Birds of Quail Valley and Fort Bend

Holiday Cards with Birds

How are birds depicted on holiday cards? It often depends where you live (Northern or Southern Hemisphere) and your religious or ethic background. The cards you may choose may reveal your preferences for more traditional or secular cards as well. One size doesn't seem to fit all.

North America . . .

Male North American Cardinals
are often found in card shops and on the Internet. The red color is associated with both Christmas & "Seasons Greetings" cards.

 However, non-red birds such as Carolina Chickadees are often seen all "puffed up" on holiday cards in stores. Carolina Chickadees and Northern Cardinals are widely dispersed and often seen during the Holidays especially in the Eastern US.

 Female Northern Cardinal is not red,
but struts some beautiful rufuous.

 

Central or South America Rainforest Birds are seen on South American cards. It is summer in the southern hemispheres!

 

Several varieities of Macaws, the largest of the Rainforest Parrots, are seen at Moody Gardens Rainforest Pyramid. The playful South American cards often picture Macaws in Santa Hats!

 

Scarlett Ibis is another beautiful red rainforest bird
at Moody Gardens in Galveston, Texas

 

Rainforest bromeliads and orchids grace "Christmas Tree" display in the Moody Garden Rainforest.

On the Internet you may find more pure photographic cards taken in nature, while in stores they are often illustrated. Other red birds seen include Summer Tanagers, Pine Grosbeaks, Vermillion Flycatchers, Red Crosbills that are found in North America. But partridges and quail are popular as well.

Past holidays this blog has featured male, red House Finches, Winter Hummingbirds (not red for their jewel and irridescent colors) that perch near red berries or Northern Mockingbirds that dine on red berries. There are many birds to enjoy during the holiday season!

Doves: Hanukkah and Seasons Greetings Cards

Cards wishing Peace and Shalom use white doves on wing as well as Mourning Doves. Instead of Red, Hanukkah and Seasons Greetings cards wishing Peace use more Asian and Middle Eastern influences of rich royal blues, emerald greens and purples. These colors are becoming popular combinations in holiday lighting as well. A variety of doves live in Fort Bend, but the beautiful pink hues of Mourning Doves are found on holiday cards. More on doves in Fort Bend.

Hindu Diwali cards use Peacocks and jewel tone colors  as well as red and other intense colors. Fort Bend has a large Diwali Celebration of Lights in Sugar Land.

Japanese Cards use Cranes with beautiful stylized oriental themes. 

  In Galveston, a Breakfast with the Sandhill Cranes, is likely to become a popular birding event . . . and don't forget the flyovers of all our water birds.

There are many venues to enjoy birds in our Gulf Coast region and through out the world.

While I didn't find a tradition for cards in Islam, I did learn that a bird in flight is considered the Sprit of Allah.

Consult bird maps for birds in your locale. Visit local arboretums, parks, and wildspaces to see them in nature and watch for them if your garden might support their habits. 

Photographer Margaret Sloan and writer/researcher Janice Scanlan
wish you a Wonderful Holiday Season and Happy New Year!

 all photographs except those of Moody Gardens are copyrighted by Margaret Sloan. To see more of her work, visit Birds of Quail Valley by pressing this link.

Enjoy your garden and nature! Even the falling leaves!

Friends at Thanksgiving

Blue Gray Gnatcatcher with insect

 Give thanks for the friends you’ll be seeing this Thanksgiving!  Smaller migratory birds take opportunities of obliging winds and this past week two dependable November friends returned as well as a year round returned to our garden (likely for a warmer clime).

The Blue Gray Gnatcatcher (above) looks like a small mockingbird of gray and charcoal with a long tail that shows up at Suet Feeders as well as in foliage and Oak, Maple and Ash trees. They love insects and with warmer weather this week will likely be seen gleaning foliage . . . my visitors particularly love a Japanese Maple and insect glean in some azaleas in a very protected area where I also have spider webs. They are fast and stay in motion so unless like our photo above shows with the recent catch, they are moving and/or flight very quickly. Read more, see more pictures.

Ruby Crowned Kinglet.
The Ruby Crown is hidden pin feathers.

A closely allied bird the Ruby Crowned Kinglet (above) showed up the same day – a pair as matter-of-fact—one actually flashing its red pinfeathers on its tiny olive green head. Rarely have I seen such a display, but I can almost tell time from the hourly visits of these tiny birds. Read more, see more pictures.

 

The year round Carolina Wren
returned to a thicket near a fence.

But I was really rewarded in the garden when our cinnamon colored Carolina Wren told one of their many stories—not singing, almost clucking showed up on the fence coming out of some thick evergreens. Read more, see more pictures.

It’s hard to decide which bird to select in the fall because the great fly-overs are bringing the Wood Ducks, White Pelicans, Cranes (Whooping and Sandhill), Snow Geese and other large migratory birds that travel the same routes using large rivers and tributaries much like interstate highways and farm-to-market roads.

Wood Ducks         Read more, see more pictures.

White Pelicans     Read more, see more pictures.

Fly-over birds      Read more, see more pictures.

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology All About Birds has an interesting story that contributed to our information on large versus small bird migration,  Flyways for Flyweights: Small Birds Capitalize on Weather Patterns During Epic Migrations by Hugh Powell about migrations from Canada to and across the Gulf of Mexico.  In their "Find" search feature type in migratory patterns and scroll down to the article. All About Birds

Photos copyrighted by international birder Margaret Sloan.

See a bird you don't recognize in Fort Bend? Margaret has photographed 150+ bird species just in her suburban Fort Bend,Texas backyard alone. Narrow your initial search by viewing her full photo album of local birds, Birds of Quail Valley by pressing this link. They are organized by types of birds, so if it's a water bird for example, you may find one that helps you narrow your search. Then if you "google in" the name of the bird, you'll get info and all kinds of information and images. Sometimes if a species is remarkably different from adult you may find nothing, contact us and we'll do our best to help.

Researched and Edited by Janice Scanlan.

 

 

 

Pileated Woodpecker

 

Fort Bend's largest woodpecker, Pileated Woodpeckers mate for life with the males taking nest-providing very seriously. Males take responsibility for hollowing out nesting cavities in dead trees and particularly tall trees with the female helping finish. Generally making new nests each year, takes 3 to 6 weeks.

Classic forward white under-pattern of wings, which they flap like crows with long, deliberate strokes.

The two photos above appear to be more about training young, not nest-building, as the trees are live. If you see a Pileated pecking on a tree, the area is likely dead and usually full of their favorite meal, Carpenter Ants, or with termites or woodboring beetle larvae. And can they can “saw in” with a triangular cut.

Pileateds will also eat fruits and nuts and occasionally feed from backyard seed and suet feeders.

Extremely territorial (except in winter) a pair will patrol their woodland territory but are otherwise shy.

 Male Pilieated Woodpecker above. Both males and females have the classic red-crested head and look of “Woody Woodpecker” and are around 16” in length or about the size of a crow.

Female Pileated Woodpecker above. Females’ crests are slightly smaller, but otherwise identical to males. Juveniles for a very short period of time are more muted and “brownish.” 

Pileateds have extremely long tongues, and their feeding on decayed parts of trees provide nests hollows for owls, smaller woodpeckers, swifts, and pine martens.

Woodpeckers and wood creepers are found throughout the Globe. In the Costa Rica rain forest, a very similar bird to our Pileated Woodpecker is the Lineated Woodpecker. While their breasts differ and the Lineated are slightly smaller (12" to 14" versus 16" for the Pileated), Central American woodpeckers have many similarities to our common woodpeckers in behavior and markings--just a different address. To see our Southern woodpecker cousins, press here, to go to Margaret Sloans' website.

