Mockingbird
There are quite a few northern mocking birds near my house and I knew there was one nest in a tree in my front yard. They typically appear calm and sing pleasant bird songs. But mockingbirds are very territorial, and they will scream and shout when other birds encroached on their territory. I observed a mocking bird chase another mockingbird away, saw a couple of mockingbird chasing a big crow away, and mockingbirds scaring house finches who built a nest in a pine tree next to their tree, see the story here.
Last Friday, June 5th, from an eventful bird watching outing (more later), we saw a mocking bird was pecking and chasing a squirrel away from my yard into the street! The bird did not let up even when the squirrel was climbing onto the fence across the street. The bird flapped its wings, and made noise until the squirrel disappeared into the big tree in the neighbor's yard. Unfortunately we were amazed and amused by the acts so much we did not even take a picture.
The week before while trimming another tree, I noticed there was another mockingbird nest in another tree, I saw mom mockingbird fly in and sit on the next! Surprisingly, while checking the inside of the tree, I saw another bird nest. There are 2 nests in 1 tree! Not sure if these are two mockingbird nests, or the other one was from Robins.
Last Friday, June 5th, from an eventful bird watching outing (more later), we saw a mocking bird was pecking and chasing a squirrel away from my yard into the street! The bird did not let up even when the squirrel was climbing onto the fence across the street. The bird flapped its wings, and made noise until the squirrel disappeared into the big tree in the neighbor's yard. Unfortunately we were amazed and amused by the acts so much we did not even take a picture.
The week before while trimming another tree, I noticed there was another mockingbird nest in another tree, I saw mom mockingbird fly in and sit on the next! Surprisingly, while checking the inside of the tree, I saw another bird nest. There are 2 nests in 1 tree! Not sure if these are two mockingbird nests, or the other one was from Robins.
Northern Cardinals
Northern Cardinals are another common birds in our area. The male adult cardinals are especially eye catching due to their bright red feathers and pleasant bird calls. They like to perch on tree top or roof top to make calls - so it is not hard to spot them!
On the morning of Friday June 5th, as we jogged toward the community park, we heard a cardinal's call, looking toward the source of the sound, I saw a bright red bird standing on the tip of roof ridge, making calls. The bird was right above us, under the morning sunlight, it was at a perfect position and time for pictures. As the bird noticed that I use cell phone to take pictures of it, it moved its head up an down, twisted its neck from left to right, raised its wings, seemed to pose for me 😊. Most likely it was just curious about me and my cellphone and just checking us out in different view angles.
On the morning of Friday June 5th, as we jogged toward the community park, we heard a cardinal's call, looking toward the source of the sound, I saw a bright red bird standing on the tip of roof ridge, making calls. The bird was right above us, under the morning sunlight, it was at a perfect position and time for pictures. As the bird noticed that I use cell phone to take pictures of it, it moved its head up an down, twisted its neck from left to right, raised its wings, seemed to pose for me 😊. Most likely it was just curious about me and my cellphone and just checking us out in different view angles.
Yellow Crowned Night Heron
The same morning of June 5th, as we arrived at the Russell creek pond, we noticed that there was a slim heron standing on a grass float in the pond, motionless, with a pair of dull eyes. It did not flinch when we walked close (on the bank) and I made a few whistle bird calls. We noticed that it had white feathers pointing backwards, and realized it was not the usual blue heron we see at the pond. Lily said it might be the weedkillers that park service used to kill the invasive floating grass that made the heron sick. The comment made me a bit sad because I asked park service to remove the invasive grass a couple weeks ago. But I argued that heron don't eat grass, they eat fishes.
A quick Google Lens and SEEK check revealed that it was yellow crowned night heron.
As we walked to the other end of the pond, we saw another yellow crowned night heron, but much bigger; it was standing on the guard rail of a pedestrian bridge, motionless, dull eyes .... I took pictures of it every step of the way, closing in on it. It did not move until I was about 2 ~ 3 yards away; it just calmly jumped off the guardrail into grass land, 2 ~ 3 yards away from the walkway, not scared or startled at all, walked a couple steps and stopped.
I stood a minute or so longer to watch it and moved on.
Checking the bird out on internet, it turns out what we saw were very typical of this bird. I was relived that its clumsiness and dull eyes were not due to weedkiller.
A quick Google Lens and SEEK check revealed that it was yellow crowned night heron.
As we walked to the other end of the pond, we saw another yellow crowned night heron, but much bigger; it was standing on the guard rail of a pedestrian bridge, motionless, dull eyes .... I took pictures of it every step of the way, closing in on it. It did not move until I was about 2 ~ 3 yards away; it just calmly jumped off the guardrail into grass land, 2 ~ 3 yards away from the walkway, not scared or startled at all, walked a couple steps and stopped.
I stood a minute or so longer to watch it and moved on.
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
After we spotted scissor-tailed flycatcher a few weeks ago, a new sighting to me this year in our community, we are on lookout to it every time we walk to the soccer fields at the community park. We saw it many times since.
The bird likes open field, and enjoys jumping and gliding against light wind.
This evening we avoided the pond, too many people there, and walked along the perimeter of soccer fields. We saw a scissor-tailed flycatcher landed on the top of a light pole, a rarity in weeks observations, they typically stay on the ground, and fly low, a ~ 3 feet off ground, and occasional fly on to 6 feet tall fence. It was a young scissor-tailed flycatcher, it flew away onto the fence of soccer field. We followed it, and tried to take a picture of it when it was flying, expanding its scissor shaped tail. Before we got close enough, it flew down the fence, swirled in the air to show off its wings and tails , flew back to the fences, nonchalantly looking away. I tried getting closer to it to get a profile of the bird with its long tail. It flew into the soccer field behind the fence,
Lily said the bird was kind of taunting me with its moves. 😃
The bird likes open field, and enjoys jumping and gliding against light wind.
scissor-tailed flycatcher playing in the wind
This evening we avoided the pond, too many people there, and walked along the perimeter of soccer fields. We saw a scissor-tailed flycatcher landed on the top of a light pole, a rarity in weeks observations, they typically stay on the ground, and fly low, a ~ 3 feet off ground, and occasional fly on to 6 feet tall fence. It was a young scissor-tailed flycatcher, it flew away onto the fence of soccer field. We followed it, and tried to take a picture of it when it was flying, expanding its scissor shaped tail. Before we got close enough, it flew down the fence, swirled in the air to show off its wings and tails , flew back to the fences, nonchalantly looking away. I tried getting closer to it to get a profile of the bird with its long tail. It flew into the soccer field behind the fence,
Lily said the bird was kind of taunting me with its moves. 😃
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