[Anacortes and Orcas Island, WA Song Birds]

Thanks for the help.  I was on Vancouver Island about 10 years ago and didn't do much birding.  It is a beautiful island (Orcas) and the whole area.  Difficult birding.  The ferry landing at Anacortes was much better.  

[Orcas Island, WA Crossbill?]

All taken last week on Orcas Island.  Actually at Mt. Constitution the highest point on the island.  Very amazing place, but odd in that not a lot of birds.  In fact, on this mountain top it was eerily silent.  I appreciate all of your help!

I think these are a crossbill.  I'm guessing Red Crossbill based on location.

Super long shot.  I could only get his picture from behind a window.  Maybe can't be ID:

 

[Anchorets and Orcas Island, WA Mixed Bag]

All taken last week in the Anacortes and Orcas Island area.   All help appreciated! Here's a mix:

1, 2 Unknown Hummingbird 

3.  Double Crested Cormorant? (I'm still looking for that pelagic!)

4, 5 This one looked different, but after looking at the book I think it is an American Robin 

6, 7, Northwestern Crow ? 

I've read about these and am not sure they can be determined from American Crows.  

 

[Orcas Island, WA Gulls]

All taken last week on Orcas Island.  This was a new area to me and I'm not great with Gulls.  Thank you for your help!

1 Not sure.  Yellow legs are throwing me off.

2. Not Sure

3.

4. 

5. 

6. 

7.  Glaucous-winged Gull

8. Mew Gull?

 

[Anacortes, WA Gulls]

Again, all taken last week.  These were at the ferry landing waiting to go to the island,.  I appreciate all of the help.  Maybe 2 news ones for me (or they are ringed billed and western :)

1 and 2 I believe These are Mew Gulls 

3  Not sure

4  Glaucous-winged Gull?

6  Not Sure 

 

[Anacortes and Orcas Island, WA Ducks]

Anacortes and Orcas Island last week.  Some new ones for me and some old friends.  2 New ones for me!  Always, I appreciate all of your help.

1, 2 Hooded Merganser 

3 and 4.  I think these are American Wigeons 

5, 6, 7 Harlequin Ducks (Pretty sure)

8 Red Breasted Mergansers 

9, 10 Horned Grebe?

[Anacortes and Orcas Island, WA Song Birds]

All taken at Anacortes and Orcas Island last week.  My first time in this area so many new ones.  All help greatly appreciated.  

1 and 2  Same bird, mixed in with House Finches, but doesn't look like on to me. 

3.  Possibly same bird or species, same yellow on front of the head 

4 and 5 

6 Back shot, no clue 

6, 7, 8 Same bird. Sparrow?  Fox Sparrow?

[Sea Bird ID help]

Thanks.  Brandt's and double-crested are very common, every outing.  I'm headed to Orca's Island int eh San Juan's mid October and then central coast in early November so I'm hoping then.  The Black-Vented in Species 200 for me!  

B

[Sea Bird ID help]

All taken yesterday at Catalina Island, Southern California yesterday and in the waters in that area. 

 

I believe this is a Black-vented Shearwater 

While I was hoping for a Pelagic Cormorant, I'm pretty sure these are Brandt's Cormorants.  The only one I thought might be a Pelagic is the top right one, but I don't think so. 

As always, I appreciate all of you help.

 

 

[Probably a Red-Tailed Hawk and a Fly Catcher]

Yes, Great Egret.  My error.

[Probably a Red-Tailed Hawk and a Fly Catcher]

Out this weekend in Southern California.  

I've not seen a Red-Tailed Hawk perched before, but I think that is what this one is as it is the most common in the area:  The bill looked to think for a hawk, but I'm no expert. 

 

I believe this this is a Western-Wood Pewee or some other flycatcher 

Injured leg Great Heron 

Dueling House Finches 

[New one in Bullhead City, AZ]

Gor back out to the river this past weekend.  Bullhead city on the Colorado River.  Forgot the good camera and between fishing and entertaining not much success with birding.  I did wee this one that I cannot identify and the poor quality pictures may help either.  I'm trying anyway.  Thank you for any help.  I cropped where I could but started to lose quality.  

As always I appreciate the help and lessons.

B

 

[Terns and Shore birds So. Cal]

Thank you Connor.

 

Bob

[Terns and Shore birds So. Cal]

Thank you for the information.  Yes the cormorant was in Newport Harbor, Back Bay.  I usually do not try to photograph cormorants I think are double crested but now I will take more time.  I still do not have a Pelagic confirmed so I will spend a little more time with this species.

Terns are also hard for me to identify, I'll see if anyone else weighs in on the last tern pictures.  I just went with the Royal based on the ID book I have.