For a contrast of the breast as well as see a typical nest excavation of a dead tree for a hollow for nesting, go here. Another contrast is the Lineated Female is more actively involved in overall nest building.

Other Fort Bend woodpeckers already featured on this blog are:

The 4" long Downy Woodpecker

The 9" long Red-bellied Woodpecker

Photos copyrighted by international birder Margaret Sloan.

See a bird you don't recognize in Fort Bend? Margaret has photographed 150+ bird species just in her suburban Fort Bend,Texas backyard alone. Narrow your initial search by viewing her full photo album of local birds, Birds of Quail Valley by pressing this link. They are organized by types of birds, so if it's a water bird for example, you may find one that helps you narrow your search. Then if you "google in" the name of the bird, you'll get info and all kinds of information and images. Sometimes if a species is remarkably different from adult you may find nothing, contact us and we'll do our best to help.

Researched and Edited by Janice Scanlan.

 

Downy Woodpecker

 

A mature male Downy Woodpecker (left) feeds a young male.

Early summer is a great time to see Downy Woodpeckers and their young, as they are year round residents in Fort Bend. Notice how much more distinct the mature male is (crisper red cap as well as black and white patterns) than the young male. Females do not have the red cap.

These sparrow-sized woodpeckers (6 to 6.75") are often seen in multi-species flocks particularly with chickadees, titmice and wrens in Fort Bend. Main diet is beneficial to your trees as they clean them of many pest insects and larvae. You may hear males drumming in the spring. Never fear, they are not pecking holes but attracting mates. They do not sing or chirp.

 

Downy Woodpecker male sunning after a bath

 

Downy on each side of suet feeder. Sorry for lower quality photo, but good indicator of bird size

Downy Woodpeckers come to feeders containing suet or black-oiled sunflower seeds as they fly quickly between trees and “hop” up, down and around trees. They are very fun to watch.

 

Downies in western states have more white than eastern birds and the 4 pictures above.

Another Utah Downy is also more dusky than the crisper black and white of eastern Downies

Watch closely for young during the late spring, early summer.  Nests are in tree cavities often left by larger woodpeckers that have left cavities in dead wood searching for insects. Except for the areas of the country that have few trees (arid to dessert), the Downy Woodpecker is a year round bird in much of North America that has woodlands.

Photos copyrighted except Downeys on suet feeder by Quail Valley resident and international birder Margaret Sloan. View her international and national bird pictures by pressing this link.

See a bird you don't recognize in Fort Bend? Margaret has photographed 150+ bird species just in her suburban Fort Bend,Texas backyard alone. Narrow your initial search by viewing her full photo album of local birds, Birds of Quail Valley by pressing this link. They are organized by types of birds, so if it's a water bird for example, you may find one that helps you narrow your search. Then if you "google in" the name of the bird, you'll get info and all kinds of information and images. Sometimes if a species is remarkably different from adult you may find nothing, contact us and we'll do our best to help.

Researched and posted by Janice Scanlan, who took the lower quality photo of Downies on the suet feeder in her garden. Click photos to enlarge them.

 

Green Heron

The Green Heron is a summer visitor to Fort Bend and lives year round nearer the coast on inland waterways, marshes, ponds and streams. The photo above depicts the beautiful plumage, but you’re more likely to see from a distance a hunkered, stocky bird standing quite still on water’s edge that appears dark brown or gray with slender yellow legs as the picture below shows.

Fish are their favorite food, which they stalk then stab with their large bill. A “tool-using” bird, they lure fish by dropping food such as bread crumbs on the water. This bird appears to have a lure in its mounth ready to drop in the water.

One of the smaller herons (around 16 inches—about the size of an American Crow), they are smaller than Yellow-Crowned Night Herons which are quite numerous in Quail Valley especially on Oyster Creek and marshy ponds on the golf courses.

Water birds are some of the very interesting birds you're likely to see near our creeks, marshes, ponds and water features, particularly golf courses without bulkheads that allow roughs such as the Quail Valley El Dorado and La Quinta courses.

Photos copyrighted by Quail Valley resident and international birder Margaret Sloan. View her international and national bird pictures by pressing this link.

See a bird you don't recognize in Fort Bend? Margaret has photographed 150+ bird species just in her suburban Fort Bend,Texas backyard alone. Narrow your initial search by viewing her full photo album of local birds, Birds of Quail Valley by pressing this link. They are organized by types of birds, so if it's a water bird for example, you may find one that helps you narrow your search. Then if you "google in" the name of the bird, you'll get info and all kinds of information and images. Sometimes if a species is remarkably different from adult you may find nothing, contact us and we'll do our best to help.

Researched and posted by Janice Scanlan. Click photos to enlarge them.

 

Nutmeg Mannikin

Nutmeg Mannikin is one of several exotic bird species establishing breeding colonies along Upper Coastal Texas. This Southeast Asian finch is among other non-native birds including the Egyptian Goose, Orange Bishop, and Monk Parakeet, all seen and photographed in Quail Valley.

This sparrow-sized finch prefers grassy, weedy areas near water and comes to seed feeders.

In 2013 the Nutmeg Mannikin was recognized by the American Birding Association as an established exotic species in California. This is not a trivial process and requires several years and much documentation and photographs of actual breeding colonies. If you are interested, press here to learn the guidelines for this process, which is just a manner of time in Upper Coastal Texas.

The immature Nutmeg Mannikin lack the distintive breast pattern, but otherwise resemble the matures.

 If you are interested in making your home garden more attractive to birds, Photographer Margaret Sloan will be at the Quail Valley Backyard Tour, Saturday, April 26 at the 2910 Nancy Bell nature garden from 10 to 4. Press here for more information.

Photos copyrighted by Quail Valley resident and international birder Margaret Sloan. View her international and national bird pictures by pressing this link.

See a bird you don't recognize in Fort Bend? Margaret has photographed 150+ bird species just in her suburban Fort Bend,Texas backyard alone. Narrow your initial search by viewing her full photo album of local birds, Birds of Quail Valley by pressing this link. They are organized by types of birds, so if it's a water bird for example, you may find one that helps you narrow your search. Then if you "google in" the name of the bird, you'll get info and all kinds of information and images. Sometimes if a species is remarkably different from adult you may find nothing, contact us and we'll do our best to help.

Researched and posted by Janice Scanlan. Click photos to enlarge them.

 

Red-Winged Blackbird

 

Mature male Red-winged Blackbirds have brilliant epaulets of red with a lower band of yellow contrasted against their striking black feathers. Most often you’ll see Red-winged Blackbirds near marshy ponds, golf course hazards that have rough areas with tall grasses, or in tall grass prairies.

Female Red-winged Blackbird is quite a contrast to males and are brown with rivulets. Much rarer to see as they stay in the tall grasses to feed, they may be seen at feeders when they are migratory or when food is low for year round residents. In their breeding area they use tall grasses, mud and other materials to weave intricate nests they attach to cattails or similar tall grasses near to the high water mark.

Male Red-winged Blackbird is one of the most widely dispersed birds in North America ranging from Mexico to Alaska. It is most prevalent year round in the US.  Though in the spring through fall, many Red-wings migrate to breed in Canada. They are both migratory and year round in Fort Bend so this male is at a platform feeder, which they will use, as they are ground feeders, but platform feeders simulate ground feeding.

