Category Archives: Perching Birds

Rusty Blackbird at Stream Edge

This Rusty Blackbird blended into the background but as he twisted around poking in the stream his understated color scheme showed off a bit. A nearby maple tree had dropped a few turned leaves for a hint of color in the scene.

Rusty Blackbird Peeking in Blackman Stream
Rusty Blackbird Peeking in Blackman Stream
Rusty Blackbird Peeking in Blackman Stream
Rusty Blackbird Peeking in Blackman Stream
Rusty Blackbird Peeking in Blackman Stream
Rusty Blackbird Peeking in Blackman Stream
Rusty Blackbird Peeking in Blackman Stream
Rusty Blackbird Peeking in Blackman Stream

ID by Merlin Bird ID app

Bradley, ME
October 1, 2022

Cave Swallows

I recently went on a boat trip that passed under this bridge that was hosting swallow nests.

Cave Swallow Nests
Cave Swallow Nests

The Merlin Bird ID By Cornell Lab app identifies them as Cliff Swallows, an uncommon bird in SC.

Cave Swallow Nests
Cave Swallow Nests

There wasn’t enough light to really see the colors, these were taken with my short lens, and these little guys were speedy!

Cave Swallow Nests
Cave Swallow Nests

The nests were pretty fascinating, too, more of an engineering marvel than the bridge.

Cave Swallow Nests
Cave Swallow Nests

Rusty Blackbird

A new bird to me, I spotted a pair of Rusty Blackbirds foraging at the edges of a swamp.

Rusty Blackbird
Rusty Blackbird

After a short pause out in the open this one went back to exploring the mud.

Rusty Blackbird
Rusty Blackbird

They eat insects or seeds, so about anything in this little pool would be a good snack.

Rusty Blackbird
Rusty Blackbird and his reflection

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
December 23, 2021

Grackle With a Short Tail

The Merlin Bird ID app says this is likely a Boat-tailed Grackle, despite the short tail.

Boat-tailed Grackle
Common or Boat-tailed Grackle

I saw a couple of them that had odd looking tails on a walk around an old rice field dike and wondered if they were juveniles. Turns out juveniles are brown.

Boat-tailed Grackle
Common or Boat-tailed Grackle

And the yellow eye is variable in both Common and Boat-tailed Grackles.

Boat-tailed Grackle
Common or Boat-tailed Grackle

Whichever it was, this one had climbing on his mind.

Boat-tailed Grackle
Common or Boat-tailed Grackle

 

 

 

Boat-tailed Grackle Pair, Singing

Well, it’s rather a harsh song, and can grate on your nerves if you are sharing space with them near a boat launch. That’s where I spotted this pair, the male trying really hard to impress the female.

Boat-tailed Grackle Pair
Boat-tailed Grackle Pair

When they are in the shade the grackle’s blue iridescent feathers don’t show off much but they make a nice silhouette.

Boat-tailed Grackle Pair
Boat-tailed Grackle Pair

The male’s efforts didn’t seem to be making enough impression.

Boat-tailed Grackle Pair
Boat-tailed Grackle Pair

Hmm, I can ignore you, too!

Boat-tailed Grackle Pair
Boat-tailed Grackle Pair

Northern Mockingbird, Not Moving

This Northern Mockingbird flicked his tailed or might not have seen him nestled up to the Spanish Moss.

Northern Mockingbird
Northern Mockingbird

After a few shots I was ready to pass by, but it was as if he didn’t see me. He didn’t fly off even as I got a bit closer for a better angle.

Northern Mockingbird
Northern Mockingbird

Ah, but he did and just didn’t care that I was there.

Northern Mockingbird
Northern Mockingbird, Tilting His Head