B

[Terns and Shore birds So. Cal]

Thank you Benjamin.  The Foster's Tern is new for me!  In reading more about the Neotropic I'm not sure it range goes to the West Coast of California.  However, I'm mad at myself for not taking better cormorant pictures in Belize last January thinking they were double crested.  

[Terns and Shore birds So. Cal]

Was out around Newport Beach, CA yesterday and wanted to confirm a few:

1) I believe this is a Spotted Sandpiper 

2) I believe the Terns on the right are Caspian based on the think bill.  Black Skimmers in the middle, a Double-crested Cormorant, unknown smaller unknown while bird, black on side of the head (far left) 

3) Now the unknown site bird is on the far right (boat was moving :) and what I think is a Willet in the foreground.    Unknown, might not be abled to identified int he background but guessing Marbled Godwit.

3)  I think this is a Royal Tern. based on the larger, but more slender orange bill.  

 

Thanks for your help.  I've tried to work on my shore birds and terns still confuse me.  

B

 

 

 

[Grosbeak???]

Great shot.  I had a nesting pair in my front yard years ago (Orange County, CA).  I had a hard time with that identification until the experts here helped me out.

 

B

[Bullhead City, Az. Part 1]

thanks for the help and the link Tony.  I appreciate the help and enjoy getting better at my identification skills.

 

Bob

[Bullhead City AZ, Part 2 2020]

Thanks everyone and sorry for the confusing post and out of order photos.  

So here is the Willow Or Grey: I've added 3 photos that show the environment.  Yes, riparian and lush area right over the water 

and when these were taken the river was up (the release more water as the day goes on) so the branches were almost always right over the water.  

White-faced Ibis just to show environment 

Branches over the water with about a foot or foot and 1/2 of more water to flow later int he day 

Morning shot (I think that is the Brewer's Sparrow) 

And the Hammonds to Confirm:

 

Here is an out-of-focus shot, right after a splash-down moth attack.  Unsure which one this was 

Thank you for the help.

 

 

[Bullhead City AZ, Part 2 2020]

Maybe three more and a duck.  I group them by what I believe are the same species.  

1)  Not sure on this one 

2)  I do not think this is the same species as the one above, but I am stumped here as well.

3)  I think this is a Yellow Warbler 

4) and the Duck.  I think it is a Mallard, but looked different.  I only was Mallards, as I do this time of year there.

 

 

Thanks for the help!

 

 

[Bullhead City, Az. Part 1]

All taken on the Colorado River in Bullhead city.  You can see the birds lot hot since it was over 115 degrees on the water.  

 

1) Sparrow Not sure I'm guessing Brewer's (location), Vesper, or Savannah.

 

2) Merlin.  There were American Kestrels as well (easier to ID with the orange and blue).  This one looked different

 

3)  Solitary Sandpiper?  

4) Unknown 

5) I believe this is a female Great tailed Grackle, but it had no tail like an American Dipper.  When I zoomed in I'm going grackle.  

 

6)  Difficult Swallow Shots.  I think it might be a Bank Swallow.  I've had Northern Rough Wings in this area, but this one looked different.  Maybe cannot be ID'd form poser photos. 

 

All help much appreciated.  Part 2 will be smaller birds.  

 

B

[2 offshore birds southern California]

Thanks Connor,  I hope you do better than I did!

[2 offshore birds southern California]

First, I am so bummed I forgot my good camera on yesterday's fishing trip.  I should have had 5 or 6 new species, but couldn't ID.  So all I have these iPhone shots.  When I tried to crop it was too tiled so I left as is since when I zoom I can see enough to attempt an ID.  Here are my identifications,  As always corrections, confirmations, and education always greatly appreciated. 

Shorebird?  Petrel?

Not a great show.  Was sitting on a Kelp Paddy 45 miles off the coast and 35 miles south of Catalina Island.

 

Black-vented Shearwater 

There were several species of Shearwaters, terns, gulls, etc. on a large school of bait fish.  About 4 or 5 miles off the coast of Newport.  These are the only shots I got of this species.  

 

Sorry for the poor shots.  I will not forget the good camera next time (especially since fishing was poor)

B

 

[Anna;'s Hummingbird, I think]

Thanks.  I thought so.  I appreciate your help

 

B

[Anna;'s Hummingbird, I think]

Good Morning,

I recently moved and haven't been out much, but saw this one yesterday in Southern California.  I'm pretty sure it is an Anna's (the red/dark spot not he throat) , but was much larger than the others.  In fact, probably the largest local hummingbird I've ever seen.  But alas, size doesn't matter as the territorial Allan's (or Rufus) continually chased the big one away.  

Conformation or corrections much appreciated.