The polygamous males can mate with up to 15 females in one territory. And do the males sit atop tall plants, sing and show off their epaulets in their breeding territory. They police this territory and will run any creature if they get too near their breeding territory.

 

One of my favorite memories as a child was going out to a farm pond that was breeding territory to a Red-winged. The male sat atop a cattail and sang most of the day. It was a beautiful sound. However, I learned not to get too close as he would run humans . . . and even larger animals such as cattle and horses.

 Lang Elliott and Beth Bannister have a wonderful full-sound video of a Red-winged policing his territory and making sure you know he's there. It is part of a series of 60 videos on nature's music, The Music of Nature.Copy the following link and paste in your web browser to enjoy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3QicOAiBXk

Irv Smith attended a bird walk and bird count on March 5 at Seaborne Creek Nature Center south of 59 on Hiway 36 in Rosenberg.  I noticed on his bird count, he saw 50 Red-winged Blackbirds among 47 different species identified on that day by experienced birders for the novices (and those inbetween).

Seaborne Creek Nature Center, is run by Texas Master Naturalists as part of Texas Agri-Life Extension in Fort Bend. It is located across 36 (east side) from the Fort Bend Fairgrounds at:

3831 State Highway 36
Rosenberg, TX 77471
832-595-3960

To get current information or learn more, press this link.

Learn about Project FeederWatch which occurs from November to April . . . anyone can help keep count of the birds on feeders and it makes for some great family fun! Learn more.

Photos copyrighted by Quail Valley resident and international birder Margaret Sloan. View her international and national bird pictures by pressing this link.

See a bird you don't recognize in Fort Bend? Margaret has photographed 150+ bird species just in her suburban Fort Bend,Texas backyard alone. Narrow your initial search by viewing her full photo album of local birds, Birds of Quail Valley by pressing this link. They are organized by types of birds, so if it's a water bird for example, you may find one that helps you narrow your search. Then if you "google in" the name of the bird, you'll get info and all kinds of information and images. Sometimes if a species is remarkably different from adult you may find nothing, contact us and we'll do our best to help.

Researched and posted by Janice Scanlan. Click photos to enlarge them.

Red-Tailed Hawk

Mountains, deserts, prairies, rain forests in Central America and urban areas all boast Red-Tailed Hawks. They live year round in the continental US and summer from Alaska across Canada below the Arctic Circle. They range to Central America.

“And watch a hawk making lazy circles in the sky” . . . if you’ve been in an open space or on a car ride, it is very likely you’ve seen Red-Tailed Hawk circling in the sky. Watch if you take a Thanksgiving trip. You'll likely see them anywhere in the Continental US.

18-24” this large hawk is bulky bodied. You may think you’re seeing an immature Bald Eagle, until you see the much larger eagle. Fall to winter is one of the best times for watching birds of prey.

Starting to bank, Red-Tails need open space to manuever, so unless you have a large yard or live on an open space, you likely won't bring Red-Tails to your garden. But they may be only a walk or car ride away.

They eat rodents, small mammals, reptiles and other prey their keen eyes spot. Starting to swoop in, notice how the talons are coming down in the photo above. It is rare for them to prey on dogs and cats, but it is always a good idea to keep your smaller pets away from open spaces that appeal to raptors.

Fort Bend is an area where the Red-Tails’ 8 variations of color come into a rare confluence and can be seen along with many other raptors.  We have both Eastern and Western color morphs, so you may see two varieties of darker Red-Tails, those with less or no rufous on their back tails, some without black banding on the lower tail, etc. The bulky body and yellow legs may be your best souce of identification. For example, Red-Sholdered Hawks are similar, but not bulky bodied. But you can't miss the scream of the Red-Tail! (courtesy of Cornell's All About Birds)You've heard it in many soundtracks whether it matches the bird screaming or not!

The "Katy Prairie Loop," part of which is in Fort Bend, is world-famous for seeing the confluence of Red-Tail Hawk color varieties . . . but the wealth of variety can create some confusion for the novice or intermediate birder. Just enjoy. Experienced birders with the photographic equipment submit their spottings to other birders for IDs. And the experts can disagree.

If you'd like to see more of the birds of our area, Texas A&M Nature Guides has a Finding Birds on the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail by Ted Lee Eubanks Jr., Robert A. Behrstock & Seth Davidson, Texas A&M University Press, College Station, Texas. It has many short birding trips and stops along the Texas Gulf Coast.

Photos copyrighted by Quail Valley resident and international birder Margaret Sloan. View her international and national bird pictures by pressing this link.

See a bird you don't recognize in Fort Bend? Margaret has photographed 150+ bird species just in her suburban Fort Bend,Texas backyard alone. Narrow your initial search by viewing her full photo album of local birds, Birds of Quail Valley by pressing this link. They are organized by types of birds, so if it's a water bird for example, you may find one that helps you narrow your search. Then if you "google in" the name of the bird, you'll get info and all kinds of information and images. Sometimes if a species is remarkably different from adult you may find nothing, contact us and we'll do our best to help.

Researched and posted by Janice Scanlan. Click photos to enlarge them.

 

Gray Catbird

 

In the Catbird’s seat, anyway the Gray Catbird that is a bird you may have heard, and thought it was a cat meowing. In Fort Bend, Texas, it may be a nesting bird or a winter bird. Some may be year round.

Sometimes hard to see much less photograph, this bird is related to the Mockingbird and Brown Thrasher. Example in this photo, a shadow obscures the rusty undertail or rufous rump. The next picture clearly shows the rufous rump.

It is like the Mockingbird in that it is a great mimic and meow is just one of its sounds it strings together—or it could be a cell phone ring tone.

A song can be 10 minutes long. The males are extremely territorial and may sing one of these long songs perched in a tree proclaiming its territory, but that is less like its normal behavior preferring brush and thickets.

Unlike the Mockingbird, the Catbird behaves more like a Brown Thrasher and can be normally found near a brush pile in thickets near understory trees or shrubbery-- skulking around. You may hear them foraging, but not see them. Clearing brush, threatens birds like the Gray Catbird.

It’s deep gray with a black crown as well as a beautiful bit of rufous on its rump/under tail distinguish it.

A ground forager, the Gray Catbird loves insects such as ants and beetles, but may eat fruits and berries as well. It also likes caterpillars, moths and midges.

To attract these beneficial birds to your garden, have many kinds and heights of plantings with some being thick with underbrush or vegetation near shrubs or understory trees. They like making very short flights.

 

Photos copyrighted by Quail Valley resident and international birder Margaret Sloan. View her international and national bird pictures by pressing this link.

See a bird you don't recognize in Fort Bend? Margaret has photographed 150+ bird species just in her suburban Fort Bend,Texas backyard alone. Narrow your initial search by viewing her full photo album of local birds, Birds of Quail Valley by pressing this link. They are organized by types of birds, so if it's a water bird for example, you may find one that helps you narrow your search. Then if you "google in" the name of the bird, you'll get info and all kinds of information and images. Sometimes if a species is remarkably different from adult you may find nothing, contact us and we'll do our best to help.

Researched and posted by Janice Scanlan. Click photos to enlarge them.

Carolina Chickadee

The Carolina Chickadee is a year round bird in Fort Bend. They come to feeders, but don't remain long. Taking only one seed, Chickadees normally go to a shrub or small tree to dine.

A Carolina Chickadee feeds a fledgling on the right in their typical manner on a limb or in a shrub.

More often they dine alone. Taking only one seed, Chickadees normally go to a shrub or small tree to dine. They share this trait as well as feeding on a branch with Tufted Titmice, the most common bird they co-flock. Both are also omnivorous and glean insects as well as eat seeds and suet.

