Photos / Sounds

What

King Rail (Rallus elegans)

Observer

whimsicmimic

Description

Friend found injured bird; trying to identify

King Rail - Photo (c) Oliver Burrus, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), uploaded by Oliver Burrus
trip_bondi's ID: King Rail (Rallus elegans)
Added on January 11, 2024
Improving

Photos / Sounds

What

Merriam's Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo ssp. merriami)

Observer

birding4fun

Date

July 12, 2020 06:46 AM MDT
Wild Turkey - Photo (c) Matt K, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Matt K
trip_bondi's ID: Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)
Added on January 9, 2024
Supporting

Photos / Sounds

What

Allegheny Crayfish (Faxonius obscurus)

Observer

william_deml

Date

September 9, 2022 03:07 PM EDT

Description

Wading quite slowly upstream in Buffalo Creek with my camera, I heard the distinctive croaking of a Great Blue Heron up ahead. About 15 minutes later, I discovered this strange object, bigger than a hen's egg, on a rock at the edge of the stream, approximately where I would judge the Heron to have been when I heard it. I have never seen one of these before, but it must be the regurgitated indigestible parts of Crayfish from a bird that has been eating them. This "pellet" is very large, about 8 cm. long, and very freshly regurgitated indeed - it was a bright warm day and the rock shows a fresh patch of moisture under the Crayfish parts. To me, all this strongly points to the Great Blue Heron as the source of this interesting evidence of its diet. I photographed it and left it without dissection, so I've no idea whether it contains several or only one prey species. This section of Buffalo Creek has Crayfish everywhere one tries to step. They look like Allegheny Crayfish to me, in shape, proportions, and colour. Apparently, digestive acids turn their shells red as though they have been cooked.

Allegheny Crayfish - Photo (c) brandonh1, all rights reserved, uploaded by brandonh1
trip_bondi's ID: Allegheny Crayfish (Faxonius obscurus)
Added on January 2, 2024
Supporting

Photos / Sounds

What

Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)

Observer

william_deml

Date

May 19, 2017 08:17 AM EDT

Description

Was flying under the bridge as though it had a nest under there. I saw it sing, so am sure of the ID. Eastern Wood Pewees also frequent the area. I’ve seen, heard, and photographed both here.

Eastern Phoebe - Photo (c) j_albright, all rights reserved
trip_bondi's ID: Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)
Added on January 2, 2024
Supporting

Photos / Sounds

What

Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens)

Observer

william_deml

Date

May 19, 2017 08:17 AM EDT

Description

I was convinced at the time that this was a Pewee rather than a Phoebe, because I would swear that I saw and heard this individual sing its plaintive "Pee-a-wee" call. Visually, these views are not persuasive to my eye though - those wing bars are really weak, and the Cicada conceals the (yellowish?) lower mandible.

What's more, I photographed an Eastern Phoebe less than a minute later, that I also witnessed making its buzzy "Phee-bee, phee-bay" call! I thought it extraordinary that they would be in the same woods at the same time, singing in succession in the same tree even. Is that possible, or at all likely?

I have heard both species sing in our farmyard at home, but not I think on the same day, just sometimes one, sometimes the other.

In any case, I certainly remember distinctly hearing both an Eastern Wood-Pewee and an Eastern Phoebe sing from virtually the same tree here at this covered bridge on Buffalo Creek, hardly a minute apart! If so, did I capture both species with the camera?

See:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/133049547
for the Eastern Phoebe observation here.

Eastern Wood-Pewee - Photo (c) Félix Uribe, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
trip_bondi's ID: Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens)
Added on January 2, 2024
Supporting

Photos / Sounds

What

Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)

Observer

william_deml

Date

June 20, 2017 10:51 AM EDT

Description

I hear these tiny masked songsters much more often than I see them, even with their bright colours. These are the little guys that sing, "Witchity-witchity-witchity-witch" in damp thickets. This one was sort of out in the open for a change, in an overgrown clearing along Buffalo Creek. It's always a real treat to get a look at such beautiful elusive Warblers.

Common Yellowthroat - Photo (c) William Wise, all rights reserved, uploaded by William Wise
trip_bondi's ID: Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)
Added on January 2, 2024
Supporting

Photos / Sounds

What

Acadian Flycatcher (Empidonax virescens)

Observer

william_deml

Date

June 3, 2023 01:37 PM EDT

Description

I watched this Flycatcher behaving like a Flycatcher - perching, hovering, landing on the ground, perching - about 10-15 meters (30-50 feet) away, for a full three minutes, taking a lot of photographs and even catching its voice with my audio microphone once. I had been hearing interesting Warblers for an hour or so, and the occasional call note of an Acadian Flycatcher I believe, corroborated by the Merlin Bird ID programme from Cornell University.

