More Bees...

More bees with some better pictures.

When i gently stroked one of the bees it moved very slowly and lethargically as if being awoken from a long sleep



Pretty quiet apart from that, even the grebe and merganser were not on the lake

Back in the 'hood

It's getting light late these days! My 7 am arrivals are going to need to coffee shop stop first I can see...


On the lake the Hoodie and PB Grebe are still looking to be the contented couple. Around the pool I found flowering plants with many 'frozen' bees - are they dead or in some form of stasis waiting for the sun to warm them?




The morning Gull commute is picking up with about 25 birds today, a few of which came down. It was a four woodpecker day with another good chance to compare a BIG Hairy with the much smaller Downy, I picked out the former on silhouette for taking a closer confirmatory look. Nice comparison to the Great-spotted Woody from yesterday.

I'm trying to prepare myself for picking out Black-capped Chickadee by taking close looks at Carolinas - it ain't easy as they move around so darn fast! Talking of which, there was something of a Carolina Wren festival on Pooh Bridge with about 6 birds calling from nearby and/or jumping out on the bridge.
Also fast moving were the Ruby-crowned Kinglets, a noticeable increase with about 20 birds seen. Ten or so Yellow-rump Warbler were commuting over the railway line near the 'Magic Spot'.

No luck with Lincoln's but Chipping and White-throated Sparrows and the first Juncos of the season joined the Song Sparrows around the park . House Finches were obvious with 25 or so seen during the walk.

A Red Fox went down the path to the river, presumably having just crossed the railway track; maybe the same one whose tracks were found in the sand last week.


Here a comment from Alonso on the bees from my master naturalist group, I thinks these were probably male bumble bees hanging out
"
There are a couple of reasons I'm aware of of why bees would stay overnight on flowers. Male bumble bees are out looking for female new queens for the next year and are not welcome in the old hive. They are out foraging and then find this safe place to stay with a waiting breakfast for them the next morning. Males just don't have a nest to return to and may get lucky with a foraging new queen the next morning by hanging out in a flower anyways. They'll actually hang on, sometimes even using their mandibles. I think carpenter bees may do this too.
It is also possible that 'new' queens (the ones who will start the new nest next spring after overwintering since bumble bee nests only last one season) are out and about and also have no nest to return to. They prefer to find an old rodent burrow or other safe place though. Also, a foraging worker may find himself out late and when the temperature drops, have no alternative but to wait it out till it warms backup again next day (all being ectothermic - 'cold blooded'. This is not the likeliest alternative however.
Male squash bees (the ones in your picture are probably bumble bees although the picture is a bit blurry but I'd thought I'd mention this) will actually purposely sleep in the flower that will close upon them. That way they're waiting for the females who show up to nectar at the squash flowers the next day.
Those are just a few thoughts at what your finding and something I've wondered about in the past when I found sleeping bumble bees. Hope that helps.

Alonso

________________________________

From: fmn-members@googlegroups.com on behalf of Randc319
Sent: Tue 10/19/2010 10:00 PM
To: fmn-members@googlegroups.com
Subject: [FMN Members] 'Frozen' Bees




Not quite literally of course, but on my morning walk this morning I came across some late flowers with several bees motionless as if time suddenly stood still! Several were obviously feeding - or has been - including hanging upside down from a flower.
Does anyone have a clearer explanation as to what is happening here? Do bees feed until a the temperature falls to a certain level and then go into some sort of stasis?


Rob Young
Alexandria,VA



"

Back on old stomping grounds

I took a chance to spend some time in Cassiobury Park before making my way back to the airport. It was interesting to puck up the common UK species with such close relatives in. the US. Nuthatch (whatever it's prefix is) looks big and colorful, Grey Heron looks small and monochromatic and Goldcrest look very showy, flashing their crest as they surround the slightest pish. Also looking relatively gaudy compared to their American cousins, 15 or so Siskins (whatever THEIR prefix is) showing fading adult plumage with some less well marked juvs.

***apparent both missing prefixes above are Eurasian!****

A couple Of Winter Wren looked decidedly more rufous and less well marked than even their eastern US cousins - I don't recall was US winter Wren split from European WW when pacific wren was?

