Return of the Usual Suspects

Red-winged Blackbirds flying off from last seasons cattails

The usual birds have started returning to the ranch. Every spring and summer we hear the sweet songs and see the beautiful feathers of these birds. We have other bird visitors as well, but we can always count on these bird species to show up in great numbers every year. The Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta) I mentioned last week is one of these consistent birds, but since I talked about them exclusively in the last post I won't talk about them again here.

Recently, the fields and pond edges have become filled with Red-Winged Blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus)--there are thousands of them filling the air with their distinctive calls, Brieeeeeeeeeeeeeee-you. They hangout on the top of sagebrush and on the tops of the dried out cattail stalks, leftover from last years growing season. The White-Crowned Sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys) are back too, they love to hangout in the trees right around our house, cleaning up the spilled grain that the horses leave behind.

Also blessing us with their presence, are the Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus). They aren't around the house so much, but they are out in great numbers down in the alfalfa fields. The Eurasian Collard-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) is here too and although last year was the first year they were at the ranch, I have a feeling they are going to be returning visitors in the years to come. Oh, and I must not forget the Turkey Vultures (Cathartes aura), they too are back in full force hanging out in the tops of the locust trees and circling menacingly around the ranch.

Turkey Vultures circling high above the ranch

There are other birds that are consistent returners to the ranch as well, however, I have yet to see them this season, I will post about them as soon as I do.