Yellow-breasted Chat

I swear, if it wasn't for Jerry Jourdan's amazing blog, I would never know of the good nearby birds.  On Sunday, I saw Jerry's Yellow-breasted Chat post and then on Monday I tried for the bird.  I arrived later than I should have.  Heard singing for sure; but seeing, no way.  I went back this morning much earlier.  Two other photographers were already there.  At first it seemed like it would be a repeat of my Monday effort.  But then the bird flew to a heavily leafed tree, and then to a nearby tall dead tree.  The bird was at the top of the tree and quite far away, but the movie set lighting made photos possible.  Below are my best efforts.   

Irresistible.  One of my favorite birds. 

Some April and May photos

The first eight photos were taken in Celina, Texas - 45 minutes north of Dallas - on 4/30/23.

The photos below were taken at Magee Marsh on 5/18/23.

The Swainson's Thrush above was taken at Rouge River Bird Observatory.

Help with sparrow identification

I wanted this bird to be a migrating Baird's sparrow.  I emailed my photo to two friends, who know much more than I do, for their opinions.  One friend gently humored my Baird's sparrow ID, but then got right to the point as did my other friend.

Before emailing my friends I submitted this photo to Merlin Bird ID and received the following potential identifications:  bobolink, grasshopper sparrow, henslow's sparrow and savannah sparrow.  Of these suggestions I could also see the potential for grasshopper sparrow.      

Apologies for my less than optimal photo.  I had two chances; the first was out-of-focus and the second is below.  Location was a large, weedy wildflower field surrounded by a massive new housing development in Celina, Texas, about 40-45 miles directly north of Dallas.  Date was Saturday, 04/29/23.  Also seen here were Western Kingbirds and Scissior-tailed Flycatchers.  Click on the photo to enlarge.    

The identification independently offered by each friend:  Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis).  My guess of migrating Baird's sparrow (Ammodramus bairdii) was magical thinking. 

Acknowledgements

This might seem over-the-top - after all, it's only a blog - but after writing approximately 12,000 words about a trip with so much going on, there are acknowledgements to make.  In no particular order, all are equally important.

Not a good photo, but an important bird:  Malabar parakeet (Psittacula columboides)

To my doctor, also unnamed, who was so helpful to me during the initial days of my COVID ordeal.  It was her idea to take along Paxlovid.  Just reading her texts with her practical and encouraging advice buoyed my spirits.  In retrospect, I understand why the ATO and WWE would not agree to speak with her.  She would have cleaned their clocks.  She's a great doctor!

To Shaji, my driver for 2-1/2 days.  I wish it could have been more days.  Everyone's life includes a bit of luck.  I don't know how I got so lucky to have Shaji as my driver.  My plan is to return to Bangalore after my friend and her family move into their new apartment.  Hopefully, I will be able to hire Shaji and we will all take a trip to Hampi together.  No binoculars needed!  Thank you Shaji.

To our excellent tour organizer and field guide (IFG).  During my COVID ordeal, he was stuck in the middle (the worst place to be) trying to negotiate for my return to the group.  He did his own research with objective sources and he read each of my doctor's texts.  He may have used this information to win battles for me.  During the coup d'etat he was on the front lines trying to preserve the integrity of the trip.  A real mensch in the unexpected and unenviable position of having to deal with self-absorbed jerks.  I doubt the opportunity to take another trip with him will present itself, but who knows.

The group included a married couple, also unnamed, who advocated for me during the COVID drama.  I didn't know it at the time, but I do now, and I thank them. 

To my friend, Deepa, in Bangalore -  a new friend who feels like an old friend - I hope we are friends for a very long time. 

Following my truncated efforts to document the 2020 north India trip on my blog, I dedicate this trip blog to south India and the Andaman Islands.  It's not what I was expecting to write, but I hope I finally did India justice with these entries.  It's a fantastic country and fingers crossed,  I'll be able to return.   

More Andaman Island birds

Not the typical birding trip one expects to have.  As I have written, there was a lot going on.  We saw a lot of birds, but we missed a lot too. You will never see them all, but it was a lot of fun trying.  To end my south India and Andaman Islands trip report and mostly without additional commentary, here are a few more good birds from the Andamans.

Above and below:  Green Imperial Pigeon (Ducala aenea)

Dollarbird (Eurystomus orientalis) - widespread in many countries.

Whimbrel (Nemenius phaeopus) - yes, this is a Whimbrel.  Eurasian Curlew (N. arguata) is also a winter visitor to the Andamans.

Pacific Golden Plover (Pluvialis fulva)

Given the location of the Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea, I would have thought that (European) Golden Plover (Pluvialis apricaria) would be more likely to be found when away from its breeding range in northern Scandinavia and Siberia.  But the Princeton field guide Birds of India (2012) shows only Pacific Golden Plover as a possibility.  The European and Pacific Golden plovers have very similar appearances.  The Pacific Golden Plover and the Whimbrel share quite similar winter ranges in Southern India and the Andaman Islands.  

Above and below:  Pacific Reef Egret (Egretta sacra)

Photo series:  Evening silhouette of crow attacking White-bellied Sea Eagle.

Above:  Flyby of the attacked White-bellied Sea Eagle.  I have other photos but none of good quality and I thought the one above was the most interesting.   

Above and below:  Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatas)

Backlit male Greater Racket-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus paradiseus)

Above and below:  Olive-backed Sunbird (Cinnyris jugularis)

Everywhere you go the Red-whiskered Bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus) will be there too.

White-headed Starling (Sturnia erythropygia)

Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)

Non-breeding Pheasant-tailed Jacana (Hydrophasianus chirurgus)

Long-toed Stint (Calidris subminuta)

True confession:  Now I can't tell which is which.  Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) and Pin-tailed Snipe (Gallinago stenura).  The Princeton guide does not help me feel secure in my guess.  I recall Pin-tailed and Common snipes being in the same field of view being called out. More research needed.  

Above and below:  Chinese Pond Heron (Ardeola bacchus).  I like the photo below because the bird is in completely different habitat.  It also shows how dry everything is.

Above and below:  Freckled-breasted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos macei analis) formerly Spot-breasted Woodpecker.

Juvenile White-bellied Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster)

The ever present Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis)

Last morning photo of White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnenis)

The beautiful Emerald Dove (Chalcophaps indica)

I began my trip report with the first entry on April 8th.  Now, on April 24th, and 16 entries in all, I have finally fully reported on my 2023 trip to south India and the Andaman Islands.  In time, I might do another "Can you find the bird?" post of photos taken where it's tricky.  Until then, this is ... 

... The End!