American Pipit

American Pipits are common, if inconspicuous, breeding across Alaska and Arctic Canada south above tree-line through the Rocky Mountains south almost to the Mexican border. They migrate south in the winter to the southern United State, across Mexico, and into Central America. A race of the American Pipit breeds in Siberia and winters from Israel to Southeast Asia.

I have only seven American Pipit records from Minnesota. As I just wrote, these birds are inconspicuous. At least one pipit flushed as I looked for birds at the Dennison Water Treatment Ponds here in Rice County on 29 October 2018. The pipit gave a few high-pitched whistles and flew to a nearby barbed-wired fence. This behavior surprised me, since almost every other pipit I have seen foraged on the ground or perched on rocks. I did not complain and grabbed my camera.

Northern Shoveler

One more duck from our 22 October 2018 visit to the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge—a drake Northern Shoveler. When not preening, these ducks swam in tight circles, using their outsized, spatula-shaped bills to sieve the water for small crustaceans. The bills come complete with large comblike structures along their outer edges. While ideal for straining water, the bills do appear to be rather long for preening purposes.

Gadwall

A pair of Gadwalls shared the Bass Pond where we found the Northern Pintails of my last post. Like the pintails, Gadwalls are found across the Northern Hemisphere. The origin of the word “gadwall” is not known. There are references to “gaddels” in 1667. You can see that Gadwalls are dabbling ducks, feeding with their tails up in the air. Erika calls them Black-assed Ducks.

Northern Pintail

I read that various duck species were seen at the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge’s Bass Ponds. This area is about 40 minutes north of us along the Minnesota River near the Mall of America. Erika and I drove up there and found lots of waterfowl in the river, and an assortment of birds in one of the Bass Ponds.

We quickly listed a few Northern Pintails, an abundant duck found across the World's northern latitudes. In North America, they breed across Canada into Alaska and south into the northern Great Plains. They are “puddle ducks” —a group of species that feed with their tails in the air. You can see this behavior in the second photo. As I recall, the duck dabbling in the background is a female. The other pintails in these images are drakes.

Great-tailed Grackle

I have carried this image of Great-tailed Grackles on my desktop for several months. I have been thinking of compiling a collection of bird photos taken through hotel windows. Quality always suffers when you take photos through windows. I took this photo in Fort Worth, Texas, last August. Topaz Labs recently came out with a new feature called AI Clear, which automatically cleans noise and sharpens photos. I ran this photo through Topaz Studio, which contains AI Clear. I think the result is remarkable. For more Great-tailed Grackle information, see my April 2012 blog post.

Eastern Bluebird

Not the best image of an Eastern Bluebird, this photograph does capture the intensity of the bird’s wings, rump, and tail. We found several bluebirds along a Northfield pond on 15 October 2018. The blue of bluebirds depends on light refraction, not on pigmentation. Air pockets and melanin in the feathers scatter blue light and absorb other wavelengths (Birdnote.com).

Great Blue Heron

I wonder if this Great Blue Heron we encountered on 15 October 2018 is the same individual we’ve seen on a Northfield pond all fall. Great Blue Herons are common North American birds. They survived both the millinery trade of the early 1900s and widespread habitat destruction. Vennesland and Butler (2011), however, warn that continued habitat loss, climate change, and increases in heron predator populations all present potential problems for the species’ survival.

American Coot

Erika and I walked around a Northfield pond on 15 October 2018. We discovered a preening American Coot. You can clearly see the red bill knob typical of most North American coots—see my previous post. After the bird finished its feather maintenance, it flapped and stretched its wings.

Yellow-rumped Warbler

15 October 2018 found me birding in Crosby Farm Park in Ramsey County in St. Paul, Minnesota. This morning was chilly and windy. Several  Yellow-rumped Warblers fed on the ground along a lakeshore. Others searched for food—presumably lethargic or dead insects— on lily pads in the lake. The birds almost looked like they walked on water.

Cedar Waxwing

This Cedar Waxwing fed on Crab Apples at the University of Minnesota Landscpe Arboretum on 13 October 2018.  The somewhat streaked, ragged flank feathers indicate that this bird is immature, hatched this year. The extensively black chin is a sign that this bird is a male. Females are much less extensively black below the bill. This individual was in the company of a large flock of Cedar Waxwings plus a few American Robins.