Category: birds

White Ibis Babies

These white ibis babies were younger than the previous ones I posted. It looks like this one is on a small nest within a tree. The babies do not really look a lot like the parents.

White Ibis Babies

When baby Ibises hatch their bills are straight. They do not curve. The beaks start to curve at about 14 days old. I usually do not like using Wikipedia. They say they get this “Stork, Ibises, and Spoonbills of the World” by James Hancock , which was not accessible online. “The newly hatched American white ibis is covered with violet down feathers, deepening to dark brown or black on the head and wings….develops three black rings from around day six, before turning grey by around six weeks of age. ..then a few weeks later turns pink.”

White Ibis Babies- Tired

On the above two pictures you can see the three grey rings on the beak. So in August this baby white ibis was after 6 days old, but before 6 weeks old.

White Ibis Babies

According to NPS.gov immature ibis are dark brown with a white belly and white rump.These ibis seem to be older than the first two pictures. They would seem to be less than 6 weeks old though as they still have the three gray rings on their beak. Their feathers seem more brownish.

White Ibis Babies

I felt bad for the mom with the two babies. They seemed to be constantly chatting away to her. I am guessing they were begging for food. Animal parents get little sleep either it appears. White Ibis are not even supposed to be in NJ, however they are there in multiple spots. The Merlin App would not even provide a match for it. I hope you had a restful Labor Day.

Tricoloured Heron

I knew when I took this pictures it did not quite look exactly like a great blue heron and it appeared smaller than a great blue. It wasn’t until I got home and looked at these on the computer that I figured out it was a juvenile tricoloured heron.

I do not think I got any shots of an adult tricoloured heron. This bird can be seen along the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic coast of the U.S. up to Massachusetts. They are considered year round residents according to All About Birds.

They usually forage alone for small fish.

I witnessed this one catch a few while I was watching it.

Have a restful Labor Day!

Waiting for the Kids

Where are the kids? Soon they will be ready to migrate.

Waiting for the Kids

First, one parent was waiting patiently with a fish.

Waiting for the Kids

Then the other parent showed up. They appeared to look all around and neither one took a bite of the fish. They looked like they were expecting their kids to return, but they never called out.

Waiting for the Kids

I did not see the kids return, maybe they showed up later and maybe they were able to be on their own. I understand the mother usually will leave first. The father will stay behind a little while with the kids before it leaves. The kids will leave around the same time or later than the father for warmer climates for the winter. Osprey on the East Coast of the US will travel to Central or South America for the winter.

Have a Happy Friday!

White Ibis August

I think maps need to be updated. This is another bird that is out of its breeding range. Their breeding area according to All About Birds is mostly in the deep south of the US, except a small swath of Delaware and Maryland. It’s year round range is in the states that border the Gulf of Mexico near the gulf.

White Ibis August

I spotted this with a group of others who were nesting in trees with other birds such as herons etc. in New Jersey.

White Ibis August

White Ibis are large wading birds who live in wetlands or near the coast. The information says they tend to hang out in large groups. I did see them in large groups from afar with what appeared to be Glossy Ibis in one location. I also saw one or two hunting for food a short flight from their nesting area with herons and ducks.

White Ibis August

White Ibis fly awkwardly in for a landing in trees.

Juvenile

White Ibis August

According to All About Birds ” Parents feed the chicks for 40–60 days after they leave the nest (but before they leave the colony) until they can forage by themselves. ”

This baby followed an adult to a body of water to forage.

White Ibis August

This juvenile looked like it might be on its own soon. Have a happy Sunday!

Little Blue Heron 2025

I saw this little blue heron alone in a bush. Little Blue herons will hunt alone or in small groups.

Little Blue Heron 2025

Little blue herons will eat crabs, fish, crayfish, shrimp, worms, crabs, beetles, flies, dragonflies, and bugs among other things.

Like night herons, they move slow and methodical. They will defend their hunting area from other birds such as terns.

Little Blue Heron 2025

It is fun seeing these birds and their habits. Get out and enjoy nature. Happy Friday!

Black-Crowned Night Heron 2025

What bird is nocturnal, stocky, is a symbol for patience, and spends a lot of time motionless? It is the black-crowned night heron.

Black-Crowned Night Heron 2025- Daytime near nesting location

They have the word night in their name because they are nocturnal. Usually they are active at night and sleep during the day. They sleep with their eyes closed.

Black-Crowned Night Heron 2025

I actually saw some awake during the day because they had young still relying on them for food.

Black-Crowned Night Heron 2025

This is one is hunting near a culvert under a road. The tide was coming in and water was entering the wetlands from the ocean. The black-crowned night heron goes long periods of time seemingly motionless before it strikes.

