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Three-way-hybrid American Wood Warbler Found in Pennsylvania
Please note that this is not an April Fool’s Day report.
I’ll say only than the hybrid’s mother seems to be a “Brewsters” Warbler, which is itself a hybrid between Blue-winged (Vermivora cyanoptera) and Golden-winged (Vermivora chrysoptera) Warblers. The father is a third species of warbler. Get out your field guide and read the fascinating article, including many photos, by GrrlScientist.
[Chuck Almdale]
Ballona Freshwater Marsh: 3 November, 2018
Cinnamon Teal male (Ray Juncosa, Ballona FWM, 11-3-18
Did you know or did you remember that years ago what is now the Freshwater Marsh was a weedy field and a center of contention among land owners in Playa del Vista, developers and advocates of the Ballona Wetlands?
Cassin’s Kingbird with his or her white chin
(Ray Juncosa, Ballona FWM, 11-3-18
It was completed as the Freshwater Marsh in February of 2003 and wow! Look at it now!
A tiny dragon momentarily perches (AKA Variegated Meadowhawk – Sympetrum corruptum) (Ray Juncosa, Ballona FWM, 11-3-18)
Our annual “stroll” around the marsh in lovely sunny weather was marked by seeing 47 different species – a far bigger number than seen in 2002.
Greater Yellowlegs (Ray Juncosa, Ballona FWM, 11-3-18
Yellow-rumped Warbler, Audubon’s subspecies (Ray Juncosa, Ballona FWM, 11-3-18
The group was quite interactive – everyone found something wonderful to show to the rest of us. One highlight was a Virginia Rail skulking in the reeds.
Virginia Rail caught mid-skulk (Ray Juncosa, Ballona FWM, 11-3-18
Another was a selection of Kingbirds – the expected Cassin’s and Western and a Tropical! There were discussions about a Yellowlegs (Greater or Lesser) and Dowitchers (Short-billed or Long-billed) – which and why.
Long-billed Dowitcher (Ray Juncosa, Ballona FWM, 11-3-18
A grand day and a grand group. [Ellen Vahan]
| Ballona FreshWater Marsh | November 3, 2018 |
| American Wigeon | Belted Kingfisher |
| Mallard | Northern Flicker |
| Cinnamon Teal | American Kestrel |
| Northern Shoveler | Black Phoebe |
| Green-winged Teal | Say’s Phoebe |
| Ruddy Duck | Tropical Kingbird |
| Pied-billed Grebe | Cassin’s Kingbird |
| Western Grebe | Western Kingbird |
| Great Blue Heron | Bushtit |
| Great Egret | House Wren |
| Snowy Egret | Blue-gray Gnatcatcher |
| Green Heron | Ruby-crowned Kinglet |
| Black-crowned Night-Heron | Hermit Thrush |
| Turkey Vulture | Northern Mockingbird |
| Osprey | Orange-crowned Warbler |
| White-tailed Kite | Common Yellowthroat |
| Red-tailed Hawk | Yellow-rumped Warbler |
| Virginia Rail | CaliforniaTowhee |
| Sora (Heard only) | Savannah Sparrow |
| American Coot | Song Sparrow |
| Greater Yellowlegs | White-crowned Sparrow |
| Long-billed Dowitcher | Red-winged Blackbird |
| Mourning Dove | Great-tailed Grackle |
| Anna’s Hummingbird | |
| Allen’s Hummingbird | Total: 48 species |
Birding Warblers | Cornell Lab of Ornithology
To help celebrate the annual arrival of spring migrants, Jessie Barry and Chris Wood from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology share their warbler-watching tips. Join Chris and Jessie as they explore a wood-lot in Rochester, New York. Click here to see the map and a full list of everything they saw.
A film from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. If no film or link appears in this email, go to the blog to view it by clicking on the blog title above. If the film stops & starts in an annoying manner, press pause (lower left double bars ||) to let it buffer and get ahead of you. The Lab is a member-supported organization; they welcome your membership and support. [Chuck Almdale]
Cone Snails have an arsenal of tools and weapons under their pretty shells. These reef-dwelling hunters nab their prey in microseconds, then slowly eat them alive.
This is another installment of the PBS Deep Look series; this installment is adapted from the “It’s OK to be Smart” series. If no film or link appears in this email, go to the blog to view it by clicking on the blog title above. If the film stops & starts in an annoying manner, press pause (lower left double bars ||) to let it buffer and get ahead of you. [Chuck Almdale]
A new species? The Vogelkop Superb Bird-of-Paradise | Cornell / National Geographic
Sometimes a new species is hiding in plain sight…meet the Vogelkop Superb Bird-of-Paradise. Learn more about how the distinct song, dance and courtship appearance of the Vogelkop Superb Bird-of-Paradise confirms its new species status in our scientific paper: https://peerj.com/articles/4621
There are currently seventy-two short films in the entire Birds-of-Paradise Project playlist, ranging from 26 seconds to 8:29. In the upcoming weeks, we will present some of our favorites.
A film from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. If no film or link appears in this email, go to the blog to view it by clicking on the blog title above. If the film stops & starts in an annoying manner, press pause (lower left double bars ||) to let it buffer and get ahead of you. [Chuck Almdale]
SANTA MONICA BAY AUDUBON SOCIETY BLOG 