Inquisitive, intelligent and acrobatic these little 4 to under 5 inch grey birds have distinctive black caps and throats. They inhabit deciduous forests, parks and gardens with trees and shrubs. They like personal space. They are quite territorial in the feeding and flocking habits.

 During breeding season, they are mostly in breeding pairs, but may flock in groups of 8 during the rest of the year. Like Tufted Titmice, they nest in cavities and both depend on woodpeckers to construct them. They will also use nesting boxes, tubes and sometimes drain pipes. Found in the Southeastern US, their Black-capped Chickadee cousins are found in the Northeastern US and are more brownish than grey.

Besides Tufted Titmice, you often see them in multi-species flocks with Carolina Wrens, kinglets, woodpeckers (Downey and Red-Bellied in my garden) and waiting in trees for House Finches to clear off feeders. During migratory season, they are common with warblers. While Tufted Titmice may hide seeds, Carolina Chickadees have been known to steal those seeds.

Photos copyrighted by Quail Valley resident and international birder Margaret Sloan. View her international and national bird pictures by pressing this link.

See a bird you don't recognize in Fort Bend? Margaret has photographed 150+ bird species just in her suburban backyard alone. Narrow your initial search by viewing her full photo album of local birds, Birds of Quail Valley by pressing this link. They are organized by types of birds, so if it's a water bird for example, you may find one that helps you narrow your search. Then if you "google in" the name of the bird, you'll get info and all kinds of information and images. Sometimes if a species is remarkably different from adult you may find nothing, contact us and we'll do our best to help.

Researched and posted by Janice Scanlan. Click photos to enlarge them.

 

Tufted Titmouse

June is a bountiful month for nesting birds, and the Tufted Titmouse is a common year round and nesting bird found around homes and gardens in the eastern US including eastern Gulf Coast, SE Texas. The adult males and females are identical, but single birds are more commonly seen in similar places with woodpeckers, chickadees, and wrens year round in our area as well as with kinglets and nuthatches during the winter. This small bird a little smaller than a sparrow is quite distinctive with its pointed head crest and small, but rounded, stout beak.

Unlike chickadees, they do not gather in large groups during the first of breeding season, but stay very close to their territory in pairs . . . but you may not often see them together. I have pairs in two distinct parts of my garden and most frequently in June see them around Carolina Chickdees. In fact, I have one feeder that really only the titmice, chickadees and woodpeckers like due to its grasping (non-perch) design. Since the Carolina Chickadees and Tufted Titmice normally take one seed at a time, they fly to an understory tree to dine. Mine enjoy a Yaupon Holly and a Japanese Maple for dining. The maple has hanging bromeliads that also serve as drinking fountains.

During nesting season they also acrobatically forage on insects, but will also eat berries, nuts and suet. This variety of food makes it easier for them to remain in one territory year round. Not as quick as chickadees and wrens, these curious birds will often look at me straight on. One sang busily to me last week. Their calls and songs are pretty, but without the volume of the Carolina Wren.

The adults differ from the juveniles in that the juvvies are two shades of gray and do not have the black mark above their beak nor the russet flank under the wing. They nest in cavities of trees, nesting boxes and occasionally drain pipes. They cannot create their own nest cavity and depend on woodpeckers to craft them. Their nests use all kinds of hair including pet and human hair.


Bringing them to your garden: Tufted Titmouse frequent backyard bird feeders. They love sunflower seeds and have the strong beaks to open them, but will eat suet, peanuts, berries and other seeds as well. Insects during warmer seasons my divert them from feeders. They build their nests in cavities, so putting up nest boxes is a good way to attract breeding titmice to your yard. Enjoy understory trees and bushes and will forage in leaf piles.

A group of hanging bromeliads serve as drinking fountains for Tufted Titmouse and Carolina Chickadee.

Photos copyrighted by Quail Valley resident and international birder Margaret Sloan. View her international and national bird pictures by pressing this link.

See a bird you don't recognize in Fort Bend? Margaret has photographed 150+ bird species just in her suburban backyard alone. Narrow your initial search by viewing her full photo album of local birds, Birds of Quail Valley by pressing this link. They are organized by types of birds, so if it's a water bird for example, you may find one that helps you narrow your search. Then if you "google in" the name of the bird, you'll get info and all kinds of information and images. Sometimes if a species is remarkably different from adult you may find nothing, contact us and we'll do our best to help.

Researched and posted by Janice Scanlan. Click photos to enlarge them.

 

Thus far, this perch design seems to appeal to Tufted Titmouse and Carolina Chickadees, but discourage more aggressive feeders such as House Sparrows. So far, only a pair of House Finches rather than the colony of 12 in the back garden.

 

 

Other nesting birds besides the Tufted Titimice this month with young in Janice's garden:

Summer Tanagers, Carolina Chickadees, Northern Cardinals, Downey Woodpeckers, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Blue Jays, Robins, Mourning and White Wing Doves, House Finch, and Carolina Wrens. Be sure and visit Oyster Creek and Stafford Run as well as Mustang Bayou and the Brazos to see multitudes of water fowl young. In MacNaughton Park and on the golf courses, watch for Bald Eagles. Select nesting birds other nesting birds.

Bald Eagle

 

 

Mature Bald Eagles have white heads and tails with a brown body. They are 4 or 5 years old before they reach their "breeding feathers" and are long-lived to around 28 years in the wild.

 Rivers, creeks and streams are Bald Eagles' “highways” and hunting grounds. They need open space these corridors provide in the most forested areas so they can hunt in open spaces. Holding their wings like a board to circle and hunt for prey, Bald Eagles are large enough to cast a noticeable shadow when they fly over head.

 

Bald Eagles cast a noticeable shadow flying overhead.

  They live near water with fish and waterfowl such as ducks and coots being favorite meals. However, they will eat carrion, small mammals and invertebrates.  Mature Bald Eagles weigh about 8 pounds and can lift half their body weight (2 to 4 pounds) so keep small pets protected. They will pilfer from other birds such as diving Ospreys and will take from fishermen, if convenient.They also will live near fish-processing plants.

 

Fish and water fowl are favorite meals. However, in dryer climates such as the Southwest or during the winter, raodkill is a common meal with highways a common place for spotting the Bald Eagle.

Juvenile Bald Eagles are commonly dark brown and can be mistaken for Golden Eagles, though they have larger heads and shorter tails. Juvenile Bald Eagles are strong fliers and may cover 250 miles in one day . . . sporadically searching for new territory. Being large-bodied, they waddle on the ground and can lose some of their majestic bearing seen in flight or perching.

Large-bodied, Bald Eagles may lose some of their majestic bearing on ground.

Immature Bald Eagles are blotched with white. Long-time winter visitors, East and Gulf Coast Texas now boast year round birds. More birds are seen during the winter.

 

Immature Bald Eagles are blotched with white and have not taken on the adults golden beak.

Nature you can touch today.
Quail Valley Golf Course commonly attracts Bald Eagles with its mature trees, ponds and open spaces. It is further developing its course for Audubon Certification to continue attracting these majestic fliers as well as other birds and wildlife.  Margaret Sloan has posted as of this writing 148 bird species seen from her Quail Valley residence on Oyster Creek.

Other Winter Birds
But Bald Eagles are just one of our Winter Birds. I have especially enjoyed seeing two Ruby Crowned Kinglets dining on a suet feeder. These tiny birds, just larger than a hummingbird, are quite bold and allow me to get with a couple of feet of them. Other Winter Birds sighted are Wilson's Warblers, American Goldfinches, Cedar Waxwings, Butter Butts, several varieties of sparrows. But there are many more.