The attached audio recording isn't long, a single call note (right after the Towhee, at the seven second mark), but I believe it is the individual in the photographs. I heard its voice more than that, but was busy taking photographs. Its voice matched recordings I have on my phone of Acadian Flycatchers, in pitch and quality. Merlin agreed.

The location and habitat is important to this identification as well. This bird was found in an extensive damp deciduous woodland just above the floodplain in the narrow valley of Buffalo Creek in Southwestern Pennsylvania, in what can be characterized as Appalachian Plateau Mixed Mesophytic Forest, at an altitude of about 289 meters (948 feet).

This is fine habitat for a number of birds that I have yet to observe, so I plan to spend more time here.

Acadian Flycatcher - Photo (c) David Monroy R, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by David Monroy R
trip_bondi's ID: Acadian Flycatcher (Empidonax virescens)
Added on January 2, 2024
Supporting

Photos / Sounds

What

Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer)

Observer

nrpeters

Date

July 16, 2023 11:42 AM EDT
Spring Peeper - Photo (c) Ty Smith, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Ty Smith
trip_bondi's ID: Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer)
Added on January 2, 2024
Supporting

Photos / Sounds

What

Bowl-and-doily Spider (Frontinella pyramitela)

Observer

nrpeters

Date

December 12, 2023 03:15 PM EST
Bowl-and-doily Spider - Photo (c) Bill Keim, some rights reserved (CC BY)
trip_bondi's ID: Bowl-and-doily Spider (Frontinella pyramitela)
Added on December 14, 2023
Supporting

Photos / Sounds

What

Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)

Observer

pefa17

Date

December 12, 2023 04:32 PM EST
Common Dandelion - Photo (c) stremblay21, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by stremblay21
trip_bondi's ID: Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
Added on December 14, 2023
Supporting

Photos / Sounds

What

Eastern Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger)

Observer

joepapp01

Date

December 5, 2023 02:22 PM EST
Eastern Fox Squirrel - Photo (c) USFWS Mountain-Prairie, some rights reserved (CC BY)
trip_bondi's ID: Eastern Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger)
Added on December 14, 2023
Supporting

Photos / Sounds

What

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus)

Observer

joesebastiani

Date

March 25, 2016 09:29 AM EDT

Description

Darker-backed one in the middle.

Large White-headed Gulls - Photo (c) Ján Svetlík, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND)
trip_bondi's ID: Large White-headed Gulls (Genus Larus)
Added on December 13, 2023
Supporting

Photos / Sounds

What

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus)

Observer

saintsfc

Date

December 6, 2023 09:15 PM PST
Western Gull - Photo (c) Jamie Chavez, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
trip_bondi's ID: Western Gull (Larus occidentalis)
Added on December 13, 2023
Maverick

Photos / Sounds

What

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus)

Observer

oddfitz

Date

December 6, 2023 12:59 PM CST

Description

LBBGU, HEGU or Thayer's? Head scratching on this.

Western Lesser Black-backed Gull - Photo (c) Luca Boscain, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Luca Boscain
trip_bondi's ID: Western Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus ssp. graellsii)
Added on December 13, 2023
Leading

Photos / Sounds

What

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus)

Observer

ava_ava

Date

November 13, 2023 05:36 AM EST
Western Lesser Black-backed Gull - Photo (c) Luca Boscain, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Luca Boscain
trip_bondi's ID: Western Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus ssp. graellsii)
Added on December 13, 2023
Leading

Photos / Sounds

What

Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus)

Observer

kylealdinger

Date

March 25, 2015 11:45 AM EDT
Ruffed Grouse - Photo (c) Susan Elliott, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Susan Elliott
trip_bondi's ID: Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus)
Added on December 8, 2023
Supporting

Photos / Sounds

What

Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis)

Observer

kylealdinger

Date

March 13, 2015 09:20 AM EDT
Sandhill Crane - Photo (c) Ad Konings, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Ad Konings
trip_bondi's ID: Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis)
Added on December 8, 2023
Supporting

Photos / Sounds

What

Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus)

Observer

halbyte

Date

November 4, 2023 11:35 AM EDT
Horned Grebe - Photo (c) brian stahls, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by brian stahls
trip_bondi's ID: Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus)
Added on December 8, 2023
Supporting

