Visitors and Nesters for JULY 2005

FLEDGLINGS
Western Kingbirds and Barn Swallows

Robin and Western Meadowlark

Killdeer

Scaled Quail
a covey of 9 strolled through the back yard

an ugly duckling Great-tailed Grackle

Bullock's Oriole

Long-billed Curlew
in a field terrace bottom after the rain on July 2,2005

Upland Sandpiper
a dozen here in 109 degree heat on July 17

Grasshopper Sparrow
July 17 and 109 degrees
photographed in a pasture just west of the house - also seen at the yard pond

Northern Harrier
July 17
in a pasture just west of the house

An unusual several days for the heat and for the birds that passed through: a Northern Mockingbird (July 15th) a Brown Thrasher (July 16), Upland Sandpipers (1 or 2 July 15-19, 12 on July 17), and 2 Yellow-headed Blackbirds (July 18)...200 to 300 birds were in the yard on the 17th trying to escape the heat ...the most interesting were the covey of 9 (about 2/3 grown) Scaled Quail, Western Kingbirds, Horned Larks, Western Meadowlarks (thousands are seen in the fields and pastures), House finches (which haven't been present for several weeks) Bullock's Orioles, Mourning Doves, Barn Swallows, Killdeer... fun to watch the adults train the young ones

Horned Lark or Pipit?
July 18
in south pasture

Ash-throated Flycatcher
July 20

Lark Bunting
July 21

Cockatiel
July 24

the escapee was among almost 20 species of the plains at the waterhole: all ages and both male and female: Meadowlarks, Killdeer, Horned Larks, Lark Buntings, Grackles, Great-tailed Grackles, Starlings, Brown-headed Cowbirds, Brewer's Blackbirds, Bullock's Orioles, Mourning Doves, Western Kingbirds, Barn Swallows, and House Sparrows; in addition there was a single Chipping Sparrow, Lark Sparrow, juvenile Robin, fly-over pigeons, and the Cockatiel.