Here’s a reminder of 3 field marks for Downy v Hairy Woodpecker.
1 Small black bars on outer tail feathers (Downy). All white for Hairy.
2) Bill shorter than the width of the head (Downy). Hairy is much larger bill, comparable to width of head.
3) Red on back of head on male Downy uninterrupted by black (as in Hairy). (Copyright for painting David A. Sibley)
Woodpecker’s namesake.
We have at least 3 rufous hummers at our Fort Davis place. The notch in R2 (2nd tail feather (retrices) from the middle) in one of the pix is diagnostic. Full adult male just showed up!! (more pix to come)
Here are the gulls we did see. Can you ID without your book?
I believe virtual sparrow fest is free this year. https://www.friendsofbalcones.org/event-4122116. Sign up and see what Dr Birdy and friends can find on the refuge. Try googling sparrowfest 2021 if link above doesn’t work.
Here’s 2 habits I’d like ya’ll to start working on (if you don’t already do).
Well I’ve been out gulling most days this week. Staying at my sister’s who lives near a favorite gull location on Lake Ray Hubbard. I’ve been looking for, and thought I’d found, variously Iceland gull (Thayers), California Gull, and today a great black backed gull. After review of bad digiscoped-through-the-fog-in-the-chill-breeze pix and videos and consultation…