Great Backyard Bird Count . . . Feb 15 - 18. If you can spare 15 minutes one or more days. It's lots of fun for the family and easy to do. It will be global this year! You don't have to be an expert. All you need is an interest in birds to enjoy this activity. Learn more.

Photos copyrighted by Quail Valley resident and international birder Margaret Sloan. View her international and national bird pictures by pressing this link.

See a bird you don't recognize in Fort Bend? Margaret has photographed 150+ bird species just in her suburban backyard alone. Narrow your initial search by viewing her full photo album of local birds, Birds of Quail Valley by pressing this link. They are organized by types of birds, so if it's a water bird for example, you may find one that helps you narrow your search. Then if you "google in" the name of the bird, you'll get info and all kinds of information and images. Sometimes if a species is remarkably different from adult you may find nothing, contact us and we'll do our best to help.

Researched and posted by Janice Scanlan

 

 

House Finch

The House Finch loves living around homes. Living in Christmas and other wreaths, hanging plants, and under house eaves are the type of places they thrive and nest. So wreaths, liking conifers and the red head, breast and rump of the male make this Finch a perfect December bird of the month.

 

House Finches love black-oiled sunflower seeds. If they find your feeder,
you can expect a flock of up to 50, including red males and the rather plain females.

If they discover your feeder, House Finches love black-oiled sunflower seeds. If they come in a large flock, you likely will have fledglings and other House Finches visiting your feeder next summer. True vegetarians, House Finches eat seeds, plants, berries and fruit.

 

Male House Finch with red coloration.

The young male above is taking on his red coloration. Diet determines how red the males become and males can be an orangy yellow. (see below). Females prefer the redder males likely seeing them as "good seed providers."

Male House Finch with the more unusual orangey yellow coloration.

 

I thought I had a radical clan of House Finches as they had chased out the very aggressive House Sparrows. However, according to Cornell University's All About Birds website, House Finches, though about an inch smaller, will chase House Sparrows away. I had such an aggressive female with a brood, that she actually bit a squirrel who tried to horn in on the feeder.

 

Female House Finch

The females can be hard to differentiate from Purple Finches, Cassin Finches and even House Sparrows when you have many types of birds in the garden.

If you’ve had a House Finch take up in a wreath on your door, move the wreath to a new location under cover if the bird flying out startles you. However, House Finches are unusual in that they, unlike other birds, don't mind their nests being disturbed.

House Finches, likely because of backyard feeders, have become more dispersed in smaller flocks than once believed. If you wish to encourage nesting, Cornell Labs has full instructions for a simple nesting box I plan to build . . . because it's so simple.

Happy birding and bird watching in the new year. For some family fun with the kids and/or grandkids get involved with Project Feeder Watch. You don't have to be an expert. All you need is an interest in birds to enjoy this activity. Visit Project Feeder Watch to learn more.

Photos copyrighted by Quail Valley resident and international birder Margaret Sloan. View her international and national bird pictures by pressing this link.

See a bird you don't recognize in Fort Bend? Margaret has photographed 130+ bird species just in her suburban backyard alone. Narrow your initial search by viewing her full photo album of local birds, Birds of Quail Valley by pressing this link. They are organized by types of birds, so if it's a water bird for example, you may find one that helps you narrow your search. Then if you "google in" the name of the bird, you'll get info and all kinds of information and images. Sometimes if a species is remarkably different from adult you may find nothing, contact us and we'll do our best to help.

Researched and posted by Janice Scanlan

 

Inca Dove

Inca Dove is the smallest of the 5 species of doves found in Fort Bend. Margaret’s photo feature this month shows the deep peach to rusty underside of the Inca Dove’s wing, which is unusual to see when the bird is not in flight. Early settlers in Texas watched all species of doves because they fly directly to water holes and helped settlers locate precious water.

Inca is also the most “scaly” of the doves and sometimes has the bluish cast of the photo above. As ground foragers doves like seeds, scattered on the ground or on platform feeders. You'll find them under feeders picking up the dropped seeds.

They may perch even on top of the feeder, but will not be successful in "using" the feeder. The "fish scales" contrast with the smooth texture of the Mourning Dove below.

While other doves are throughout the US and North America, Incas are confined to Texas, New Mexico and Arizona as well as Mexico and the Pacific side of Costa Rica. Sensitive to cold, they form pyramids that may have up to 12 birds with 3 or 4 at the bottom and pyramid up.  

Margaret has photographed 5 species of doves in her Quail Valley backyard alone: Rock Doves,White-winged Doves, Eurasian Collared Doves along with Incas and Mourning Doves. Select this link and scroll for pictures in Birds of Quail Valley.

Photos copyrighted by Quail Valley resident and international birder Margaret Sloan. View her international and national bird pictures by pressing this link.

See a bird you don't recognize in Fort Bend? Margaret has photographed 130+ bird species just in her suburban backyard alone. Narrow your initial search by viewing her full photo album of local birds, Birds of Quail Valley by pressing this link. They are organized by types of birds, so if it's a water bird for example, you may find one that helps you narrow your search. Then if you "google in" the name of the bird, you'll get info and all kinds of information and images. Sometimes if a species is remarkably different from adult you may find nothing, contact us and we'll do our best to help.

Researched and posted by Janice Scanlan

Little Blue Heron

Nesting birds can be readily misidentified because many change, some more than others. . .

The Little Blue Heron changes dramatically in its appearance shown above.

The fledgling and juvenile Little Blue Heron are white for about 1 year. Afterwards, they enter a calico or "tie-dyed" slate blue and white stage until they reach adult plumage, which is slate blue with a "muddy" purple to maroon head and neck. This species is the only heron that makes a white to slate blue change.

The white coloration may actually protect them by allowing them to feed with Snowy Egets, which are a flocking species. During their initial year of life, being part of a flock provides "safety in numbers." Little Blue Herons are a small heron 24 inches high, like the Snowy Eget, but have yellow to greenish legs instead of black legs (with golden feet) as do the Snowy. Their bills are also bi-colored, not dark like the Snowy. After a year, dramatic changes begin to happen.

Like other wading, long-legged birds, they like crustaceans, fish and frogs.  Once they molt to adult plumage, they feed more alone, but may be seen around other similiar-sized Herons such as the Tri-colored Heron and the Reddish Heron, which are both slightly larger than 2 feet in height and more likely to be closer to the Gulf coast, but are seen in Fort Bend (Texas) particularly in marshes and along creeks and rivers and ponds. Brazos Bend State Park is an excellent place to see the life cycle during the summer.

Little Blue Herons feed in a slow, sweeping motion. They can migrate and range from the SE US all along Mexico and Central America to Peru and Uruguay in South America. They are Year Round residents of the Gulf Coast.

Photos copyrighted by Quail Valley resident and international birder Margaret Sloan. View her international and national bird pictures by pressing this link.

See a bird you don't recognize in Fort Bend? Margaret has photographed 130+ bird species just in her suburban backyard alone. Narrow your initial search by viewing her full photo album of local birds, Birds of Quail Valley by pressing this link. They are organized by types of birds, so if it's a water bird for example, you may find one that helps you narrow your search. Then if you "google in" the name of the bird, you'll get info and all kinds of information and images. Sometimes if a species is remarkably different from adult you may find nothing, contact us and we'll do our best to help.

