Nature

Whilst birding at Sabkhat Al Fasl yesterday I found two Red-necked Phalaropes feeding on a smallish flooded area by the water pumping station. This is only the second time I have seen the species in Saudi Arabia and the first time in the spring. The previous record was a single bird seen on 5 August 2011 at Al Khobar on a small roadside pool by the Dammam / Al Khobar Wader Roost South. Bundy’s ‘Birds of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia’ published in October 1989 states that they are regular in varying numbers on marshy pools in spring but very scarce and irregular in autumn. It seems likely that a large number that winter in the Arabian Gulf and northern Indian Ocean area overfly the region with a record of 10,000 birds 40 kilometres west of Bahrain and close to the Saudi Arabia coast 27 March 1980. Records are regular in Kuwait to the north but from the Eastern Province are limited with one record from March, scare in April and regular in May with the peak inland count being 150 birds at Abqaiq in May 1976.The two birds I saw were behaving in a typical Phalarope manner turning around in circles on the water in search of food and picking insects off the waters surface in a fast and active manner. This is a new species for me at Sabkhat Al Fasl although I know Phil has had at least one sighting here in the past.

Dogs have been used to guard homes and livestock for thousands and years.  The golden retriever dog in the video below takes guarding duties to a whole other level.   You definitely want to watch this one 'til the end. Video via Sungazing Facebook Page. See David's TV appearances and learn how to protect wildlife with National Wildlife Federation.

Least SandpiperLeast Sandpipers have their names for a reason--they're the smallest peep we get to see. Consequently, I also have a hard time getting close enough for good photos. But this one was by the shore where there' sa parking lot, so I was able to shoot these photos without leaving my car, and it wasn't disturbed by me.Least SandpiperLeast SandpiperLeast Sandpiper

As the various lines of rain showers marched across Morris and Somerset Counties late this afternoon into the early evening, Jeff Ellerbusch found a singing Dickcissel at Negri-Nepote Native Grassland Preserve in Franklin Township. This marks the third consecutive year for this species at this location. Semipalmated Plover and 3 Bank Swallows were at the Preserve, as well. ————– On the previous evening, May 22, a close Common Gallinule and a distant Virginia Rail were heard from the overlook on Pleasant Plains Road, Great Swamp NWR (Simon Lane, Jonathan Klizas).

My friend Peter Thiemann went up into the Cascades today and photographed the Great Gray Owl my clients and I found yesterday. Same owl in the same meadow. Peter stayed for hours and was rewarded for his patience. The owl in flight shows the bird’s incredible flexibility when hunting. If you click on any individual image you can get a full screen ivew of Peter’s crytalline images of this great bird of the mountain forest.

Gotta love them Bullock's Orioles! Virginia Rails aren't regulars at my patch, though I have seen them a couple times previously. Always a shock to hear them. This little guy ended up being a life bird for a couple of my Idaho birding friends. Gotta love that! Yellow-breasted Chats are abundant at my patch. Providing constant Spring, Summer, and Fall background music in the foothills, we have loads of Western Meadowlarks! Sweet looking Spotted Sandpiper on the edge of Avimor Town Lake. We also have an abundance of Black-headed Grosbeaks frolicing in the riparian areas. One of several Great Horned Owlets growing in flight feathers and losing the downy white fluff. Several House Wrens inhabit the area and make themselves conspicuous with their wren rattling. First of Year Western Tanager! Yeah baby!!! Though not as stunning as the male, this female Lazuli Bunting is still beautiful! Cedar Waxwings adorning a stick. Western Kingbirds are also known to nest in this area. Such awesome birds!

…Can deter the garden feeders from feeding in our garden.

Hairy vetch or winter vetch is properly Vicia villosa. It was introduced to Oregon as a forage crop for cattle and other livestock. It does well on poor soils without irrigation so it has colonized large swaths of unforested, south-facing Cascade foothills where it mixes with other weeds and native survivors. This vetch is not considered by the state of Oregon to be one of the worst invasives, perhaps because it is edible. Interestingly, Himalayan blackberry, so often hated by native plant folks, is also NOT listed among the 100 worst invasive in the state. Many birds find the blackberry a fine source of fall and winter berries. Starthistle and phragmites both DO make the worst 100 invasive list for Oregon. As you would assume from the vetch’s tendrils, flowers and leaves, they are members of the legume family. Their roots attract micro-organisms that fix nitrgoen into the soil, so lousy soul is not necessarily a deterrent if there are not too many heavy metals present. There are about 12-dozen species of vetches in the world, including some native to America. They are cousins to the lentil and peas.

En liten lövsångarstudie där man kan se att lövsångaren kan ha väldigt mörka ben (många tar detta som tecken på gransångare). Läte lövsångare, jag har själv spelat in det. : willow-warbler

Eastern Bluebird Eastern Bluebird, male, feeding female It's that time of year, when birds are breeding everywhere. We get lots of questions about nesting birds, especially nesting bluebirds. People cherish their bluebirds and worry about the things they see their bluebirds do. For example, here's part of a recent question to us about bluebirds — "There have been 3 eggs in the box now for going on 2 weeks. I’m guess the eggs are not viable but momma is still in the box laying on them???? What to do?? Do I remove the eggs? Remove the whole nest? Just leave things alone? I think they’ve been there too long now to hatch – yes/no/maybe so?? Please advise." The answer is that this is normal and her eggs will hatch soon. In most cases there is no cause for concern. Here's some basic information about bluebirds to calm worries. - Eastern Bluebird females build the nest out of fine grasses or pine needles and it can take as little as 2 days, but 4-5 days is the average. During courtship the male can feed the female and he may continue to occasionally bring her food during incubation. - Once the nest is built, egg-laying can begin in a day or two' but may not begin until a week later or so. So don't panic if you see a built nest and no eggs right away, it does not mean the bluebirds have abandoned it. - Females lay one egg per day in the morning and spend very little time at the box during egg-laying. The eggs can remain there at air temperature with no harm to them. So just because you see a nest and several eggs and no female, does not mean the nest and eggs are abandoned. She can lay 1-6 eggs in a clutch. If one or some of the eggs are infertile, but not the others, she may leave the infertile egg unhatched in the nest, or the parents may try and remove it. Bluebird eggs are blue but in 9% of the cases they have been found to be white. - Only after the last egg is laid does the female do full-time incubation. She takes breaks every once in a while to go feed, preen, take a bath, take a break, etc. In warmer weather, she may leave the nest for longer periods of time. Incubation can last 12-18 days. - After the eggs hatch both parents feed the young and remove the fecal sacs (little white diaper like sacs) from the nest. The parents feed each young about two times an hour, regardless of how big the brood. - The length of time the young are in the nest for the Eastern Bluebird varies from 16-21 days. It is OK to look into the box once or twice a week to check on the progress of the bluebirds. Your scent on the box will not cause the birds to leave (most bird species have very little sense of smell). Do not look in the box once the young are 12 days or older as this may cause them to premature leave the box before they are ready. After they fledge they will continue to be fed by the parents for another 3-4 weeks and by 5 weeks the fledglings have learned how to feed on their own well enough to be independent. The bluebird pair may start another nesting while they are still feeding young from the first brood. Bluebirds may have 1 to 3 broods per year depending on the area of the country they live in and other factors. For more complete information see our bluebird guide, Buy Now! Stokes Bluebird Book. Enjoy your nesting birds and enjoy your upcoming holiday weekend!