Californian birds 4, 30 Oct.-1 Nov., Laguna Beach etc (1 Viewer)

[Macswede]

The final thread for my visit to California

Universal Studios
1 Goldeneye
2 American Coot

Laguna Beach
3 Allen's
4 Allen's (Even though they look so different to me I think they're the same species).
5 California Towhee

 

[Macswede]

All Laguna Beach

6 Anna's
7 Allen's
8 Allen's (female)
9 American Crow (even though the tail looks quite wedge-shaped)
10 Allen's (male)

 

[ntbirdman]

1 is not a Goldeneye, but I'm not sure what it is
2 is a Coot
3 is Allen's
5 is a Say's Phoebe

 

[Macswede]

Laguna Beach
11 Anna's (male)
12 Not sure, maybe Orange-crowned Warbler

University of California Irvine
13 Cedar Waxwing
14 Cedar Waxwing

Laguna Beach
15 Anna's (male)

 

[Macswede]

1 is not a Goldeneye, but I'm not sure what it is

The other one I thought of was Ruddy Duck

 

[Macswede]

Laguna Beach

16 Anna's (male)

Plus 1 with no picture On the way home we changed to our international flight at Chicago O'Hare and when I was walking along a glass corridor I looked up and saw a smallish falcon fly past quite low. I got a good view and it had buff underparts and no other obvious distinguishing marks. Is anything other than American Kestrel possible?

I'd just like to say thanks to everyone for the ID help. I had a great trip to California - not just because of the the birds either though that was a big factor. There were nice people, good food and some beautiful places. The study visits were very interesting too.

 

[Macswede]

[QUOTE 5 is a Say's Phoebe[/QUOTE]

That's great - that's another new on1 what about 4 is it an Allen's?

 

[bcl05]

I'm going to dodge the humingbirds, but #12 is a yellow-rumped warbler. Great pictures.

 

[Macswede]

Thanks very much, bcl05!

 

[ntbirdman]

Sorry, I can't comment much on the hummers. I just don't know them well. The duck is not a Ruddy Duck either - that would have either a white cheek patch, or a dark line through a whitish cheek. I'm leaning towards female Redhead, but it doesn't seem to fit perfectly. Do you have any other pictures? Is it possible that there were exotics on the pond, and I have to consider non-US ducks?

 

[Steve Schoech]

Agree with Ruddy Duck, Say's Phoebe, and Yellow-rumped Warbler.
Isn't the last hummer another Anna's? The structural red seems to go well up into the crown which is consistent with Anna's.

 

[Steve Schoech]

That tail 'screams' stiff-tailed duck, no? Agree ruddy should have more white on the face but perhaps a tick of the light?

 

[Macswede]

There are 3 pics of the duck. The trouble is they're all pretty much identical. Here's one more though.
I don't think it's a Ruddy Duck either now.

 

[ntbirdman]

That tail 'screams' stiff-tailed duck, no? Agree ruddy should have more white on the face but perhaps a tick of the light?

No, not really. It looks like a standard duck tail to me. Stifftail tails are much longer with a different shape:
http://www.flyways.us/sites/default/files/images/stories/ruddyduck/2RuddyDuckFemale.jpg
I think Macswedes' bird is just unusual because you dont usually see diving ducks holding up their tail. The head is not really in that much of a shadow and any pattern would show up quite clearly in that light. Also, stifftails have a different, shorter flatter head shape than this duck. My vote is for female Aythya, probably either Redhead or Ring-necked Duck.

 

[Tib78]

On jizz it looks like a Ring-necked duck. The dull facial pattern is strange but on structure the bird looks better fo Ring-necked to my eyes with a domed rear-crown rather than a domed forehead (as in Redhead). Body shape looks quite 'compact' as well (very subjective I reckon!) also, this duck seems to float quite high on the water while Redhead is quite 'flat' in appearence, if that makes any sense...

 

[birding maniac]

My instant reaction on swing the duck was ring necked...
Can't really comment on hummers, agree with others.

 

[Macswede]

Ring-necked then.

 

[guy_incognito]

For the hummer's I'd say:
3,4,7,8,10 - Allen's
6,11,15,16 - Anna's

Not sure on 9, but I would vote Common Raven due to the tail shape.

 

[njlarsen]

Ring-necked then.

Sorry to break that consensus, but I think it matches better w female redhead than ring-neck, especially in the shape of the bill (even if one forgets that only very young ring-necks should lack the white ring around the bill).

Niels

 

[ntbirdman]

I'm now firmly in the Ring-necked camp. If you look really closely, you can actually see the white ring on the bill. I agree with the point made about head shape. Also, you can just barely see the white patch at the base of the bill.