Yellow Warbler
It started out mostly cloudy, hot, and humid this morning, and by late morning was mostly sunny. I ended up with 25 avian species, including seeing a Yellow Warbler, and hearing both Yellow-breasted Chats and several Common Yellowthroats. I saw an interesting male Orchard Oriole, and I believe my first one in Old Trail this year. It still had some of its first summer yellow feathers. I also saw one of the longest Black Ratsnakes I have ever encountered.
Yellow Warbler
Orchard Oriole
Orchard Oriole
Orchard Oriole
Indigo Bunting
Black Ratsnake
Once again, it was hot and humid, but not a single cloud in the sky this morning. I stopped first on the Western Park plateau just off Old Trail Drive that overlooks the wetlands. I soon saw a female Orchard Oriole, but it had unsual red on its yellow feathers. After seeing other species in the area this morning, I think that the red coloring is from berries that it had been eating.
Orchard Oriole
Both Yellow-breasted Chats appear to be spending the summer here, and hopefully will be breeding. The male (dark black bill) likes to hang around in the trees and brush in the wetlands near the community garden, and is easier to see from the east end of the plateau. I heard it as soon as I arrived, but was able to get only one photo of it.
Yellow-breasted Chat
I then hiked down to the soccer field. The female Yellow-breasted Chat (silver gray bill) likes to forage in the brush north of the soccer field. She popped up and chatted for quite a while. The purple on her bill and supercilium must be from berries.
Yellow-breasted Chat
Yellow-breasted Chat
Yellow-breasted Chat
Yellow-breasted Chat
Yellow-breasted Chat
Yellow-breasted Chat
Yellow-breasted Chat
Yellow-breasted Chat
I heard a Yellow Warbler and a few Common Yellowthroats, but none of them wanted to have their pictures taken today. There were some interesting juvenile species to observe.
Juvenile Brown Thrasher (pale eyes)
Juvenile Red-winged Blackbird
Juvenile Song Sparrow
A recently fledged Northern Cardinal (silver bill) was calling for papa to bring it a meal.
Juvenile Northern Cardinal
Juvenile Northern Cardinal being fed
There were quite a few juvenile Northern Mockingbirds. One of them was trying to forage for bugs, and kept coming up with grass, but finally was successful.
Juvenile Northern Mockingbird
Juvenile Northern Mockingbird
Juvenile Northern Mockingbird
The male Orchard Oriole showed up as well; also with berry juice on its face.
Orchard Oriole
Orchard Oriole
I saw another Black Ratsnake today. This one was climbing in a tree.
Black Ratsnake
I ended up with 26 avian species today, including 10 that I had not seen yesterday, giving me a two-day total of 35 here in Old Trail.
Two-day list:
Canada Goose
Green Heron
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Mourning Dove
Downy Woodpecker
American Crow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Carolina Wren
Eastern Bluebird
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Common Yellowthroat
Yellow Warbler
Eastern Towhee
Yellow-breasted Chat
Northern Cardinal
Orchard Oriole
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Red-shouldered Hawk
Eastern Wood-Pewee
House Sparrow
Song Sparrow
House Finch
Brown Thrasher
American Goldfinch
Eastern Phoebe
Chipping Sparrow
Tufted Titmouse
American Robin
Brown-headed Cowbird