Birding and Bird Photography

From today. A Western Kingbird, a Rock Wren and baby that I'm pretty sure would've been eaten by a big ol' coachwhip snake that I scared off the rocks as I walked up and a Killdeer playing the kickin' chicken to distract me from where ever it hid the babies.

 

western bluebirds

 

This one I need help identifying,,,
Early moist morning 6k+ elevation, NE section of Yellowstone Nat Park Wyoming.

what bird is that in this good mom bringing home breakfast??? The white feathers have me perplexed and the red popping eye (from her take down or hard squeeze?) I know it’s not a great pic she was coming at me fast…. unfocused… my guess is a Lark Bunting but with no certainty. Ground feeding bird and black and white is what I come away with…? I’d love to hear your take on this ID
Thx

 

I'm having trouble turning that into a bird. I don't understand what those antennae looking appendages in-between what I guess are the red eyes. Also it looks like a little arm coming off of it below the left red eye. That said crappy photos can be misleading and you saw it and know it was a bird so I'll take you for your word. Also, I'm on my phone so maybe that is making it harder to make it out as a bird.

Lark bunting could literally dissapear within the fox's mouth (i.e., it is a small bird). Whatever that is, it is way bigger. Not too many medium sized birds (on the smaller side) with red eyes in Wyoming to choose from. If your positive those are red eyes, start looking at horned and eared grebes, killdeer, eurasian collared dove, and American coot. Other birds with red eyes in that area, but they're much smaller or bigger. If none of those, and your positive of bird with red eyes, go one by one through all birds in Wyoming with red eyes. Curious what you conclude. Some female grouse can have reddish eyes as well, but never seen any real red ones.

 

Olympic Peninsula, WA
Only had my 200mm
Flew right at me and over me, was amazing!!!

 

Sorry I should’ve mentioned the antennae is blades of grass in the background, I was WTF as well till I looked at the 2nd … way out of focus pic…

the only thing I’ve found with any sort of white feathers is the Dusky Grouse, witch might explain the red…?



Bonus photo….. On the way back to camp that evening, same stretch of the road she showed me what’s for dinner! lol. lucky me

what a great mom!

Thanks for the help!
still scratching my head, ….Nat Park biologist are hard to get a hold of, lol. Don’t blame them there are so many of us bipedal zoo in the park, they’ll never get to their field studies.

 

Speaking of great moms..


that’s a four Star apartment right there! Out of the elements, especially since we had a fresh dusting of snow couple nights ago….

 

My first thought was dusky grouse and that is why I mentioned grouse at the end, but because of the red eye statement I went with red eye species. I think dusky grouse is a good bet now that the red could be feathers.

 

Lol yup!
at 6-8000 feet elevation and being the edge of the Rockies range, Yellowstone National Park. You can expect any type of weather but wait an hour or two and it can change. Winter temps have reached 56 below in record times at 7k elev on the NEastern side, This last winter it only made it to 26 below, so I was told.

 

Hoatzin- eastern Peru

 

Quick photos of a heron sitting around when I walked out the front door.

 

If only she would land……?
Golden Eagle

 

Some photos from my walk this morning.

 

This screech was out all day today. Sometimes I see it and sometimes I don't.