This site uses cookies to improve your experience. To help us insure we adhere to various privacy regulations, please select your country/region of residence. If you do not select a country, we will assume you are from the United States. Select your Cookie Settings or view our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Cookie Settings
Cookies and similar technologies are used on this website for proper function of the website, for tracking performance analytics and for marketing purposes. We and some of our third-party providers may use cookie data for various purposes. Please review the cookie settings below and choose your preference.
Used for the proper function of the website
Used for monitoring website traffic and interactions
Cookie Settings
Cookies and similar technologies are used on this website for proper function of the website, for tracking performance analytics and for marketing purposes. We and some of our third-party providers may use cookie data for various purposes. Please review the cookie settings below and choose your preference.
Strictly Necessary: Used for the proper function of the website
Performance/Analytics: Used for monitoring website traffic and interactions
For a birder, a sighting of a Tricolored Blackbird is a treat. Add in habitat loss, and the population of Tricolored Blackbirds has plunged enough to necessitate listing it as a Bird of Conservation Concern on the U.S. All photos by Keiller Kyle, courtesy of Audubon California.
A low branch is decorated by a Green Bee-eater (above) and a tree top above it holds several Cattle Egrets. Underneath an arched branch, one familiar bird, a Common Blackbird female… but after a recent split in 2005 by Rasmussen and Anderton, it was elevated to a full species – Indian Blackbird ( Turdus simillimus ).
The lush pastures of the Aripo Livestock Station sustained herds of happy Buffalypso , a special breed of T&T beef cattle named for their Water Buffalo heritage and Calypso-happy country. Last but not least were not one but TWO new species of blackbird for me, both Yellow-hooded and Red-breasted ! In fact, it was.
The Cattle Egret (or Eastern Cattle Egret , to be exact, but that would mess with my alphabetic order) can be seen in farmland around Shanghai. Instead of cattle, it nowadays often follows tractors ploughing the fields and thus stirring up small animals. A thoroughly modern bird.
And then there are those startling bright red eyes, which distinguish them from all other blackbirds in my region, and make them look quite capable of peering into your soul and taking over your will. I’m not particularly proud of these photos. But all this changed with the arrival of Europeans, and their cattle.
The cows and their entourage of Cattle Egrets sloshed through the pastures, each time they moved we lurched forward hoping to see a disturbed Grey-breasted Crake hop into view – but alas, no such luck even though we were hearing the little skulkers consistently. Farmers keep their livestock in this wetland also.
Chinese Blackbird s are among the most common birds in the Shanghai compound where I live (and where fortunately this year I am not actually locked in, a contrast to the situation one year ago). It was my impression that they are thriving here, and a very recent (2023) paper confirms that indeed Chinese Blackbirds do well in cities.
Cattle wandered this pasture along with me (one cow even attempted to taste my carbon fiber tripod). I can watch where I step on my way to my survey spot, the cattle aren’t so cautious, Bobolinks need to be ready to move when the unaware bovine wanders near near the nest. It’s a good strategy for Bobolinks to have.
Cattle Egrets have perfected that smudgy look. A juvenile Chinese Blackbird. A German friend of mine saw an earlier photo of mine of a Black-naped Oriole (a slightly more attractive one, though – a proper adult male). She got excited: “Birds with sunglasses!” ” This is probably an Eastern Crowned Warbler.
I started my day just outside the lodge, watching the commuting birds (with a special eye out for Golden-collared Macaw ) and the feeders ( Toco Toucan and Red-crested Cardinals were the stars among a supporting cast of blackbirds, pigeons, doves, aracaris, and others). Scarlet-headed Blackbird glows in the morning light.
We checked out the shrubs for songbirds while returning to the car and were rewarded with a displaying Red-winged Blackbird. The entertainment consisted of a group of 8 Grasshopper Sparrows and Cattle Egret attending to a small herd of – wait for it – cattle. Only a cynic would attribute our tears to the cold wind.
Several species, all more or less annual winter visitors from the western United States, also made an appearance: Western Tanager, Brown-crested Flycatcher, Western Kingbird, Yellow-headed Blackbird, and Rufous/Allen’s Hummingbird. Cattle Egret: 133. Red-winged Blackbird: 962. Yellow-headed Blackbird: 1. Great Egret: 75.
A low branch is decorated by a Green Bee-eater and a tree top above it holds several Cattle Egrets. Underneath an arched branch, one familiar bird, a Common Blackbird female… but after a recent split in 2005 by Rasmussen and Anderton, it was elevated to a full species – Indian Blackbird ( Turdus simillimus ).