Researched and posted by Janice Scanlan

 

Blue Jay

July is an all red, white and Blue Jay month in Fort Bend County Texas, a suburban county near Houston. There are many of these common and recognizable birds coming to feeders as many new young are leaving the nest in the late spring and early summer in coastal Texas. This Blue Jay sunned for a long time showing the beautiful feathers. The blue feathers are not colored blue, but brown . . . the way the light passes through the feather produces the blue.

Blue Jays have complex social networks and are quite intelligent. The photo above shows the subtle markings on the face that vary by individual and make them recognizable to their social network. The jay is holding a sunflower seed, which is a favorite snack from feeders.

Some have been known to use tools.  If you look carefully in the picture above, they hold their seeds or acorns while they dine and use this gripping capability to use sticks as tools. Blue Jays love acorns of all kinds and especially like Oak Trees. They are credited with spreading Oaks during the glacial period.

They are clever and cunning. To clear feeders of other birds, they may mimic the sound of Red Tail Hawks for example. They make a wide variety of calls and let their network know when danger is in the area such as a hawk, snake or other predator. The bird in the picture above has the crest down, which denotes a less aggressive bird.

The bird above is showing the crest, but is likely a young bird still developing facial markings. Year round birds and nesting birds in Fort Bend, they also migrate north and south from central to eastern US coast. However, their migration may happen one year and not the next.

In the summer months you will see many chicks and fledglings like the one above bathing. The fledgling has feathers, but will be fed by his parents for a short time upon leaving the nest until he or she learns to forage and becomes a more skilled flyer.

Chicks are downy, unable to fly, and likely have fallen from the nest. They will likely die unless returned to the nest that is usually near and above where you find the chick. It is not true that the parents will not feed them if you touch them. Return chicks to the nest, but leave fledglings alone unless they are in danger or injured. It's a good time to keep cats and dogs inside to allow the fledglings and chicks a better chance at life.

Photos copyrighted by Quail Valley resident and international birder Margaret Sloan. View her international and national bird pictures by pressing this link.

Just see a bird you don't recognize in Fort Bend? Margaret has photographed 130+ bird species just in her suburban backyard alone. Narrow your initial search by viewing her full photo album of local birds, Birds of Quail Valley by pressing this link. They are organized by types of birds, so if it's a water bird for example, you may find one that helps you narrow your search. Then if you "google in" the name of the bird, you'll get info and all kinds of information and images. Sometimes if a species is remarkably different from adult you may find nothing, contact us and we'll do our best to help.

Researched and posted by Janice Scanlan

Yellow-crowned Night Herons

Yellow-crowned Night Herons range from coastal Central and South America as well as the coastal areas of the Southeastern Gulf and Mexico and all of Florida year round.  As you will see comparing the picture above with the one below, breeding adults are very different in markings from juveniles.

Nesting high in trees, often over water, these birds take 11 days to construct their elaborately built nests, often from large sticks up to inch in diameter that the male and female break from trees and line with leaves and Spanish Moss. They have been known to nest as far north as southern Illinois, and mostly east of the Mississippi River.

These beautifully pale yellow crowned birds were once hunted for the lovely head feathers seen during breeding. While the immature and juveniles are speckled brown, the mature and nesting birds are a velvety medium gray, with a black face, white cheek and pale yellow crown. They also have bright yellow legs that become more orange during breeding.

The Yellow-crowned love crustaceans including crayfish and crabs, but also eat insects and occasionally snakes and small mammals. Besides wading to fish, you’ll often see them sunning to dry their feathers as well as near lakes, streams near forested areas.

Photos copyrighted by Quail Valley resident and international birder Margaret Sloan. View her international and national bird pictures by pressing this link. View her full photo album of local birds, Birds of Quail Valley by pressing this link.

Researched and posted by Janice Scanlan

Loggerhead Shrike

No, it’s not a masked Northern Mockingbird, and you likely won’t find it in your garden unless you live on an open space. It does closely resemble the Northern Mockingbirds in size and flight.

This year round bird is often seen on the Missouri City Edible Arbor Trail on Oyster Creek near FM 1092 where is has an open woodlands and grassy area to hunt. It sits on a Jujube Tree hunting and pays little attention to us on the trail. Loggerheads sit on low trees and dive for prey which include insects, amphibians, reptiles and small mammals and birds.

Unlike raptors with strong gripping talons, this small bird of prey, uses its hooked beak to impale the spinal cord. It then uses thorns on plants such as the Jujube to hold its prey while it rips it apart. Macabe little bedtime story.

On 5-12-2012 we had quite a birding event. Press here to learn more.

Photos copyrighted by Quail Valley resident and international birder Margaret Sloan. View her international and national bird pictures by pressing this link. View her full photo album of local birds, Birds of Quail Valley by pressing this link.

Blog by Janice Scanlan.

Cooper's Hawk

 

Cooper’s Hawk is a year round resident as well as a winter visitor in Fort Bend. A medium hawk 16-18 inches in height, the Cooper’s is quite a aerobat and is adept in flying through treed areas. With a very long tail, it has a flap-flap, glide wing pattern.

 

It can be easily mistaken for the Sharp-shinned Hawk. However, the Sharp Shinned Hawk is a winter visitor only in Texas so time of year can remove some of the guesswork.

 

Cooper’s Hawks hunt for other birds and two of its favorites are Mourning Doves and Rock Pigeons. The Cooper’s is becoming quite comfortable in urban and suburban areas and particularly likes sitting on fences and preying on bird feeders. However, they usually do not go for smaller birds, but do like Northern Flickers, American Robins, several varieties of jays, quail and chickens as well as doves and pigeons.

 

If a Cooper’s is sitting on the fence stalking your feeders, remove the feeders for a few days and the  Cooper’s will likely move on if you wish to discourage them.

 

 

The male is smaller than the female and gives a new meaning to hen-pecked. It is quite solicitous of the female and listens for the tone of her voice. He builds and tends the nest, providing almost 90% of the young’s food for 90 days.  

 

To read a story about the Cooper's Hawk, press here.

Photos copyrighted by Quail Valley resident and international birder Margaret Sloan. View her international and national bird pictures by pressing this link. View her full photo album of local birds, Birds of Quail Valley by pressing this link.

Learn how to attract birds to your garden, enjoy the Quail Valley Garden's Club visit and tour of Margaret's backyard.

Blog edited by Janice Scanlan.

 

 

 

 

 

Northern Mockingbird

The Northern Mockingbird couldn’t sing in the newspaper photo, but he found a festive place to wish you a happy holiday along with some of his favorite things, berries.

If you hear a multitude of bird songs in your garden, you likely have a Northern Mockingbird, which plain gray-brown coloring is quickly appreciated with its great personality and songs. One imitated my cell phone ring so well, I tried to answer the phone!

The State Bird of Texas, the Northern Mockingbird is a year round resident throughout the US and Mexico. Very territorial, these birds can put on quite a show.

The fledglings show the same plucky personality. They have a more mottled breast than the mature birds gray breast.

They love all kinds of berries, but eat insects in the summer. Expect to see them throughout the garden, feeding on the ground or in hedges and trees. Besides song, their antics to protect their territory make this medium songbird a real standout.

The final picture shows two young birds whose breasts are still mottled. But the songs just belt forth all day . . . with infinite variety of these great songwriters and mimics. To learn more about their songs, calls, and "chaks" visit Cornell's All About Birds.

Photos copyrighted by Quail Valley resident and international birder Margaret Sloan. View her international and national bird pictures by pressing this link. View her full photo album of local birds, Birds of Quail Valley by pressing this link.

Learn how to attract birds to your garden, enjoy the Quail Valley Garden's Club visit and tour of Margaret's backyard.