Although I have seen this bird in New York I took these pictures in New Jersey. In New York these birds are more wary of people and keep a distance. Even kayaking I have not seen once this close. Have a Happy Friday!

Yellow-Crowned Night Heron

I spotted this bird on a short trip to New Jersey in a pond near the ocean. New Jersey is in the breeding area of the yellow-crowned night heron. The Merlin app identified these birds as yellow-crowned night herons. I believe this is the first time I have seen this bird.

Yellow-Crowned Night Heron- Adult

The adults  are grey with a black head and large white cheek patch, and a creamy yellow crown that sometimes appears more white.

According to All About Birds they are a wading bird that eat: marsh crabs, fiddler crabs, ghost crabs, mole crabs, mud crabs, blue crabs, lady crabs, green crabs, rock crabs, and toad crabs. They also eat mussels, insects, scorpions, frogs, tadpoles, fish, small snakes, turtles, young birds, and small mammals. 

Juvenile

Yellow-Crowned Night Heron – Juvenile

Juveniles are brown with white spots on the back and wings. The legs are yellow to orange yellow.

Yellow-Crowned Night Heron – Juvenile

I saw the juvenile near the adult. When the adult went to the top of the bank, the juvenile followed shortly thereafter and stood near it. I did see some juvenile herons in a rookery, but could only see their heads and part of their bodies so I am not sure if they were black-crowned or yellow-crowned night herons. Happy Friday!

Brown Pelicans of Assateague Island

What do people think of when they hear of Assateague Island? Many think of the wild horses and the pony swim from Assateague to Chincoteague Island. The pony swim was yesterday. However, there is much in terms of wildlife to see at Assateague. One bird that is prevalent is the brown pelican.

Breeding Adult Brown Pelicans

Brown Pelicans of Assateague Island

I made a world wind trip to Assateague earlier in the week. I injured my knee a few months ago and only have small windows to make short trips. Brown pelicans like to fly above the surf. I have seen them early in the morning at sunrise and at other times during the day.

Brown Pelicans of Assateague Island

They will fly solo or in small groups.

Brown Pelicans of Assateague Island

Sometimes they gather together in small groups on the beach or out beyond the surf. I was lucky to see the two above on the beach. Maryland and New Jersey are in it’s breeding range.

Juvenile BRown Pelicans

Brown Pelicans of Assateague Island

Juvenile brown pelicans are mostly brown. The adults have more white around their heads. A few juveniles were hanging out with some adults.

Brown Pelicans of Assateague Island

According to all About Birds, “They have thin necks and very long bills with a stretchy throat pouch used for capturing fish.” They scoop them up in their throat pouches, which are expandable. According to the NPS.gov site they also use their neck pouches to cool off on a hot day.

This year was the first trip I have seen the pelicans this close. They flew closer to land at the beach and over land. I have not seen them standing on the beach before on previous trips. Even though I only had a short window it was a great trip.

Forster’s Tern

What bird is named after a famous naturalist ? It is the Forster’s Tern. Johann Reinhold Forster was a naturalist who voyaged with Captain Cook’s 2nd trip to the Pacific. Forster drew or cataloged 500 plants and about 300 animals.

Forster’s Tern

Appearance

I saw this bird on the New Jersey shore area. Adults have a black cap and a black tipped orange bill. Their underside is while, while the wings may have gray coloring on top. It is in between a robin and a crow in size.

Forster’s Tern

Habitat

This tern can be in fresh water or salt water. It can be seen in marshes, bays and oceans. The map on All About Birds has the NJ coast as its breeding grounds. It goes further south to the lower US and the Central American coast in winter.

Forster’s Tern

Hunting

According to All About Birds this tern gets food by scanning for food over the water, about 20 feet above it, then dives in to capture their prey with their bill. Many times they stick close to the shoreline or close to it. Their dive is shallow up to about a foot below the surface. This is exactly what I saw. The road we could view from was maybe 20 feet or more from the water’s edge. Many times it was flying close to if not above the shoreline. I could not capture it diving in as plants obscured my view. Regardless, these birds were fun to watch.

Have a great weekend! Be safe!

Mandarin Duck

I had to use the Merlin app from Cornell University to identify these ducks. The adult duck came up as a Mandarin duck. The chicks were hanging out with or near the adult. I believe the adult is a female.

I then started looking for a male. I did not see anything that looked like a male Mandarin, or what I thought a male should look like. The Canon Bird Branch Project says says that in the summer the males have the same dull plumage as the females. Their plumage starts turning bright in the fall. I am guessing the male was still around, but mixed in with the ducks or hiding in vegetation.

According to SeaWorld,”These birds can be found in Korea, Eastern Russia, China, Taiwan, and Japan.” We are seeing a stray one here and there in New York and New England. This is most likely due to one escaping from a zoo or a farmer who had them in their collection.

Have a happy Wednesday!