Towhee, Warbling Vireo and Fox: May 2021

The Eastern Towhee is quite secretive and usually stays hidden in vegetation. They are most often by themselves and forage on the ground by scratching vigorously in leaf litter for seeds and insects.

Eastern Towhee (male)
Eastern Towhee (male)
Eastern Towhee (male)
Eastern Towhee (male)
Eastern Towhee (male)

MYSTERY BIRD

I will identify it at the end of the post.

The Warbling Vireo is a bird of village shade trees or by rural roadsides. It is a small vireo with no wing bars and the pale line over the eye is not bordered above and below with dark lines as in the Red-eyed and Philadelphia Vireos.

This one was warbling loudly at Col Sam Smith Park:

Warbling Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Warbling Vireo

I was surprised while standing on my front porch early this morning to see a Red Fox casually moving about.

Red Fox
Red Fox
Red Fox
Red Fox
Red Fox

Other birds:

American Goldfinch (male)
Swamp Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Red-necked Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Red-breasted Mergansers
Long-tailed Duck (female)
Long-tailed Duck (female)
Long-tailed Duck (male)
Long-tailed Duck (male)
Double-crested Cormorants
Double-crested Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorants
Ring-billed Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Common Grackle
Song Sparrow
Yellow Warbler (male)
Yellow Warbler (male)
House Finch (male)
Red-winged Blackbird (male)
American Robin
Red-necked Grebes

MYSTERY BIRD

This one is a little confusing because the light makes it look quite brown. Common Grackles usually look much darker. The white eye ring is a good identification mark.

Common Grackle

NATURE POETRY

Without your showers, I breed no flowers,
Each field a barren waste appears;
If you don’t weep, my blossoms sleep,
They take such pleasures in your tears.     – Philip Freneau (1752–1832)

Miles Hearn

5 thoughts on “Towhee, Warbling Vireo and Fox: May 2021

  1. Diana Chastain

    I learn something new every time I look through your reports.
    I also test myself, attempting to identify before reading the bird name!
    Thanks so much Miles!

    Reply
  2. rosemarie fischer

    thanks for the wonderful birds and the red fox is so at ease,and,itchy…..yes, I also learn something new every time I look at these reports. thank you,Miles

    Reply
  3. Joyce Sparks

    I love the photos where to capture the birds with their beaks open in song 🎵
    I can almost hear them singing. Thx Miles.

    Reply
  4. Lisa Volkov

    Once again, such marvelous pictures. Looks like some of the winter ducks are sticking around–I guess the cold may be keeping them here! Thanks, Miles!

    Reply

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