Don’t forget to send in your good wildlife photos, please. I could use some more, just to keep my supply topped up.
First we have some birds from reader Christopher Moss. His notes:
When I put out the feeders this morning there was an American red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) climbing in his feeder before it was properly on the hook, and within 30 seconds a large flock of pine siskins (Spinus pinus) populated the feeder. There were four more on an adjacent feeder, along with a purple finch and his mate (Carpodacus purpureus). There’s a cloud of more siskins fluttering around jostling for a seat at the table. It was noticeable on stepping outside that the morning chorus of song birds suddenly became a lot louder as I lifted up the feeder – they must have been waiting for me!
Other recent arrivals are chipping sparrows (Spizella passerina) and white-throated sparrows (Zonotrichia albicollis). The grackles and robins are back, but they don’t get much love. The peepers have started as usual, being early May, and I should soon hear the catbird in the bushes as she goes about her anti-social behaviour (a brood parasite like the cuckoo). The goldfinches are still present in large numbers but the redpolls have gone back north. To have a dozen or two of these birds within a few yards of my front door means it’s noisy out there, but lovely to hear. We rarely appreciate birdsong as much as we should, and yet it can be so beautiful and evocative. My childhood on the Marlborough Downs of Wiltshire was accompanied by skylarks and sheep along with the blustery wind. Lie on your back in the sunshine in a fresh-mown hayfield next to a neolithic hill fort and listen to that combination! A delight for the senses!
James Blilie sent some photos taken by his son, Jamie Blilie. His notes are indented, and I’m sure some reader out there can identify the anoles.
These are from Key West and other parts of the Florida Keys, from April: Lizards! Green Iguanas, Iguana iguana:
Various Anoles (species uncertain):
The anoles are, in order, Anolis sagrei (male; introduced; native to Cuba, Bahamas, and elsewhere), Anolis carolinensis (male; native), and Anolis sagrei (female). The agama is Agama agama (which goes along nicely with the iguana being Iguana iguana; it’s introduced, native to Africa). I’d have to do some checking to figure out the Leiocephalus (also introduced) to species; I would guess carinatus, but that’s based only on that species being reported from Florida. It would be interesting to know on exactly which keys these pix were taken.
Doing a quick search, I see Florida Fish and Wildlife says that the curly-tailed lizard invader is probably L. carinatus armouri aka the Little Bahamas aka Northern curly-tailed lizard. The agama is probably the A. agama africana aka the Red-headed aka Rainbow agama, but that’s only if you can trust what you read on the internet. Both subspecies are known to have populations in the Keys . I’d double check but I’m damned if I can find my Florida reptile field guide. And if anyone wants to go in-depth into anolis, there’s a great website called Anole Annals (make sure you spell it correctly and carefully) run by people who know what they’re talking about, not just an amateur eejit like me.
Lovely photos though. A nice contrast to the cold and rainy scene outside my window.
Thanks Christopher!
Cool, thanks Greg!
When birds migrate, they can be found in large numbers. Quite impressive. I’ve been keeping an eye out for our spring migrants. More Rufous and black chinned hummingbirds, will be here soon I hope. Lots of juncos and white crowned sparrows have been and gone up to the mountains for breeding.
Those reptiles are really handsome. Nice shots Jamie.
I just took my visiting sister to the Miami Zoo on Thursday, and the first (and one of only 3) pictures I took was of a wandering iguana that was bigger than the ones they had on display. They do VERY well in south Florida.
I, of course, also took pictures of the lions and the tiger (who refused to face the path). The jaguar was all but out of sight, and we couldn’t spot the Florida Panther.
Catbirds usually build their own nests and lay intensely greenish-blue eggs in them. Did you mean Cowbird, the obligate nest parasite?
Quite right! Brain fart.
Beautiful images of the reptilian tympanic membrane (the iguana) and pentadactyl limb (the third anole).