Photos / Sounds

What

Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)

Observer

snovaeve

Date

May 19, 2023 08:25 AM EDT
Gray Catbird - Photo (c) Michael King, all rights reserved, uploaded by Michael King
trip_bondi's ID: Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)
Added on December 8, 2023
Supporting

Photos / Sounds

What

Yellow Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum ssp. hypochrysea)

Observer

snovaeve

Date

May 19, 2023 08:56 AM EDT
Yellow Palm Warbler - Photo (c) Ken Janes, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
trip_bondi's ID: Yellow Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum ssp. hypochrysea)
Added on December 8, 2023
Improving

Photos / Sounds

What

American Herring Gull (Larus argentatus ssp. smithsonianus)

Observer

snovaeve

Date

May 19, 2023 10:13 AM EDT
American Herring Gull - Photo (c) Guy Lemelin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Guy Lemelin
trip_bondi's ID: American Herring Gull (Larus argentatus ssp. smithsonianus)
Added on December 8, 2023
Improving

Photos / Sounds

What

Philadelphia Vireo (Vireo philadelphicus)

Observer

snovaeve

Date

May 19, 2023 11:20 AM EDT
Philadelphia Vireo - Photo (c) vtjohn, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
trip_bondi's ID: Philadelphia Vireo (Vireo philadelphicus)
Added on December 8, 2023
Supporting

Photos / Sounds

What

Eastern Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus ssp. gilvus)

Observer

snovaeve

Date

May 19, 2023 02:31 PM EDT
Eastern Warbling Vireo - Photo (c) Steven Mlodinow, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Steven Mlodinow
trip_bondi's ID: Eastern Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus ssp. gilvus)
Added on December 8, 2023
Improving

Photos / Sounds

What

Olive-backed Thrush (Catharus ustulatus ssp. swainsoni)

Observer

snovaeve

Date

May 19, 2023 03:04 PM EDT
Olive-backed Thrush - Photo (c) Carmelo López Abad, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Carmelo López Abad
trip_bondi's ID: Olive-backed Thrush (Catharus ustulatus ssp. swainsoni)
Added on December 8, 2023
Improving

Photos / Sounds

What

Olive-backed Thrush (Catharus ustulatus ssp. swainsoni)

Observer

snovaeve

Date

May 19, 2023 03:04 PM EDT
Swainson's Thrush - Photo (c) Joanne Muis Redwood, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Joanne Muis Redwood
trip_bondi's ID: Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus)
Added on December 8, 2023
Supporting

Photos / Sounds

What

Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus)

Observer

ripley_k

Date

December 2023
Horned Grebe - Photo (c) brian stahls, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by brian stahls
trip_bondi's ID: Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus)
Added on December 8, 2023
Supporting

Photos / Sounds

What

American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)

Observer

ahuntley2

Date

March 2020

Description

Hillsdale Commons Park

American Crow - Photo (c) Joe McKenna, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
trip_bondi's ID: American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)
Added on December 8, 2023
Supporting

Photos / Sounds

What

Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator)

Date

April 14, 2021 10:47 AM EDT
Red-breasted Merganser - Photo (c) Mario Finkel, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Mario Finkel
trip_bondi's ID: Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator)
Added on December 8, 2023
Supporting

Photos / Sounds

What

Atlantic Canada Goose (Branta canadensis ssp. canadensis)

Observer

woodlandpaths

Date

February 2023

Description

ID suggestions welcome. Bird spotted by Mark Vass, presumably an unusual subspecies due to small size, dark breast, and dark cheeks. Size between that of nearby CANG and CACG

Atlantic Canada Goose - Photo (c) Michael S. Richardson, all rights reserved, uploaded by Michael S. Richardson
trip_bondi's ID: Atlantic Canada Goose (Branta canadensis ssp. canadensis)
Added on December 8, 2023
Improving

Photos / Sounds

What

Atlantic Canada Goose (Branta canadensis ssp. canadensis)

Observer

woodlandpaths

Date

February 2023

Description

ID suggestions welcome. Bird spotted by Mark Vass, presumably an unusual subspecies due to small size, dark breast, and dark cheeks. Size between that of nearby CANG and CACG

Canada Goose - Photo (c) Dimitris Salas, all rights reserved, uploaded by Dimitris Salas
trip_bondi's ID: Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)
Added on December 8, 2023
Supporting

Stats

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