**** more rufous colour on back, pale underparts which are less well marked ****

**** update
Winter wren - European Troglodytes troglodytes
Winter wren - US Troglodytes hiemalis
Pacific Wren Troglodytes Pacifica
******



Eurasian Jays are less raucous (slightly) but even more colorful than their Blue cousins of course and typically less migratory. They do seem to fill a similar niche, and a number were seen today some transporting acorns around the park as their American cousins do. I'm wondering if this is a migration year though as there were a number around this morning, or maybe I am out of touch ! Manage to get a good view of a Great-spotted Woodpecker (that red undertail!) and heard a nearby Green, also a Great Cormorant flew over - another newly qualified name since I was last here!





The Horse Chestnut trees are changing colour nicely. There were plenty of fruit coverings around the trees so I am assuming that conkers is still somewhat popular, although you don't hear much about it these days and it seem pretty old-fashioned.

While busy doing other things

Not too much birding so far on this trip to the UK. The beech at Brighton was pretty quiet and Fratton Park gave few opportunities. Today visited South Oxhey and Loughborough cemeteries. I find the wildlife soothing for such a place. What looked like a Juv Green Woodpecker probed in the grass at the former, a small group of Moorhen wandered around and a Jay flew past. A raucous group of corvids has presumably found a Tawny Owl.
At Loughborough, a couple of long tailed tits and a coal tit were nearby

Chasing yesterday's bird

I had the choice to go aroun the softball field or back down to the lake where yesterday's sparrow was found. I chose the latter for no particulArly sound reason but making my way back towards the overflow found another group of song sparrows which I spent sone time with. I soon found a juv. White-crowned but that quickly disappeared. While trying to refind, a Lincoln's came out into the open Along the edge of the lakeside vegetation. It looked dusky around the head and I did a double take before checking out the pertinent features, Buffy moustacial, thin break streaking and 'crew cut' look to the head
On the lake the grebe and the merganser remained.
Walking from the dog park to the rusty bridge it was quiet until I chanced across a flock of yellow-rumped warbler (c.10) accompanied by a single golden-crowned kinglet.

Oh I forgot to mention the juv green heron at in inflow pipe entrance

Always (ok, very often) something new

Looks like warblers will be harder to get, maybe early walks are just too cool for much insect life at the patch. However a ruby-crowned kinglet was new for the season and was feeding, hovering to pick of it's food.
A sapsucker showed well And gave a nice mewing call.
Down by the river 8 Cardinals were feeding on and around some washed up plant life.



Back at the picnic shelter, I was listening to a pair of Carolina wrens - male calling, female rattling when Bob (just moved into the area, moved back to us from Italy) told me of a pied-billed grebe on the lake.
On my way round I found and photographed a white-crowned sparrow on the lakeside path. Stunning bird! Reasonable results from phone scoping too.


On the lake the adult grebe was feeding closeby the bank and the hooded merge that has been around for a while

Keep right on 'til the end of the road....

I'll have to complete this more later but here's some highlights

* Record count of species
* Keep going until the very end - the two best birds were the last (Nighthawk and Cerulean)
* Don't try and over interpret the weather / forecast - the birds know better apparently
* Great raptor passage today - lots of Coopers
* Warblers spotty but cracking views of a couple of great birds
* Time flies when you are having so much fun!
* Good extras - Kinglets and Flycatchers - they all help
* The more the merrier (...mostly)
* Cerulean juvs show hints of Blackburnian and Worm-eating - go figure...
* Merlins go like a flying mammal from Beelzebub - boy do they move
* the Sun can still burn in October
Oh and there's more....



Here's the report to VA-Bird which i will enhance later

---------------

The Big Sit event on Sunday benefited from both excellent weather and some great birding as we outstripped our previous five year's efforts by several species, ending with 66 seen.

Dawn on the river found 6 Great Egrets, a good number for the park, but the ducks were lower than last year although there were good numbers of wood duck flying upstream for the day. A Screech Owl and a Yellow-billed Cuckoo called nearby.

