Liam

Hi folks, I'm not as active as I used to be. I only get on once every few months. Like you said, the forums have greatly changed and I don't enjoy my time on here as much as I used to. Life has me busy too. I was most active here as a high-schooler and now I'm getting a master's degree! And yes, it's bird-related (spatiotemporal factors affecting occupancy and phenology of Bachman's Sparrow!). Back in those days I was an admin on the Whatbird forums, but once I started undergrad I became too busy to keep up with it and I was inactive by the time the website crash happened. After th

The color balance is off on these photos, making the tones warmer than they actually are (see how the lichen appears yellowish when it should be white. Lots of gray on the face and breast and flanks (again, looks warmer than it is due to color balance). Eyering is partial. Hermit should have a complete eyering. Phenology is significant too. It's prime time for GCTH in the CSRA right now, but early yet for HETH.

Marsh Wren and House Wren indeed! Congrats on the lifer. Ratty looking things. August songbirds not so glamorous!

FYI, you should expect Purple only in winter. They won't be in Oklahoma in the Summer.

The curvature of the supercilium suggests some domestic heritage, but otherwise pure Mallard.

Maybe! That's above my paygrade. I decided to go to grad school and study a different imperiled species.

Yeah, that's my bird 😍

Chincoteague Lighthouse Chincoteague light by Liam Wolff, on Flickr Acadia NP Acadia NP by Liam Wolff, on Flickr

Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake by Liam Wolff, on Flickr EDB, Splinter Hill Bog, Baldwin County, Alabama

Barrow's Goldeneyes by Liam Wolff, on Flickr Barrow's Goldeneye, Orono, ME, Dec 2019

Kerri, where are you located? I am a hotspot reviewer/editor for eBird in Georgia. I can get you in touch with your local hotspot editor.

It could very well be an adult female. I admit I have little experience with Western Bluebirds versus Eastern and I know Western females can be patchy.

I agree with Savannah Sparrow given the bill size and streaking on the nape

Might be my imagination, but looks like some yellow on the gape flange suggesting a juvenile bird.

Looks proportionally right for a Western Bluebird. I even see some reddish (?) feathers coming in on the breast. I'd guess a hatch year bird molting out of the spotty plumage into the adult plumage.