Jan’s assignments, we are in very good shape to keep you entertained during the coming year. To give you just a taste of the new finds from Arizona, thought I would bring you a primary target going into that trip.

Female Gilded Flicker found at Catalina State Park in Tucson, AZ in January 2024

For those not familiar with the Sonoran Desert landscape, that impressive structure you see is a Saguaros Cactus. Hit the jump and we’ll provide a few more details about this cactus before getting to the real reason we were focused so much on this Arizona state plant.

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