Gray

The Lensday challenge of the week is gray.

The Gray catbird is normally a secretive bird that stays hidden in thickets and bushes. I usually know there is one in the area only because of its distinctive catlike meow. It is the only North American bird that has a uniform dark gray plumage.

Because they are usually in bushes I was quite fascinated by this guy foraging out in the open, much like an American robin. He/she totally ignored me as the camera clicked away.


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A Good Birding Day!

The title says it! Finally, for a change, I had a good birding day!

Saw and heard lots of Gray Catbirds


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And then there's this little guy


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There were lots of gulls, including this guy which I think is a Franklin's Gull


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Also saw Pelicans, Double Crested Cormorants and my first Pied-billed Grebe of the fall season.

Then there was this guy


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So what is it? There were actually three of them, together. They were grazing along the side of the road. They seemed quite tame. They were moving along at a pretty good clip. I stopped the car, and watched them for a bit. I started the car and they paid me no attention. I backed up, to try to get an angle for a photo, they paid me no attention. Most wild critters would have bolted when I started the car up, to say nothing of backing up...So what is it?

Some of the photos were taken at Branched Oak Lake

UPDATE: Thanks to Cogresha for identifying my mystery bird as a Helmeted Guinea Fowl. He provided this site as verification, and for more information about the bird.