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Post by kastern on May 31, 2006 18:57:18 GMT -8
Had just finished sending in the Horned Grebe report when I could hear a call I didn't recognize out in the back yard. There was an Oriole in the Cascara Tree in my backyard in full view - it was facing me and the entire bird that I could see was bright yellow with a black 'bib' just under the bill.  Reached around the corner for my camera and it had flown to the top of a nearby cedar. I've checked my books and the closest I can see is a first year Hooded Oriole. The call of the Hooded Oriole is described as a hard 'chet' and that exactly describes what I was hearing. It wasn't a first year Bullock's - I have several of them around and they aren't bright yellow from head to tail tip like this one was. With luck it will stay around so I can get a photo! Kathy |
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Post by Gord on May 31, 2006 21:04:55 GMT -8
OH OH OH OH OH!!! Please get more looks and a picture, although this is a very promising sounding sighting as it stands!!
Seems I might be coming out that way tomorrow just about lunch time...will have my eyes open!!
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Post by kastern on Jun 1, 2006 12:04:15 GMT -8
So far today no sign of the bird. I have every 'birder' in the park on the look out with instructions to call me immediately if they see it and to get a picture if at all possible.
This morning I spoke to the person in the park who a number of years ago had one lone Bullock's Oriole show up at his hummingbird feeder and adapted the feeder to make it easier for the bird to feed. The next year that bird returned with a mate and the rest, as they say, is history - we now have an abundance of Bullock's Orioles here every summer. He said he thinks he saw the possible Hooded Oriole but didn't even think at the time it could be something different. He said it caught his eye because it was such a brilliant yellow and he thought to himself that it was a really beautiful female Bullocks because of the rich color - he is familiar with Hooded Orioles as he has fed them when he winters in Mexico and on the Baja.
To add to the mystery, another, not really birder, but person who attracts more hummingbirds than the rest of the people in the park put together and who has Orioles coming to her hummingbird feeders, this morning had an 'Oriole sized bird' at her hummingbird feeder. The whole bird was a very pale yellow with no markings what so ever on the wings or anywhere. Just very pale yellow all over. She said she'd never seen any bird before that was such a pale yellow. I'm totally stumped on that one! So now we have two to watch for....plus the Grebe that I still want to see for myself...not that I doubt my husbands ability to ID it....but I like proof in the form of pictures.
Kathy
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Post by tmanson on Jun 1, 2006 14:42:36 GMT -8
Kathy: I believe Hooded Orioles do visit our area. Not last summer, but the previous two, I am reasonably sure I had them at the Cheam Wetlands. I didn't have a good camera then; ( I guess I still don't ), but at least now I could digiscope, if the bird decides to sit for awhile. In both instances I eliminated immature Bullock's as the bird. This site wasn't up and running, or I would have reported it then.
Have you considered using a tape to try and encourage it to come to your backyard again? We all know the arguements about overuse of tapes, but it would be really interesting to have a documented sighting, and your photos are great. Thor
Thor Manson
Hope,B.C.
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Post by kastern on Jun 1, 2006 17:20:21 GMT -8
Hi Thor:
No I hadn't thought of using a tape - I haven't got into that aspect of birding yet. I was really glad to hear that someone else in the area has seen Hooded Orioles in the past because I was pretty sure I had had a pair of them, not last year, but two or three years ago - in fact after reading your message I went and dug out my journals and on May 30, 2003 I have the entry ' Hooded Orioles - 2 - I think! Solid bright yellow breast with black under chin, harsh chuk chuk cry'. Like you say there wasn't this site then and I had no one to ask as to how likely or unlikely such a sighting could be. I know I never saw them again that year. Today has not been a great birding day period. Hopefully a bit of sunshine might cause them to show themselves. I'll definitely keep watching and will keep the camera close.
Kathy
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Post by tmanson on Jun 1, 2006 18:47:23 GMT -8
Kathy: I am probablay telling you something you already know, but based on the success of the famous Dewitt's feediing station in South Texas which attacts Altamira, Audubon, and Hooded Orioles, if you put out slices of oranges/and or grape jelly, your chances of attracting orioles to your backyard feeders will increase dramatically. Thor
Thor Manson
Hope, B.C.
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Post by Gord on Jun 1, 2006 21:54:45 GMT -8
Wow! Lots of excitement out your way Kathy! There is no reason you couldnt have seen them before as well as you mentioned. Thor has sightings from Cheam, and theyve been recorded from other locations where theyve came to feeders. Weirder things have happened in the birding world so Im not totally surprised to hear yours and Thors reports!
I stopped by at Eagle Point today around noon. No luck on any hooded orioles aside from lots of activity of other species and several Bullock's orioles (obvious males and females looking like they should).
I may be in the area again tomorrow and will check in again. Wow, that water is up really high!
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Post by fouram on Jun 3, 2006 15:53:17 GMT -8
Noticed the "high water" as well on my way back to town!--Finally got a "real" juvenile House Finch today?--lots and lots of yellow on the head/neck area--am I right?
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Post by Gord on Jun 4, 2006 12:31:39 GMT -8
Al, a very few house finch adult males are quite yellow instead of the usual red colours. This year's baby house finches wont show much colour until later in the summer. Ive read that the colour of house finches may be diet related. I sometimes wonder considering that if diet makes house finches red, then the necessary red foods must be pretty easy to find and eat provided that 98% of male house finches are red. My question would be why do these few individuals manage to survive but somehow miss out on what most house finches must eat to get the red colours? I might be very wrong.
Sorry to hijack the post about hooded orioles!!!
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Post by fouram on Jun 4, 2006 13:02:11 GMT -8
Not for you to apologize--would appreciate you moving MY post to the proper area, I owe the apology for heading this thread off at a tangent, gee started off with an agreement/notice of the high water--WHAT was I thinking?--Al
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Post by Gord on Jun 4, 2006 13:11:00 GMT -8
Not a worry, Al. The site is small enough at the moment that minor deviations from topics wont hurt the main topic. This forum does not have the split topic function or I would have moved your excellent question about yellow male house finches. But we dont, and all's well too, so no worries.  |
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