It’s been on my mind recently that I could do a better job of bringing attention to some birds in my Bird Gallery. What I plan is a series that I will call “Bird For Today”. This is the first posting on this series.
Many scientists consider the Blue Grosbeak as more closely related to buntings than to the cardinal/grosbeak complex. These birds breed across most of the southern USA and northern Mexico and spend their winters in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. I always look forward to visits from this bird.
Near my home in San Diego County my best encounters have been at Lake Hodges and Iron Mountain, but I’ve met them at Whelan Lake near Oceanside, at the Tijuana River Valley, and at Mission Trails Regional Park. The prime habitat for these birds is riparian edges or bushy zones adjacent to grassy areas where they can hide their nests in thick brush a few feet off the ground. According to Phil Unitt (San Diego County Bird Atlas), they begin to arrive in the county in mid-April and by late September, most have left our area and headed south for the winter, where they gather in flocks and feed in open weedy fields. I would describe their song as bubbly and melodious.
Blue Grosbeak males are one of the more colorful birds one can hope to meet in the Southwest. I drove for three plus hours to spend two lovely hours with these birds at the Cienega in Arivaca before turning onto my final leg of my homeward journey from my 2020 Texas adventure.
Blue Grosbeak males are one of the more colorful birds one can hope to meet in the Southwest. I drove for three plus hours to spend two lovely hours with these birds at the Cienega in Arivaca before turning onto my final leg of my homeward journey from my 2020 Texas adventure.
Blue Grosbeak males are one of the more colorful birds one can hope to meet in the Southwest. I drove for three plus hours to spend two lovely hours with these birds at the Cienega in Arivaca before turning onto my final leg of my homeward journey from my 2020 Texas adventure.
Blue Grosbeaks in south Texas might stay and breed for the summer, or they may be moving further north. This is another bird familiar to me in southern California. My third visit to Atascosa NWR in South Texas was intended to pickup images of a couple of the birds I came up short with on my second visit. But then I started meeting new birds and I stayed all day.
Blue Grosbeak females are not as showy as the males that court them. A few miles east of Roswell, New Mexico, along the Pecos River, is Bitter Lake NWR.
On Friday, my friend Jerry and I visited the riparian grove next to the Rio Grande in Albuquerque, New Mexico is called a bosque. Blue Grosbeaks were among the birds we met along the hiking and biking trails that weave through the Cottonwood and Mulberry trees.
On Friday, my friend Jerry and I visited the riparian grove next to the Rio Grande in Albuquerque, New Mexico is called a bosque. Blue Grosbeaks were among the birds we met along the hiking and biking trails that weave through the Cottonwood and Mulberry trees.
First year male Blue Grosbeaks, like this bird, have their mom’s pale body and their dad’s blue head. A week prior to this day I discovered the birds at the site of the last Civil War battle, a place called Palmito Hill, Texas. I thought it might be a good idea to revisit it on this Sunday morning.
First year male Blue Grosbeaks, like this bird, have their mom’s pale body and their dad’s blue head. A week prior to this day I discovered the birds at the site of the last Civil War battle, a place called Palmito Hill, Texas. I thought it might be a good idea to revisit it on this Sunday morning.
First year male Blue Grosbeaks, like this bird, have their mom’s pale body and their dad’s blue head. A week prior to this day I discovered the birds at the site of the last Civil War battle, a place called Palmito Hill, Texas. I thought it might be a good idea to revisit it on this Sunday morning.
First year male Blue Grosbeaks, like this bird, have their mom’s pale body and their dad’s blue head. A week prior to this day I discovered the birds at the site of the last Civil War battle, a place called Palmito Hill, Texas. I thought it might be a good idea to revisit it on this Sunday morning.
This bird was lookin’ for love. Before leaving the Lower Rio Grande Valley and travelling west, I stopped at the National Butterfly Center in Mission to see friends there.
This bird was lookin’ for love. Before leaving the Lower Rio Grande Valley and travelling west, I stopped at the National Butterfly Center in Mission to see friends there.
This bird was lookin’ for love. Before leaving the Lower Rio Grande Valley and travelling west, I stopped at the National Butterfly Center in Mission to see friends there.
Blue Grosbeaks in south Texas might stay and breed for the summer, or they may be moving further north. This is another bird familiar to me in southern California. My third visit to Atascosa NWR in South Texas was intended to pickup images of a couple of the birds I came up short with on my second visit. But then I started meeting new birds and I stayed all day.
First year male Blue Grosbeaks, like this bird, have their mom’s pale body and their dad’s blue head. A week prior to this day I discovered the birds at the site of the last Civil War battle, a place called Palmito Hill, Texas. I thought it might be a good idea to revisit it on this Sunday morning.
This bird was lookin’ for love. Before leaving the Lower Rio Grande Valley and travelling west, I stopped at the National Butterfly Center in Mission to see friends there.
First year male Blue Grosbeaks, like this bird, have their mom’s pale body and their dad’s blue head. A week prior to this day I discovered the birds at the site of the last Civil War battle, a place called Palmito Hill, Texas. I thought it might be a good idea to revisit it on this Sunday morning.
Blue Grosbeak females are not as showy as the males that court them. A few miles east of Roswell, New Mexico, along the Pecos River, is Bitter Lake NWR.
Blue Grosbeak males are one of the more colorful birds one can hope to meet in the Southwest. I drove for three plus hours to spend two lovely hours with these birds at the Cienega in Arivaca before turning onto my final leg of my homeward journey from my 2020 Texas adventure.
Before I settled in at my campsite at Davis Mountains State Park, I stopped at their “Wildlife Viewing Area”. The light wasn’t great, but the birds were pretty nice.
Before I settled in at my campsite at Davis Mountains State Park, I stopped at their “Wildlife Viewing Area”. The light wasn’t great, but the birds were pretty nice.
I spent a long, hot, Arizona summer day visiting the Paton Center for Hummingbirds in Patagonia. For much of this visit I experimented with camera settings (ISO), and I learned what *not* to do.
I spent a long, hot, Arizona summer day visiting the Paton Center for Hummingbirds in Patagonia. For much of this visit I experimented with camera settings (ISO), and I learned what *not* to do.
Blue Grosbeak males are one of the more colorful birds one can hope to meet in the Southwest. I drove for three plus hours to spend two lovely hours with these birds at the Cienega in Arivaca before turning onto my final leg of my homeward journey from my 2020 Texas adventure.
Blue Grosbeak males are one of the more colorful birds one can hope to meet in the Southwest. I drove for three plus hours to spend two lovely hours with these birds at the Cienega in Arivaca before turning onto my final leg of my homeward journey from my 2020 Texas adventure.
Blue Grosbeak males are one of the more colorful birds one can hope to meet in the Southwest. I drove for three plus hours to spend two lovely hours with these birds at the Cienega in Arivaca before turning onto my final leg of my homeward journey from my 2020 Texas adventure.
Blue Grosbeaks in south Texas might stay and breed for the summer, or they may be moving further north. This is another bird familiar to me in southern California. My third visit to Atascosa NWR in South Texas was intended to pickup images of a couple of the birds I came up short with on my second visit. But then I started meeting new birds and I stayed all day.
Blue Grosbeak females are not as showy as the males that court them. A few miles east of Roswell, New Mexico, along the Pecos River, is Bitter Lake NWR.
On Friday, my friend Jerry and I visited the riparian grove next to the Rio Grande in Albuquerque, New Mexico is called a bosque. Blue Grosbeaks were among the birds we met along the hiking and biking trails that weave through the Cottonwood and Mulberry trees.
On Friday, my friend Jerry and I visited the riparian grove next to the Rio Grande in Albuquerque, New Mexico is called a bosque. Blue Grosbeaks were among the birds we met along the hiking and biking trails that weave through the Cottonwood and Mulberry trees.
First year male Blue Grosbeaks, like this bird, have their mom’s pale body and their dad’s blue head. A week prior to this day I discovered the birds at the site of the last Civil War battle, a place called Palmito Hill, Texas. I thought it might be a good idea to revisit it on this Sunday morning.
First year male Blue Grosbeaks, like this bird, have their mom’s pale body and their dad’s blue head. A week prior to this day I discovered the birds at the site of the last Civil War battle, a place called Palmito Hill, Texas. I thought it might be a good idea to revisit it on this Sunday morning.
First year male Blue Grosbeaks, like this bird, have their mom’s pale body and their dad’s blue head. A week prior to this day I discovered the birds at the site of the last Civil War battle, a place called Palmito Hill, Texas. I thought it might be a good idea to revisit it on this Sunday morning.
First year male Blue Grosbeaks, like this bird, have their mom’s pale body and their dad’s blue head. A week prior to this day I discovered the birds at the site of the last Civil War battle, a place called Palmito Hill, Texas. I thought it might be a good idea to revisit it on this Sunday morning.
This bird was lookin’ for love. Before leaving the Lower Rio Grande Valley and travelling west, I stopped at the National Butterfly Center in Mission to see friends there.
This bird was lookin’ for love. Before leaving the Lower Rio Grande Valley and travelling west, I stopped at the National Butterfly Center in Mission to see friends there.
This bird was lookin’ for love. Before leaving the Lower Rio Grande Valley and travelling west, I stopped at the National Butterfly Center in Mission to see friends there.
Blue Grosbeaks in south Texas might stay and breed for the summer, or they may be moving further north. This is another bird familiar to me in southern California. My third visit to Atascosa NWR in South Texas was intended to pickup images of a couple of the birds I came up short with on my second visit. But then I started meeting new birds and I stayed all day.
First year male Blue Grosbeaks, like this bird, have their mom’s pale body and their dad’s blue head. A week prior to this day I discovered the birds at the site of the last Civil War battle, a place called Palmito Hill, Texas. I thought it might be a good idea to revisit it on this Sunday morning.
This bird was lookin’ for love. Before leaving the Lower Rio Grande Valley and travelling west, I stopped at the National Butterfly Center in Mission to see friends there.
First year male Blue Grosbeaks, like this bird, have their mom’s pale body and their dad’s blue head. A week prior to this day I discovered the birds at the site of the last Civil War battle, a place called Palmito Hill, Texas. I thought it might be a good idea to revisit it on this Sunday morning.
Blue Grosbeak females are not as showy as the males that court them. A few miles east of Roswell, New Mexico, along the Pecos River, is Bitter Lake NWR.
Blue Grosbeak males are one of the more colorful birds one can hope to meet in the Southwest. I drove for three plus hours to spend two lovely hours with these birds at the Cienega in Arivaca before turning onto my final leg of my homeward journey from my 2020 Texas adventure.
Before I settled in at my campsite at Davis Mountains State Park, I stopped at their “Wildlife Viewing Area”. The light wasn’t great, but the birds were pretty nice.
Before I settled in at my campsite at Davis Mountains State Park, I stopped at their “Wildlife Viewing Area”. The light wasn’t great, but the birds were pretty nice.
I spent a long, hot, Arizona summer day visiting the Paton Center for Hummingbirds in Patagonia. For much of this visit I experimented with camera settings (ISO), and I learned what *not* to do.
I spent a long, hot, Arizona summer day visiting the Paton Center for Hummingbirds in Patagonia. For much of this visit I experimented with camera settings (ISO), and I learned what *not* to do.
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