Blog edited by Janice Scanlan.

 

Wood Duck

Fall means more ducks in Fort Bend, and the Wood Duck is one of the most beautiful. The males are in intricate “jewel” tones with each feather a variety of patterns. Its head feathers resemble a Spartan helmet.

The females are more muted colors in browns, but the intricate white patterns around her eyes are elegant.

As you can see from the young male above, the Wood Duck is a year-round resident in Fort Bend. However, they are also migrants of those who nest further north and on the Pacific coast. The migrants fly into Mexico and warmer areas of the Southwest for winter.

Wood Ducks live in swamps, ponds and nest in tree cavities. Because of fewer natural cavities for nesting, nest boxes are often used to encourage this beautiful bird. Their young can drop out of the nest almost 300 feet without being harmed. From their nests in over-hanging trees, the young may drop directly into the water. They also have a unique claw on their feet that allow them to perch in trees.

Good news for golfers, Wood Ducks eat insects and Duck Weed as well as a variety of aquatic plants, insects, and small mollusks. The pairs breed twice a year and especially where nest boxes are used, may lay eggs in other nest for other Wood Ducks to raise.

Photos copyrighted by Quail Valley resident and international birder Margaret Sloan. View her international and national bird pictures by pressing this link. View her full photo album of local birds, Birds of Quail Valley by pressing this link.

Learn how to attract birds to your garden, enjoy the Quail Valley Garden's Club visit and tour of Margaret's backyard.

Blog edited by Janice Scanlan.

 

Red-bellied Woodpecker

 
The Red-bellied Woodpecker is a medium-sized woodpecker found in the Eastern United States and forest areas. They also come to bird feeders. One hangs upside down and uses his beak and long tongue to get past the squirrel barriers to get bird seed from our back yard feeder.

The Red-bellied has red feathers under white ones on their bellies, but are easily identifiable by the red on head tops (cap) and nape of necks and black and white barred backs. Not to be confused with the Red-headed Woodpecker, which has an all red head and solid black back, the Red-Bellied is much more abundant.

They often nest in tree and wood cavities and are quite territorial. Wood cavities such as this are prime spots. They have quite a problem with European Starlings robbing these nest sites. This mother (in the photo above) has a tasty spider for her chick, but it took a few tries before the chick ate the spider. Like many birds such as the Hummingbird, insects are an important source of protein in the diet of Woodpeckers and you will often hear them drumming on bark hunting for insects, but they most commonly pick along to forage the bark for insects as they “hop” up trees, particularly pines and hardwoods.

They have a fairly wide range of food sources and like Loquat fruit.

Males and females have a slightly different range of food as males have longer tongues that can get food from crevices. This helps the species be successful and adaptable to changing weather and food conditions. We are on the edge of their "western" territory. Let's hope they find food and water to continue in our area--fortunately areas just east of here have had more rain this year.

To hear the various kinds of sounds Red-bellied Wookpeckers make besides drumming, hear the kwirring and various sounds by visiting Cornell's All About Birds. If you see a Red-Bellied flying erratically, it's likely a young bird practicing evasive moves. The bird above is likely immature and just stretching it's wings and beginning to get it's red cap and nape . . . the face has not "paled" yet. Overall, the Red-Bellied can appear "pale" overall after maturity.

Photos copyrighted by Margaret Sloan. View her full photo album, Birds of Quail Valley by pressing this link.

Learn how to attract birds to your garden, enjoy the Quail Valley Garden's Club visit and tour of Margaret's backyard.

Blog edited by Janice Scanlan.

Black-bellied Whistling Duck

Fort Bend Bird of the Month is the Black-Bellied Whistling Duck. The Black Bellied is found mostly in Mexico and South America, but is making its way with new colonies on the lower Texas Gulf Coast and in spots in US such as Louisiana, the Carolinas, California and Arizona.

Adult males and females are colored the same with red bills, gray heads, rufus chests, black bellies, long necks and long, pink legs. They nest in tree cavities so keeping old trees not in danger of falling on homes or buildings is important to keeping the black-bellied colonizing in Fort Bend--and owls and lots of other birds use tree cavities for young.

It used to also be called a Tree Duck because it was the only duck that perched. Yes, you’ll see them perched, sometimes in odd places. And check out their feet!

One landed in my backyard and was standing on a frog bench and moving his legs like he was prancing. Because I have ornamental fish, I immeidately checked his eating habits. They eat aquatic grasses, grain, insects and mollusks—so it explained his interest in my feeders and lack of interest in the pond.

This duck is closer to Geese and Swans with its social behaviors and longer legged water fowl. They are becoming more common in Fort Bend and live near marshes and waterways.

While they have been common in Quail Valley for sometime with our marshy ponds and Oyster Creek, Fort Bend Independent reader Dan Herron spotted some in Stafford at at the West end of Francis Street, on a lake that is more or less the headwaters of Willow Waterhole Bayou. 

To hear sounds and learn other trustworthy information visit Cornell's All About Birds.

Photos copyrighted by Margaret Sloan. View her full photo album, Birds of Quail Valley by pressing this link.

Learn how to attract birds to your garden, enjoy the Quail Valley Garden's Club visit and tour of Margaret's backyard.

 

Carolina Wren

The Carolina Wren is a welcomed bird in many ways. They busily glean insects from the ground and foliage and protect our plants from insect infestations. Below is one with an insect.

With their characteristic upturned tail, they are busy, active, and fun to watch. They even like nesting in your wreaths or hanging baskets often better than in plants and trees. Their side entry nests are intricate, but don’t disturb or mom will fly at you. They move fast . . . so don't expect the same pose for very long.

And don't always expect the upturned tail, but you can't miss the song. The males pack an amazing volume for their size. I call one of mine Pavarotti because he loves to sing from my Magnolia and Japanese Maples.

This little fledgling pictured below will grow to about 4 ¾”—and have the characteristic upturned tail when it grows out. Don't you want to protect this little guy (or gal)?

You will often hear Carolina Wrens before you see them. To hear their characteristic song, visit the Cornell Ornithology Lab All about Birds.

Photos copyrighted by Margaret Sloan. View her full photo album, Birds of Quail Valley by pressing this link.

Learn how to attract birds to your garden, enjoy the Quail Valley Garden's Club visit and tour of Margaret's backyard.

 

Pied-Billed Grebe

The Pied-Billed Grebe is a plucky little water fowl that lives in fresh water marshes, lakes and ponds. They dive mostly for their food as you can see with the ambitious-sized crawfish in his beak, which is shaped like a chicken's rather than a duck's.

The black and white markings are only present during breeding (on the male's bill only) and are shown in the first three photos. The Pied-Billed does not have webbed feet like a duck, but is more like a chicken's feet except it has lobes on each "toe" for paddling.

The breeding bill is even seen in the ambitious juvenile above.

The Pied-Billed Grebe is a smaller version in its bill and feet of the American Coot, which is black and has a face mask marking. These juvenile Pied-Bills better reflect it's brown coloration and non-breeding bill found in all Pied Bills except during breeding in the males.

The Pied-Billed normally dives for protection. Any flight is very low to the ground and "taxiing."

This yearround bird loves our Fort Bend ponds and creeks and can be seen swimming among other water birds especially American Coots and Black-bellied Whistling Ducks, which are much larger. Margaret tells a story of a Pied-Billed actually "goosing" a larger duck out of his way.

Babies can actually leave the nest quickly, but can't swim yet. You'll see them riding on parent's backs.

