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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Jan 24, 2014 - 10:37am PT
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Willoughby, you woulda loved being in the Pamirs with me. Our base camp was
at 12,400' along the side of a giant glacier and it was a little paradise
with streams and meadows chock a block (sp?) with Siberian Bluethroats and various
wagtails. Heaven!
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Willoughby
Social climber
Truckee, CA
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Jan 24, 2014 - 10:43am PT
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Certainly sounds heavenly.
My sis lived in Provence for a while, and I managed to visit for a week once. I'll never forget all the little streams that ran through each village, every reach with a wagtail or two, just right in town, going about their wagtail business like it was no big deal. Hardly seemed fair.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Jan 24, 2014 - 10:53am PT
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This is strictly anecdotal but it seems that on our hike in middle September
from Onion Valley to Lake South America and out over Whitney we saw more
than our fair share of American Pipits. I presume they were migrating.
Also, did I mention a Lammergeier flew 30' over me checking me out for
carrion devolvement? Bummed him out when I showed signs of life. Probably
my fave bird on that trip was the Wallcreeper, Trichodroma muraria. True to
his name he was crimping on the side of a large boulder for no other reason
that I could see than for the V 10 on it. I managed to get a shot off but
he was in deep shade and Kodak effed up the development. But those red wings!
That dude has his niche sewed up!
I dare ya to click on this!
Wallcreepers Galore!
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dee ee
Mountain climber
citizen of planet Earth
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Jan 24, 2014 - 11:40am PT
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Tony, Darwin, et al.
The raptor survey sounds like a lot of fun.
The Reddish Es are in Bolsa Chica. It seems like at least 3 at a time lately with a couple others along the SA River near PCH.
The Towhee is from a riparian area that runs along a golf course in Laguna Niguel. While photoing this one I could hear another calling in the distance.
I got my first (of this year and last) Collared Dove on the 7th and then this week they turned up in the front yard! When I saw that first one I raised my arms in victory and praised the god of birding.
Reilly, I'm having a hard time believing you saw that Wallcreeper in the Sierra! I gotta' get up there and see them.
Bob, enjoy your trip. So, you guys just pop down there every time you need a dentist?!
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Bob D'A
Trad climber
Taos, NM
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Jan 24, 2014 - 02:50pm PT
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Thanks Dee, looking forward to getting away. The trip is saving us around $25,000 compared to US prices. Implants are costly here in the US. It would kill what little saving we have left. :-)
Great morning out at Walden Ponds, a Pacific Wren showed up and I got a good look but not a picture. Fast little buggers.
Got a good look at these two, kinda the big and small in the bird world.
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McHale's Navy
Trad climber
From Panorama City, CA
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Jan 24, 2014 - 05:39pm PT
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I like the way the leaves look like birds.
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Crimpergirl
Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
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Jan 24, 2014 - 05:50pm PT
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Looks like the American Tree Sparrows just arrived in Boulder. Had one at on the back porch this morning. That's not what you have is it Bob? Too streaky? Rascally sparrows!
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Bob D'A
Trad climber
Taos, NM
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Jan 24, 2014 - 06:46pm PT
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Crimp...saw a bunch of Tree Sparrows at Walden Ponds yesterday...really pretty little sparrow. The picture above is a Song Sparrow. Hope all is well?
Here is a shot I took.
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Crimpergirl
Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
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Jan 24, 2014 - 11:06pm PT
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Thanks! I get better then quickly worse with Sparrows. They are tough. Semester has started - boo. :(
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CClarke
climber
La Paz, Bolivia
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Jan 25, 2014 - 10:54pm PT
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A juvenile Mountain Caracara:
Andean Flicker:
I think this one is mostly Ash-breasted Sierra Finch but it seems like the Finches around here are pretty well hybridized. I can't figure out the green patch in the sub-caudal region or the rufousy parts:
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Crimpergirl
Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
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Jan 25, 2014 - 11:01pm PT
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Andean Flicker!?!?!?! I have goosebumps!
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Bluelens
climber
Pasadena, CA
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Jan 26, 2014 - 12:01am PT
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I heard the author speak last weekend about his Peregrine and Bald Eagle re-introduction work--terrific stories about his experiences across the American West with these extraordinary birds. A humble man with a vision and a big heart for wildlife.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BT0Q7QQ
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Tony
Trad climber
Pt. Richmond, CA
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Jan 26, 2014 - 12:15am PT
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CClarke,
Keep those Bolivia bird photos coming. The Andean Flicker and Mtn Caracara kept me entertained in camp while languishing in camp in Peru with GI distress. Without a guidebook, I was stumped by the juvenile Caracara.
We just came over to the Eastern Sierra for an Owens Lake winter bird count and have a couple of days beforehand. There was a report of an interesting gull at Bishop City Park, probably an Iceland Gull. It was easy to find since it was the only gull among all the ducks.
We also went looking again for a Leconte’s Thrasher, which has been pretty elusive in previous visits. We got a good tip last year and finally had success. There was a pair flying around near us with the male singing away and another singing in the distance.
At the same time, a Loggerhead Shrike was also singing from a nearby tree.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Jan 26, 2014 - 02:02am PT
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Tony, it seems to me your 'Iceland' has rather too dark primaries by at least half. It looks more
an Iceland/Thayers hybrid but as of yet I dare not insist my presumptions carry any real weight.
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Tony
Trad climber
Pt. Richmond, CA
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Jan 26, 2014 - 12:14pm PT
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Reilly,
Good call. I actually should have said "Iceland-type" gull. It is likely a Kumlien's subspecies or species. I even saw them referred to as a "hybrid swarm"
I guess those are wildly variable, to the point of being indistinguishable from Thayer's. That's what usually show up in the SF Bay.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Jan 26, 2014 - 05:27pm PT
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Went to the Huntington Gardens and Library today. Loads of Bulbuls and hummers,
one of which appeared to be an Allen's, and contemplative Honkers in the Japanese Tea Garden.
In the library I realized I'd never seen an original full-sized Audubon folio.
This is about 22" x 34" tall! He labels these Iceland 'Jer' Falcons.
I've never heard of Edward Topsell...
I'm afraid that he was no Audubon...
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Jan 26, 2014 - 06:24pm PT
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Tony, here's a 'classic' Kumlien's from the go-to gull site www.tertial.us
Gull Sickness
Quite the range of primary shading in that chart, eh?
It is a dead ringer for yours although he notes the head streaking is atypical.
Hard to tell on yer, ahem, slightly overexposed shot. ;-)
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Bob D'A
Trad climber
Taos, NM
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Jan 26, 2014 - 08:38pm PT
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Met up with Little Z today at Volcan Poas, windy, cloudy and little cold.
Here are a few from today.
Thanks so much for taking the time to come up and spend time Little Z.
Great meeting you.
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Crimpergirl
Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
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Jan 26, 2014 - 08:43pm PT
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Beautiful - is that a Blue Tanager of some sort?
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