Throughout the day there was a good raptor passage with upwards of 25 Coopers and 10 Sharp-shinned Hawks, 3 Osprey, a Northern Harrier, an American Kestrel and a Merlin heading in a southerly direction. Many of the birds were very high so more could have been easily missed.

We pondered if the odds Chimney Swifts we were seeing would be the last of the season throughout the day but dusk saw big numbers flying downstream.

We easily had a 6 woodpecker species day with several sightings of all species with Hairy the scarcest.
Passerine migration was spotty throughout the day but very busy at times especially at the start and end of the day. Numbers of Yellow-rumped Warblers moved through and also included 3 species of flycatcher, both Kinglets, a very showy Nashville and single Pine, Blackpoll and Black&White Warblers. At least a couple of birds frustratingly eluded specific identification
Some interesting observations were made when a couple of large roving flocks of grackles, each many hundred strong, came through. As the nearby trees filled with the birds, a number of smaller birds including the Warblers were flushed. A late House Wren showed in the nearby undergrowth.

The last two species provided the biggest surprises when first a lone Common Nighthawk quartered the river for insects and then a couple of warblers in a nearby tree attracted our attention. The first proved to be 'yet another' Yellow-rump, the second initially gave tantalizing partially obstructed views. We proceeded to watch the bird for several minutes from all angles and were surprised as we found it to be a very-late first-winter plumage Cerulean Warbler


Rob Young
Alexandria, VA



Location: Riverbend Park - CGF11
Observation date: 10/10/10
Number of species: 65

Canada Goose 300
Wood Duck 75
American Wigeon 2
American Black Duck 4
Mallard 50
Common Merganser 1
Pied-billed Grebe 5
Double-crested Cormorant 15
Great Blue Heron 2
Great Egret 6
Black Vulture 20
Turkey Vulture 15
Osprey 3
Bald Eagle 3
Northern Harrier 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 10
Cooper's Hawk 25
Red-shouldered Hawk 2
Red-tailed Hawk 5
American Kestrel 1
Merlin 1
Ring-billed Gull 4
Herring Gull 2
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1
Eastern Screech-Owl 1
Common Nighthawk 1
Chimney Swift 150
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 3
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 2
Downy Woodpecker 4
Hairy Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker 4
Pileated Woodpecker 5
Eastern Wood-Pewee 2
Alder/Willow Flycatcher (Traill's) 2
Eastern Phoebe 2
Red-eyed Vireo 2
Blue Jay 30
American Crow 20
Fish Crow 5
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 10
Tree Swallow 5
Carolina Chickadee 10
Tufted Titmouse 10
White-breasted Nuthatch 5
Carolina Wren 3
House Wren 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet 2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 4
Eastern Bluebird 1
American Robin 1
Nashville Warbler 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler 25
Palm Warbler 1
Blackpoll Warbler 1
Cerulean Warbler 1
Black-and-white Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 3
Chipping Sparrow 2
Song Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 3
Common Grackle 1000
Brown-headed Cowbird 1
American Goldfinch 8
----end----

Pishing Anna

Y/day morning I took Another quick pre-breakie walk around the hotel. At one likely bush I tried a little pishing and was surprised when the only response was from an Anna's Hummingbird. He buzzed around me and fed at the same time, calling often, long after I had stopped.

Somethign from nothing

A very nice 60* walk at dawn around a fairly unpromising hotel grounds. Over head a small passage of American Crow headed low in a South or South-easterly direction, some calling. The call contrasted nicely with a Raven I eventually found perched atop a streetlight across the freeway.
There were a number of Hummingbird whizzing around in the early light and calling. I am guessing Ana's but I really didn't get a decent look at one. A few House Finch flew over calling an several 'chips' and 'seeps' remained hidden in the bushes.

Heading out west for a few

Heading for California for a few days of work before heading back on Friday for the big sit event at Riverbend. The weekend weather looks to be good for sitting out all day, if nit a big migrant fall but it is always a great day.
California will be the ultimate in 'bare naked birding' no optics and no real time to bird, I'll see what I get the chance to find.

Later post - so far so good, western and California gull on posts by car rental and a yet-to-be- researched tern over the harbor. This evening at the parking lot outside Whole Foods. Brewers Blackbirds were gathering to roost, in the small trees and were pretty tame. Several gathered on the rood of a pickup near where I was parked.
At Dusk around the hotel, a couple of black Phoebe were watched and heard calling.

Brisk..

A cool 45* overcast start to the day.
The dawn flock of feral pigeons on the apparently block seems to be no more than 50 now, last year's count were around 200 so we'll have to see how that changes over time.
Robin's are still moving through with spotty juvs still working on their adult plumage.
A double-crested cormorant was the autumn's first. It headed toward the lake where the young female hooded merge had been seen earlier.
At the top if the drop to the river a Hairy woodpecker gave great views - really? Are these SO hard to distinguish from their smaller relative? This was a cracking view though...
In the river bed 5-7 cardinals fed at the riverbed edge and light pishing attracted the day's only warbler, a very dull, presumably young female, yellowthroat.

Cool morning at Dyke

We decided to join the 8am walk at Dyke Marsh and joined Peter Ross and 14 other birders. It was decidedly cool to start with and wind made the smaller passerines hard work. On the river, deputed the sun angle not being cooperative, there were 20-30 shoveler in various female and manic looking eclipse plumage. They were joined by a few Blue-winged Teal, lots of Pies-billed Grebe and the usual gulls, forsters tern. We had good close view of juvenile Bald Eagle as they spooked the wildfowl. Chrystal locates a distant Osprey, the first of 4.
It always adds a nice dimension helping to get folks on birds and this group was no exception. In the marina a Green Heron and a couple of Greater Yellowlegs.

Interesting birds but no warblers

A bit of a late start might have resulted in the lack of warblers yesterday. Continued movement was clear with several Phoebe. While tracking an aircraft heading out of National we spotted one and then two very high raptors heading east and eventually narrowed I'D down to Broad-winged Hawk, a new site bird. A few minutes later while watching a low military Helicopter flying down and then up river while we we standing in the river bed, a large crow distracted us with some impressive tumbling. Unfortunately it flew off downstream before too long buy we got a good enough look to see that it was a Raven. Interestingly Chrystal thought she had heard a Raven on a recent previous visit. Another good bird was a Lincoln's Sparrow which briefly showed along the rail track near the rusty bridge.

Ben Brenman Park and our named locations

Cliff Swallows at the farm 9/5/10

Some notes about cliff swallows feeding at the farm towards dusk

One adult and four or five juvs feeding over the corn at 5 to 25 feet, range of 10-50 yards, gusty wind, moving towards sunset, 6/8 cloud viewed against high white and lower mid grey cloud and against corn fields soon to be harvested

Adult showed pale forehead and collar fairly easily but not from all angles.

Juvs appeared mostly dark head and throat sometimes with pale collar very vague.

Pale rump most obvious plummage mark juvs a dull pale orange buff, adult a brighter

Underparts pale
Underwing looked generally dull with darker forewing

Wing shape rather rounded for swallow ESP when banking - widening at base where meeting body

Tail very square (obviously so) in direct flight but clearly rounded when twisting and turning

Wing beats deeper than barn swallow with more obvious soaring (cp purple Martin jizz)

Warm,windy,damp....anything else?

Drizzly start led to good numbers of Chimney Swift over and around the lake. As it brightened the activity picked up with loads of Robin appearing around the picnic shelter grassy area. There was at least 1 small thrush in the flock but I couldn't get anything on it. In the midst of all the activity of 70 odd robins and a group of starlings, I found a yellow Scarlet Tanager sitting quietly and un obtrusively. Warblers this morning included a couple of Parula, 2 yellowish Palms, a magnolia and a redstart.

