Scissor-Tailed Flycatcher

Lady luck was with me this morning. Made a real quick trip up to Branched Oak Lake to see if I could find the Scissor-tailed flycatcher. It appears that she may be building a nest, as she was gathering nesting material. My photo isn't particularly good, but it does show her with nesting material. (Photo is cropped)

Here's a better picture of a scissor-tail taken in Oklahoma last year.

More Branched Oak Lake Birds

Have been busy with the other stuff that fills one's life and haven't been getting out and about much of late. Did head out to Branched Oak Lake yesterday. There had been a couple of reports that a Scissor-tailed flycather had been seen there, so thought I might get lucky and find it too. Well, luck wasn't on my side yesterday. Maybe another day.

Did find this nesting Killdeer


And this Dickcissel

Viceroy

A Viceroy butterfly taken today at Branched Oak Lake.

The Viceroy looks very much like a Monarch. There are several differences, but the two most immediately obvious are size and a a black postmedian band across the hindwing. The wingspan of a Viceroy is 2 5/8 to 3 inches, and a Monarch is 3 1/2 to 4 inches. To translate what a black postmedian band is, it's a black stripe on the lower wing. This black stripe can be faint or lacking.

Happy Memorial Day Weekend

Have a safe, pleasant, and bird-filled weekend.
Last but not least, remember the reason for the holiday.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

More pictures from Squaw Creek.

A Rose-breasted grosbeak

Green Heron

I went down to Squaw Creek NWR yesterday. There were lots of birds out and about in their breeding finery. I'll be posting more pictures in the next few days.

This guy, like all Green herons was really skittish, and he didn't hang around to pose for very long.

More Young'uns

Have been having provider and computer issues. Think they are resolved now. Took these photos a couple of days ago. From the appearance of the "baby bird", I'm guessing it hadn't been hatched for very long. There were a couple of the little ones, and boy could they move, though one still had kind of wobbly legs.

Mamma Kildeer


He's so cute

Summer Residents and a Migrant

Went up to Branched Oak Lake today and a couple of summer residents and one migrant chose to pose.

The summer residents:

Barn swallow


Western kingbird


The migrant:
Harris' sparrow

Yellow-Crowned Night-Heron

I decided to drive down to Squaw Creek NWR today. I'm happy I did, because I got a lifer today. Behold a Yellow-crowned night-heron.

Osprey

Finally, some decent bird photos taken in Nebraska!

When I first saw this guy, I thought, oh, a Red-tailed hawk. Then as I got closer, I realized nope, an Osprey. Just as I got my camera lined up, he decided he wasn't in the mood for posing.