Photos copyrighted by Margaret Sloan. View her full photo album which has pictures of American Coots and Black-bellied Whistling Ducks, Birds of Quail Valley by pressing this link.

Learn how to attract birds to your garden, enjoy the Quail Valley Garden's Club visit and tour of Margaret's backyard.

 

 

Roseate Spoonbill

The Roseate Spoonbill is a wading bird often seen with heron, egrets and ibis. They are large birds about 32 inches. Some winter here, but during colder years may migrate during the winter to Central and South America.

They often mate for life with male and female sharing equal nest responsibilities. The males court by bringing nesting materials as they make quite sturdy nests.

Their coloration can be many shades of pink from shell pink to magenta. Their coloration is diet driven. The more carotenoid critters they get such as shrimp, the pinker they become. Adults have bald heads that are greenish, white necks, pink bodies and reddish long legs.

And, of course, is their distinctive spoon-shaped bill that they use to strain small food items out of the water such as aquatic beetles, frogs, and newts as well as shrimp. In the US, they are only on the Texas Gulf Coast and Florida. Unlike Herons, they fly with out-stretched necks.

Photos copyrighted by Margaret Sloan. View her full photo album, Birds of Quail Valley by pressing this link.

Learn how to attract birds to your garden, enjoy the Quail Valley Garden's Club visit and tour of Margaret's backyard.

 

American Kestrel

American is truly right because this bird ranges from the Southern tip of Argentina to Alaska.

Our most colorful falcon or small hawk, the American Kestrel eats small rodents, insects and is beautiful flying along cleared spaces hunting.

You’ll often see them on high lines scouting for their next meal. And de-forestation has increased their numbers throughout North and South America.

They are not true migratory birds, but many do leave in the spring to go North. Some nest here.

Watch for the beautiful rufous and contrasting coloring on their wings.

Photos copyrighted by Margaret Sloan. View her full photo album, Birds of Quail Valley by pressing this link.

Learn how to attract birds to your garden, enjoy the Quail Valley Garden's Club visit and tour of Margaret's backyard. Or learn more about the American Kestrel including their interesting "nest building" by visiting the Cornell Labs of Ornithology.

Northern Cardinal

The Northern Cardinal is not just associated with Christmas because of its beautiful red plumage and crest. Northern Cardinals don’t migrate . . . and live year round in a good portion of the United States (excluding the Rocky Mountains, some of the Northern Plains states and West Coast).  So the striking photos of Cardinals in the snow are not “photoshopped”.

The female is more muted, but beautiful in her own right. These birds come to feeders and love black oiled Sunflower seeds. They also eat insects.

 

And they love water and enjoy water sprinklers and birdbaths-- and just clown around.

Mostly seen in pairs, the mature female has the lovely red bill but gray feathers with red splotches that can make her appear burnt orange.

These birds are ideally suited for back yards and enjoy feeders. If you look closely at both feeders in the photo below, the male and female pair are dining together in separate feeders. Look for her red bill in the right feeder to locate her. You'll have no problem spotting him . . . and males will often sit on fences and in other prominent places so their mate can feed on the ground.

 
 
80% mate for life, but in the late winter to early spring in woodsy areas, you may see Cardinals flocking with young birds and those randy 20% finding new mates.

Males bring on their red in sploches as shown in the photo below--it's not just a bad hair day.

Young birds have black bills and little color.

Photos copyrighted by Margaret Sloan. View her full photo album, Birds of Quail Valley by pressing this link.

To learn more about the Northern Cardinal, hear an audio recording of its cheep (which may be the first bird sound of the morning), and see a wonderful video of the Northern Cardinal, visit the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

We've now posted a full year of both year round and migrating birds . . . our monthly post has barely scraped the surface of the ball park 120 birds that live or visit Fort Bend County. Happy holidays and enjoy the new year by enjoying nature and the outdoors.

Edited and posted by Janice Scanlan

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Giving thanks for small things . . . and one that eats insects summer until winter in Fort Bend is truly welcomed! The Blue-gray Gnatcatcher is the northernmost gnatcatcher and the only true migratory one. While some live on the Texas Gulf Coast year round, this bird will be heading to Mexico and Central America when the insect population thins during the colder weather.

This fluttery, fast-moving little bird is literally using it's fluttery movements to scare up insects in your plant and tree foliage. You'll often see flashes of gray and white while this little bird with a long tail is "gleaning foliage." 

The females are slightly paler than the males. All are very curious and sometimes will come quite close to you...but they're quick and will be gone in an instant.  Look for a small flash of silvery-gray among the leaves and listen for a high insect-like "spee." And that white streak on the edge of the tail.

You likely may hear the "spree" before you see them, but they also mimic other birds.

These little birds like scrub to woodsey areas and really like water so look along creeks, in parks with trees and water and in scrubbery.

Photos copyrighted by Margaret Sloan. View her full photo album, Birds of Quail Valley by pressing this link.

To learn more about the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher and hear audio recording of its unique voice, visit the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Posted and edited by Janice Scanlan

 

 

 

 

Barred Owl

Barred Owls live year round in Fort Bend and love our open spaces to hunt. They live in forested areas, and swamps are just fine!  They nest in cavities in deciduous trees.  Hunting at night their preferred prey includes small mammals, rabbits, birds, amphibians, and reptiles. It’s quite common to see them in trees during 6 AM hikes on the Quail Valley Golf Course as they are ending their hunting and are common on the slough off Glenn Lakes. 

Distinctive with their black eyes and no feather tufts on the ears, a barred owl lost its home on Stafford Run from a wind storm and lived in a tree near our home for several days until he or she located a new home. During last summer’s drought, the owl would return to our birdbath during the day. It was quite unusual to see that large a bird in the birdbath much less an owl in the daytime. And yes, owls yawn.

To learn more about the Barred Owl and see other photos, visit the Cornell Ornithology Lab where you can also hear the distinct calls and voices of Barred and Great Horned Owls.

The other Owl living in Fort Bend and from the Arctic to the Tropics in every kind of habitat is the Great Horned Owl. The Great Horned Owl is so-named for the tufts near his or her ears. In contrast to the Barred Owls' lack of ear tufts and black eyes, the Great Horned Owls' eyes are yellow and cat-like in how the irises visibly open and narrow into slits. The Great Horned Owl is not seen as often in "urban" Fort Bend, preferring agricultural areas more prevalent in West Fort Bend County. This photo is not very good, but will give you a real contrast on how the two Owls look very different from one another.

To see more detailed photos and learn more about the Great Horned Owl, visit here.

Photo copyrighted by Margaret Sloan. View her full photo album, Birds of Quail Valley by pressing this link.

 

Great Egret

Do you think I'm sexy? Yes, mating and the wonderful courtship dances and songs of birds are all around us. Long plumes (aigrettes) are held up over the back in courtship displays around the nest. These displays can last 10 minutes or more.

Plume hunters in the 1800 and 1900's had reduced populations in North America by 95%. The species rebounded after they became protected by law.

Standing up to four feet high, the Great Egret is indeed impressive equally on the ground in and out of courtship display and in flight. And they are even taller on tiptoe with their necks extended as in the photo below.

Sometimes called Great Whites, these birds are members of the Heron family and are found along creeks, sloughs and other wetlands. They nest and live in Fort Bend year around and extend throughout North America.

Photos copyrighted by Margaret Sloan.

Keep visiting, we are posting birds and habits as the visit the area and time permits of Winter and other varieties of birds that live or visit Quail Valley and Fort Bend.

To see a more complete photo album of Birds from Quail Valley and Fort Bend, Birds of Quail Valley.