A LAWD Celebrity: The Ash-throated Flycatcher

Posted Jess YarnellPosted in Lake Apopka

I first photographed the Ash-throated Flycatcher at Lust Road in January 2017. The bird returns every year to the same canal at the beginning of the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive (LAWD). Take a look at his range map and you’ll see that, like most of our rarities this winter, this bird is supposed to be out west. Yet one individual (likely the same bird) comes to the same spot in Florida every year. Bird migration is a fun enigma – if only we could ask the birds questions, I think mine would be “Why?”

Well, as his name indicates, this bird is a flycatcher. Birds in the flycatcher family (including our more common winter visitor the Eastern Phoebe) tend to perch on the tops of tree branches, using them as a lookout for spotting bugs. When the flycatcher sees an insect, it darts out, grabs the prey in mid-air, then returns to his perch to eat. On this particular morning in early January, the Ash-throated was doing just that. It made for fun photography as I chased the bird up and down the canal!

Ash-throated Flycatcher
Ash-throated Flycatcher when I first spotted him in the trees across the canal
Ash-throated Flycatcher
Ash-throated Flycatcher – a little lower in the bushes as he waits for a bug
Ash-throated Flycatcher
Ash-throated Flycatcher: Surprise excursion to the treetop just over my head, where I fought the battle of minimum focusing distance as I begged the bird to move to a better sun angle.
Ash-throated Flycatcher
Ash-throated Flycatcher: Back on the other side of the canal, perched in yet another tree
Ash-throated Flycatcher
Ash-throated Flycatcher: Then it was on to a palm, but it didn’t stay long…
Ash-throated Flycatcher
Ash-throated Flycatcher: This was a nice location, allowing me to clearly see the bird for a few seconds before he darted off again
Ash-throated Flycatcher
Ash-throated Flycatcher playing peek-a-boo behind a bush

So the moral of the story is, if you’re chasing a flycatcher, be prepared to move quickly to keep up with it! Later in the morning, I saw birders trying to spot this rarity. Be patient and watch for an erratic darter – then wait for him to come within range of your camera and enjoy! :)

Chasing Rarities: Common Goldeneye and Surprise Buffleheads

Posted Jess Yarnell1 CommentPosted in Lake Apopka

When an eBird report turned up a rare Common Goldeneye bird just north of the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, I asked Rich if he had any errands to run in Apopka. Turns out he did. So we stopped by the pond and found…not much. A few Hooded Mergansers. Some Lesser Scaup. To add insult to photographic injury, the birds were all backlit. I took a few quick snaps and then we stopped at the Magnolia Park boat ramp for sunset.

Lesser Scaups and Hooded Mergansers
Lesser Scaups and Hooded Mergansers
Sunset over Lake Apopka
Sunset over Lake Apopka

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again! After my next trip to the wildlife drive, I returned to the small park. This time both light and luck were on my side. I found the Common Goldeneye mixed in with a small flock of Hooded Mergansers. The hoodies showed off for my camera while the Common Goldeneye showed me her golden eye.

Common Goldeneye
Common Goldeneye
Hooded Mergansers
Hooded Mergansers

The surprise bonus to the visit was the small flock of Buffleheads swimming on the far side of the pond. Buffleheads are regular visitors to Florida in the wintertime, although they aren’t as easy to find as other wintering ducks. This flock included a couple of male birds, who I’ve only seen once before. They are skittish birds and didn’t let me get close looks, but I certainly left with a big smile on my face!

Buffleheads
Buffleheads

“Field” Trip to Oakland Nature Preserve

Posted Jess Yarnell1 CommentPosted in Oakland Nature Preserve

On my last trip to Oakland Nature Preserve, I got a fleeting glimpse of the Field Sparrows hanging out there for the winter. I returned to try for better photos. Who can resist a “field” trip for Field Sparrows? :)

It took me a while to find the Field Sparrows again. There didn’t seem to be many little birds out and about. After a few minutes, I understood why as a Red-shouldered Hawk circled over the fields.

Red-shouldered Hawk in Flight
Red-shouldered Hawk in Flight

When I did finally spot the sparrows, I would have done a happy dance if I hadn’t been so busy focusing and pushing the shutter. Two Field Sparrows hopped out into the open just in front of me. I dialed in a little extra aperture to get both of them in focus. They are such cute little birds!

Oakland-Nature-Preserve_202001022_copyrightJessYarnell
Field Sparrows

Once I found the birds, I followed them as they meandered through the fields. They didn’t stay in one place for very long. Focusing on birds through vegetation can certainly challenge my camera!

Field Sparrow
Field Sparrow

I thought they had flown off, then they popped up in front of me in beautiful sunlight. I was so close that I had to back up to focus. Rich’s jaw dropped when I got home and showed him the photos. He wants to know why they are called Field Sparrows when I found them in the trees… ;-)

Field Sparrow
Field Sparrow

As I started to leave, I heard the distinct call of a Painted Bunting. There were bird feeders in the backyards of some nearby houses. I spotted a male and two greenies at the feeder. The greenie had the reddish blush I’ve seen in an immature male. A great end to my little field trip!

Painted Bunting Greenie with Red Blush
Painted Bunting – Juvenile Male

eBirdFind my birding list from today on eBird.