kibby's Favorites

Great Tinamou, Tinamus major, La Selva Biological Station, Saripiqui, Costa Rica. This bird was very tame and walked right past me on a trail, seemingly oblivious to my presence. It was calling quite close to the dorms at La Selva, and it was one of the many loud calls that woke me up that morning. Location updated from Google maps--this was right by the dorm where I stayed.

Tinamus_majorPCSL00504B

I have a number of other slides from Costa Rica. Perhaps someday I will scan them all and add to iNaturalist.

North Island Robin, Toutouwai - Petroica longipes
New Zealand endemic, uncommon but not threatened
We saw these at several sites, and they usually come right up to investigate humans, likely looking for insects disturbed by the lumbering bipeds (autolycism). I imagine they used to follow Moas.
References

• New Zealand Birds Online nzbirdsonline.org.nz/species/north-island-robin
• Robertson et al. The Hand Guide to the Birds of New Zealand (Penguin Random House New Zealand, 2015), plate 80

North Island Saddleback, Tieke - Philesturnus rufusater
Their loud call "cheet te-te-te-te" reminds me of the North American Brown-headed Nuthatch, at least in rhythym and insistence.
New Zealand Birds Online notes the species had been reduced to a single population on Hen Island by the early 20th century. Translocations from this population were started in the 1960's and it is now present on more than twenty predator-free reserves.
References

• New Zealand Birds Online nzbirdsonline.org.nz/species/north-island-saddleback
• Robertson et al. The Hand Guide to the Birds of New Zealand (Penguin Random House New Zealand, 2015), plate 76

Growing in a lower lying area that stays wet longer than the surrounding brushland and is a few feet below elevation on a nearly undetectable slope. Growing with Manfreda longiflora, Mammillaria heyderi, Echinocactus texensis. Many dead mesquites, living ones extremely dwarfed likely due to salinity

I'm uploading two images of ringtails on successive nights. I'm always trying to figure out how many different individuals I have in the area. These animals posed in exactly the same spot on the two nights. If I squint hard enough, I think I see slightly different strengths of tail banding on the two individuals, but I may be just imagining that difference. Compare:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/153042453

So, here is a twist: I saw this guy this morning at a distance, where I usually see my pair. I assumed that this was the solo. Just a few minutes later, I found the pair down in the park. When I got home and looked closer at the photos, I realized this is a new male moving into the territory.

I was so excited this morning to see two new coyotes. They were at the west end of the park, on Puma Ridge. It was too early in the morning to get really good shots. I saw the one, and watched him disappear down the hill. A few minutes and a few dozen yards later, I saw not one but two heading up the next ridge then out of sight.

I have more photos of this fight to exhaustion if a project is interested. Both the dominant bird and the defeated bird eventually separated and both appeared to have survived with only momentary periods of exhaustion for both where they would feed at the same feeder for a moment then resume their dispute. This was in a residential backyard with plenty of food sources, both natural and hummingbird feeders.

Was within 10 feet of me before I realized it was there. We were separated by a large bush. Collared wolf by Jackson lake grand teton. Thought it was a bear at first because I couldn’t see it until this photo was taken.

Fire-fronted Serin (Serinus pusillus) captured at Aliabad, Hunza, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan with Canon EOS 7D Mark II.

For detailed information about Birds of Gilgit-Baltistan visit www.birdsofgilgit.com

Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) captured at Borit, Gojal, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan with Canon EOS 7D Mark II.

For detailed information about Birds of Gilgit-Baltistan visit www.birdsofgilgit.com