Birdy but damp

68* and partly sounded quite reasonable for an early morning walk, seems The Weather Channel hadn't detected the light drizzle yet, but that's what water proofs are for right?
The Farmers market were setting up in the main car park so I decision of whether to park up by Pooh Bridge was made for me.
The young female Hooded Merganser was at the overflow in that corner of the lake affording great close looks. Her tail feathers are very worn but the rest of the plumage looks fresh

It was a fairly slow start around the picnic shelter although it was clear that there were good numbers of Robins and Flickers around and I found a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker near the shelter and a Magnolia.
Just for a change of scenery I went all the way down to the river bed and there the number of Robins became evident. There were large numbers feeding on both sides of the stream despite frequently being flushed by some sort of organized run along the trail down to Eisenhower. I also picked up another Magnolia Warbler (nicely showing its yellow rump) and a Hummingbird coming to Black-eyed Susan flowers, a nice surprise.
The patch tick for the morning was a Pergerine that flew down stream from the park towards Eisenhower Avenue. A flock of high flying Canada Geese could have been 'real' birds I suppose!
As I climbed the small hill a couple of birds flew across the railway and proved to be American Redstart and a Parula. Some pishing called out Song and Swamp Sparrow and a young Yellowthroat.
The grass was covered in Robin including some very spotted juvenile birds and a wide variety of color intensities and markings. One bird was whitish underneath up to the pectoral area and showed a very wide white eye ring,

Back in the hedgerow near the shelter, I thought I had glimpsed a Thrasher and was just talking myself out of the fact when the bird came into full view.
The local Mockingbird was struggling to defend its feeding patch from the Robins and Catbirds, which were then joined by some Cedar Waxwings including several 'gawky' looking juvenile birds.
Sheltering from another not-so-light shower near the dog area, lots of Robin and Grackle activity attracted some other birds including red-eyed vireo and a young Rose-breasted Grosbeak
At the 'Magic Spot' two Western Palm Warblers (very brown, dull birds) were with some additional Magnolias and another Thrasher. A Phoebe perched in the snags until bounced out by the Mockingbirds.
Nothing much at Cardinal Bridge after yesterdays sightings of the Night Heron and Coopers / Green Heron interaction

A near miss..

A couple of hours at Ben Brenman Park with Chrystal, we started early, arriving just after dawn.
The cloud formations were dramatic in the early like and a light breeze was gently agitating the leaves - finding warblers was going to be a challenge!
In the area area the picnic shelter near the dog park the were a few warblers, we had good views of 5 different Parulas. One bird was a very pale young bird, looking quite exotic until really good views were had (that is not to say this isnt one of the more exotic species anyway :) ).
There were good numbers of American Robin and Flicker in the bushes and flying over and Blue Jays were making themselves obvious both in the bushes and a small flock of 10 birds flying over.
As we passed over 'Pooh Bridge' a juvenile Night Heron flew over us towards where the rivers join. We elected to go to 'Cardinal Bridge' and immediately found it (black-crowned of course) on a low branch just down stream. We both spent some quality time looking at it through the 'scope with frame filling views. A beautiful, well marked individual with large spots and a subtle different tone to the base of the greater coverts - a slightly more rufous brown contrasting with the sandy brown remaining plumage base color.
Chrystal found a Magnolia Warbler nearby and following it across the stream, it joined two more.
As we were looking upstream, a coopers hawk passed low overhead (we had watched it fly in the other direction earlier). Suddenly it dived into the stream side trees only to appear a second later in hot pursuit of a birf that plunged into the water to avoid becoming breakfast. As the hawk flew away, we watched the Green Heron extracate itself from the stream and find a place to dry off.
Many folks around this morning in pleasantly warm temperatures (70* at dawn!). The usual dog walkers of course most of which are always happy to share their canine charges. A few folks showed an interest and some a good birding knowledge ("was that a Coopers?") including a couple who moved into Cameron Station yesterday after being deployed in Italy.

Another one ?

