The Merlin Bird ID app says this is likely a Boat-tailed Grackle, despite the short tail.
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.
And the yellow eye is variable in both Common and Boat-tailed Grackles.
Whichever it was, this one had climbing on his mind.
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.
When they are in the shade the grackle’s blue iridescent feathers don’t show off much but they make a nice silhouette.
The male’s efforts didn’t seem to be making enough impression.
Hmm, I can ignore you, too!
This Northern Mockingbird flicked his tailed or might not have seen him nestled up to the Spanish Moss.
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.
Ah, but he did and just didn’t care that I was there.
This Northern Mockingbird gave me a full photo-shoot opportunity.
He executed several turns as he surveyed the marsh below him.
Mockingbirds are very common and easy to overlook with rather a drab appearance. Their spunkiness makes them stand out.
Good morning!
Blue Grosbeak against the blue sky, watching for bugs.
A storm seemed imminent with darkening clouds and some distant thunder so I was headed back to my car from the swamp. A number of Grackles were entertaining me along the way, including this one perched on a slowly deteriorating tree. The tree reminds me of an artwork, perhaps a wrist and hand holding up the sky.
A few more steps along and a different look to the sky and those outstretched fingers.
I had driven barely a mile down the road when the sun came out bright. I’ve learned that summer thunder/rain storms around Charleston can be very localized and nothing to mess with.
Often the little birds are all tucked in at the end of the day but this little fellow was hunting for snacks just before the sun dipped below the tree line.
He checked a variety of spots along a hedge.
I didn’t see him catch anything.
Since I walked this path a month ago the water has been drained out of the pond behind this Eastern Eastern Kingbird.
Dragonflies were hovering over the mostly dry pond bed and the Kingbird was taking advantage. He had a nice snack of what looked like an Eastern Pondhawk between these two images. Unfortunately swaying reeds on the bank ruined all images of that!
A chick joined the adult calling to be fed. The adult didn’t seem impressed and soon they swooped off together. Time for the juvenile to catch his own lunch.
I was busy watching a Green Heron when I realized there was a commotion going on in a nearby tree top.
The juvenile Grackle was calling out his hunger in a big way.
After delivering a good size insect the chick continued to call for more.
The adult was not persuaded to go after another round of food and stayed put, listening to the chatter.