Brewer’s Blackbirds often joined the hordes of Red-winged Blackbirds flitting in and out of the taller grasses and few shrubs. Research indicates that this decline can be tempered by management of cattle grazing practices, preventing growth of shrubs and trees and the invasion of non-native plants.
Highlights there was a Garganey , 75+ Cattle Egret , 10 Purple Heron , 5+ Penduline Tit , 2 Night Heron , a Great Reed Warbler , and a Water Rail. We also saw a Blackbird and heard a Wren at the bottom of Kanoureses track at 18:00. With Melis and Lefkios joining us, we set off for our Big Day.
Check out this image of a Great Egret ( Ardea alba ), Snowy Egret ( Egretta thula ) and Cattle Egret ( Bubulcus ibis ) together. The snag at Delevan NWR not only attracts Peregrine Falcons but Red-winged Blackbirds ( Agelaius phoeniceus ) as well. I was lucky enough last week to catch the bird perched near the end of a branch.
A hard-working Chinese Blackbird almost certainly already incubating its second brood is certainly not a target customer for a La-Z-Boy. When there are no animals around to sit on, Cattle Egrets sometimes sit on trees, even though they frequently b h about the trees’ low speed and inability to stir up insects.
And of course, there are Cattle Egrets ( Bubulcus ibis ) and several species of cowbirds that rarely stray too far from livestock. Bobolink Saison is a farmhouse-style ale with a true farm country bird for a mascot, that iconic grassland blackbird with an unforgettable song and a slightly silly name: the Bobolink ( Dolichonyx oryzivorus ).
Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis; Santa Barbara de Heredia, 4-Jan. Red-breasted Blackbird -Sturnella militaris; Siquiares, 8-Jan. Melodious Blackbird – Dives dives; Santa Barbara de Heredia, 2-Jan. Great Egret – Ardea alba; San Miguel reservoir, 8-Jan. Osprey – Pandion haliaetus; San Miguel reservoir, 8-Jan.
The year list remains sluggish at 1489 , but the life list received a boost from the eBird taxonomy reshuffle and now includes 4076 species. The year list remains sluggish at 1489 , but the life list received a boost from the eBird taxonomy reshuffle and now includes 4076 species.
Yet, 79 checklists were submitted by 8 beats, accounting for 366 species in 5 countries. Yet, 79 checklists were submitted by 8 beats, accounting for 366 species in 5 countries. Yet, 79 checklists were submitted by 8 beats, accounting for 366 species in 5 countries.
The year list remains low, at 1425 but the life list was bolstered this month by Donna’s Antillean Nighthawk and has reached 4069. The year list remains low, at 1425 but the life list was bolstered this month by Donna’s Antillean Nighthawk and has reached 4069.
A vast congregation of Bald Eagles kept watch over a herd of cattle about to calve, up to seven in a single tree — no doubt awaiting delicious placentas. A second Prairie Falcon just up the road – this one a young male – gave even better, closer looks. It was truly a fantastic bird-of-prey day.
Of course, Tiaozini also has Cattle Egret … … and the usually somewhat depressed looking Black-crowned Night Heron. And of course, there are Chinese Blackbirds breeding – ignored by the local government as they are unlikely to attract birders. Much better than some fiddly spoon-billed sandpipers.
A few Lesser Kestrels by the dyke wall, then a Black-eared Wheatear at some cattle fencing. Eurasian Blackbird – Turdus merula 3. In my homeland, some 800 km / 500 mi further north, these ducks are common on migration but very rare in the breeding season and I realized that these are my first young birds – ever.
These include Little Corellas , Red Wattlebirds , Little Wattlebirds , Common Mynas , Common Blackbirds , Galahs , Australian Magpies , Superb Fairy-wrens , Grey Fantails , Crimson Rosellas and Red-browed Finch. There had been quite a few Cattle Egrets in the area until recently and so it was good to see them for the first time in 2020.
Dragan has caught up from his adventures in Colombia and the life list has reached 4103. Dragan has caught up from his adventures in Colombia and the life list has reached 4103.
As such, a parallel post will appear here simultaneously with the year list. As such, a parallel post will appear here simultaneously with the year list.
We organize all of the trending information in your field so you don't have to. Join 30+ users and stay up to date on the latest articles your peers are reading.
You know about us, now we want to get to know you!
Let's personalize your content
Let's get even more personalized
We recognize your account from another site in our network, please click 'Send Email' below to continue with verifying your account and setting a password.
Let's personalize your content