I fear another big stink bug year, they are turning up in odd places already

Heading for another hot one

Just a quick visit this morning on the way to the dentist. A flock if a dozen or so Chimney Swifts over the lake was the highest number for a while but they seemed to move on as the sun rose. The young Hooded Merganser was agin at the overflow, without it's usual mallard accompaniment today. Few migrants were obvious in my limited time. A probable Magnolia Warbler flew across the grassy area by the picnic shelter and one of two birds near 'Pooh Bridge' proved to be a juv Blackpoll Warbler feeding very actively and difficult to get decent views of.
It's a very pleasant 69* right now but we are heading for another hot day, probably not great for seeing Warblers over the next few days.

Back at the patch

A couple of early mornings back at the patch Monday was a beautiful 65* with good numbers of BTGW and a female Wilson's (after last week's juv). A few Rusty Blackbird mixed in with the Grackles flying overhead.
Tuesday started with a decided autumn-chilly feeling 54* under clear skies. Few warblers around with just a couple of Magnolia, a couple of Redstart and a Yellowthroat. The Great Egrets in the stream are now up to 3, together with a juv BC Night Heron. As I lease at 8:35 it sounds like there's a bot more activity but work calls :)

Cape Henlopen State park

Quick drop into Cape Henlopen State Park http://www.destateparks.com/PARK/cape-henlopen/index.asp. A few gulls and shorebirds (black-bellied plover, sanderling) and raptors (osprey, coopers hawk) at the point. At the raptor watchpoint there was little migration (Merlin, sharp-shinned hawk)

Butterfly migration

Spent some time riding the Lewes - Cape May ferry yesterday. Few birds migrating across the bay during the heat of the say (1-4) with a Merlin the only real record apart from the ship following gulls. Their was a large pod of dolphins as we came back into Lewes.
Monarchs have been on the move for a while but the number seen on the crossing was surpassing. I probably counted over 200 moving south. In dock at Cape May there was often 6 or 8 in view.

There were a couple of smaller species involved too but I didn't ID them

John Winston Lennon, MBE (9 October 1940 – 8 December 1980)

Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see.
It's getting hard to be someone but it all works out.
It doesn't matter much to me

Yer lazy Blogger....

Watch this space.... I'll be catching up soon (I hope!)

Meanwhile check out this link of the A380 being built (in time lapse) as the first one gets delivered this week.

Mystery Birthday Trip (II)

Yet again Chrystal excelled in her planning and whisked me away for a long weekend at a location that I didn't discover until we were at the departure gate.

This year's venue was San Diego, California. Chrystal lived in the city for a couple of years between her time in Iowa and moving to DC and had been back only a few times since.

Our Hotel, the Sheraton, was close to the airport and overlooking San Diego Bay, a very pleasant location indeed!

We spent some time visiting old neighbourhoods and haunts but also took the opportunity to do some pretty intensive west coast birding.
Birds on the west coast can be very different from our residents and visitors on the east although many are are same (as this Brown Pelican)



We had been recommended to visit Mission Trails Regional Park a few miles out of town and our first morning, after a quick early breakfast found us there. The Park follows an impressive gorge along the San Diego River. As you can see from this shot, the hillside are sun-baked and rocky and held mostly hawks and the ever present Ravens. The riparian woodland that lines the river is host to a wide variety of birds that we spent several hours figuring out what we were seeing.

We also visited the Tijuana Slough NWR but time on the first day proved too limited to get to the extreme South-western corner of the United States. We did find some local specialities and wandered along the very fine beach (and taking in a little seawatching in the process)

Although the sun was strong, it felt good to be in such a low humidity, pleasantly warm environment (although we did have to buy an additional sweatshirt for the cool early morning sessions!)

Moving between sites I got something of a sense for San Diego. We passed through some residential areas and passed the naval yard.

On Sunday we went down to Border Field State Park that runs along the border with Mexico (the buildings in this photo are in Tijuana,Mexico). Border patrols were clear and obvious and it was just a little unnerving being quite so close to the action! However the beach also had some fine birds, a large colony of Least Terns and a parade of various species flying between of Mexican and American Waters


Just out of shot in my photo is the famous Plaza de Toros Bull Ring , shown better in this arial shot of the border












Our last birding spot on Sunday was Otay Reservoir where found the promised Western and Clark's Grebe in quite astonishing number (over 100 birds).






All in all a very productive and wonderful trip :)