A few kindly readers sent in some photos, so we’re good for a few days. One such reader was ecologist Susan Harrison of UC Davis, who sent in bird photos with a cute title (see the asterisk at bottom):
Return of the Drinking Gang*
In the warmth of mid-September, a wave of southbound songbirds stopped off at the little artificial stream in our back yard. These migrants wore their less-than-splendid, nonbreeding plumage; some of them were probably youngsters on their first flight south. The sound of tinkling water drew them in, and the foraging opportunities in the overhanging elderberry bush helped keep them around for a few days. Most of them posed on either the same curved branch or the same pointed rock, glancing about for predators before dashing down to the precious water.
Nashville Warbler (Leiothlypis ruficapilla):
Wilson’s Warbler (Cardellina pusilla):
Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia):
Black-throated Gray Warbler (Setophaga nigrescens):
Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana):
Western Flycatcher (Empidonax difficilis) – this photo is from April, since the one that visited in September was too fast for me:
Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax trailii) This photo is from the nearby creek; I added it to illustrate why the Western Flycatcher has “difficilis” in its name (they are two of the multiple co-occurring species in the genus Empidonax):
Resident, nonmigratory songbirds were quite thirsty at this time of year as well.
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus):
Nuttall’s Woodpecker (Dryobates nuttalli):
Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans):
California Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma californica):
*The title is a repeated tribute to the Breakfast Crew series by Doug Hayes
Thanks, nice photos!
Thanks, as always, for the photos and also your wonderful descriptive paragraph.
Beautiful! My favorite is the 2nd one, owing to composition.
Beautiful and cute!
BirdCast (https://birdcast.info/) has real-time maps that track bird migrations across North America. It’s worth a look.
Ahhh, lovely – thanks for the nomenclature note.
Clostridium difficile comes to mind .. maybe the same reason for the nomenclature – there’s numerous Clostridia.
Thank you for starting my day right with these lovely photos.
I’m very impressed that your migratory crew includes nearly all of the warblers that can be found along the U.S. West Coast. Thanks for the lovely photos of these active tykes.
Thanks for the lovely pics.
All those yellow warblers ought to have “difficile” appended to their names too! When I first got an interest in birds I remember being almost grateful when a bird whose identity was unmistakable came into view. I recall the rose-breasted grosbeak in particular.
Watching flycatchers do their job and out-maneuver insects at incredible speed is a treat, but usually so high in the trees I can’t make out which bird it is.
Your garden oasis seems to be mutually beneficial. I love your photos!
Nice photos as always from you, Susan. I love the Black Phoebe. One of my faves.
Thank you for the photos!
Beautiful photos Susan!
Thank you so much for the lovely photos! I have no idea how you were so lucky and skilled to get the warblers and flycatchers, as they rarely sit still. The only one of your crew that really does seem the worse for wear is the house finch. I hope you catch more of these migrants (and also non-migrants) soon.
Many birds I’ve never seen. Thank you!
Nice shooting. Thanks.
I especially like the Wilson’s Warbler picture; what an interesting angle! It’s very hard to appreciate that head pattern from the ground.