Many Juvenile Birds at Col. Sam Smith Park: August 2021

I went to this park this morning hoping to find some shorebirds. Many have already begun to flee their Arctic breeding grounds and are now heading south. The rocks at Col Sam are a good place to see them. No luck.

There were, however, lots of juvenile birds and here are some of them.

Juvenile Black-crowned Night Herons scarcely resemble their parents.

Black-crowned Night Heron (juvenile)
Black-crowned Night Heron (juvenile)
Black-crowned Night Heron (juvenile)
Black-crowned Night Heron (juvenile)
Black-crowned Night Heron (juvenile)
Black-crowned Night Heron (juvenile)

Many Mallard ducklings are almost full-grown now but a few little ones are still about.

Mallard family
Mallards (juvenile)
Mallard (juvenile)
Mallard family
Mallard family
Mallard family

There were four kingfishers, so I assume that two were likely juveniles.

Belted Kingfisher
Belted Kingfisher
Belted Kingfisher
Belted Kingfisher

These photos show a mixture of mature and juvenile Common Terns. In juveniles, the black does not yet cover the forehead.

Common Tern
Common Terns
Common Tern
Common Terns
Common Terns
Common Terns

The now almost full-grown Red-necked Grebe juvenile is still here looking as if it wonders where its parents have disappeared to.

Red-necked Grebe (juvenile)

MYSTERY BIRD

I will identify it at the end of the post.

Other birds and sights:

Ring-billed Gull
Mallard
Mallard
Double-crested Cormorants
Red-necked Grebe
American Goldfinch (female)
American Goldfinch (female)
American Goldfinch (female)
American Goldfinch (female)
American Goldfinch (female)
American Goldfinch (female)
Mute Swans
Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron
Mallards
Great Blue Heron
Red-eared Slider
Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron
American Robin
Great Blue Heron
Red-eared Slider
Mallards
Mute Swan
Black Swallowtail
Ring-billed Gull

MYSTERY BIRD

When I first saw this at a distance I thought that it was a Catbird because of the gray. Closer inspection shows it to be a Robin though we don’t see the orange belly.

American Robin

NATURE POETRY

How soon hath Time, the subtle thief of youth,
Stol’n on his wing my three-and-twentieth year!
My hasting days fly on with full career,
But my late spring no bud or blossom shew’th … – Milton (1608 – 1674)

Miles Hearn


1 thought on “Many Juvenile Birds at Col. Sam Smith Park: August 2021

  1. Lisa Volkov

    Ha! I thought it was a Catbird too!
    Great pictures. The juveniles are amazing! (I don’t believe I have ever seen a juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron before.) Of course, I felt sorry for the forlorn-looking Red-necked Grebe, but I know it has to set off on its own independent life. Too anthropomorphic of me? (Actually, a second look suggests that it could be looking ahead to a brave new day, too!)
    And the Slider!
    Thanks, Miles!

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *