American White Pelican – Structure

 American White Pelican, Birds  No Responses »
Jan 062012
 
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I find the patterns and structures formed by migrating American White Pelicans interesting to watch. These living arrangements form, dissolve, swirl, shift, and reform over and over again as the flock moves from one horizon to the other. Fascinating and beautiful.

 
County - Denton
City - Carrollton
Date - October 16, 2011
Time of Day - Noon
Temperature - Warm (70-89°F/21-32°C)
Weather - Clear
Habitat - Recreation-Park
Type of Behavior - Migration
Gender - Mixed
Maturity - Mixed
Observer - Chris Jackson
Main Article - American White Pelican Observation Location

Turkey Vulture – Sky Full of Birds

 Birds, Turkey Vulture  5 Responses »
Oct 192011
 
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Around noon on Sunday, we observed hundreds of Turkey Vultures riding a thermal updraft and swirling high into the air. The birds were quite some distance away when we first noticed them—maybe as far as a mile (1.6km). As the vultures rode the thermal to its height, they began to break out of the circular pattern they were flying, and one by one the birds started streaming off to the south. The long line of migrating Turkey Vultures passed directly overhead as we watched.

 
County - Denton
City - Carrollton
Date - October 16, 2011
Time of Day - Noon
Temperature - Warm (70-89°F/21-32°C)
Weather - Clear
Habitat - Recreation-Park
Type of Behavior - Migration
Gender - Mixed
Maturity - Mixed
Observer - Chris Jackson
Main Article - Turkey Vulture Observation Location

Cedar Waxwing – Late Winter Color

 Birds, Cedar Waxwing  No Responses »
Oct 162011
 
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Migrating Cedar Waxwings moved through the area in March and I was able to get a couple of nice photographs of these beautiful birds.

These three birds are part of a much larger flock that alighted briefly on the Red Oak in our front yard.

The sun was shining brightly on this day, but it was still cold out, and a very brisk wind was blowing.

 
County - Denton
City - Carrollton
Date - March 3, 2007
Time of Day - Afternoon
Temperature - Cold (less than 50°F/10°C))
Weather - Clear
Habitat - Residential-Single Family
Type of Behavior - Migration
Gender - Mixed
Maturity - Adult
Observer - Chris Jackson
Main Article - Cedar Waxwing Observation Location

American White Pelican – Migration Swarm

 American White Pelican, Birds  No Responses »
Oct 012011
 
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This pulsating swarm of migrating American White Pelicans passed over us while we were at a weekend soccer game. The shifting shapes, and the periodic flashes of first white and then black made this a very strange sight. The birds were too high in the sky for a positive identification in the field. It was only after I returned home and reviewed the photographs that I was able to determine with certainty what we had seen.

County - Dallas
City - Carrollton
Date - October 1, 2011
Time of Day - Morning
Temperature - Warm (70-89°F/21-32°C)
Weather - Clear
Habitat - Recreation-Sports Complex
Type of Behavior - Migration
Gender - Mixed
Maturity - Mixed
Observer - Chris Jackson
Main Article - American White Pelican Observation Location

Cedar Waxwing – Berry Eaters

 Birds, Cedar Waxwing  No Responses »
Sep 292011
 
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Another group of Cedar Waxwings migrating through the DFW Area in early March. Congregations such as this one will litter the ground below the tree with berry-colored and seed-filled bird droppings.

 
County - Denton
City - Carrollton
Date - March 8, 2005
Time of Day - Noon
Temperature - Cool (50-69°F/10-21°C)
Weather - Clear
Habitat - Residential – Single Family
Type of Behavior - Congregating, Migration
Gender - Mixed
Maturity - Adult
Observer - Chris Jackson
Main Article - Cedar Waxwing Observation Location

Monarch Butterfly – Fall Flyby

 Insects, Monarch Butterfly  No Responses »
Sep 252011
 
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Every fall Monarch Butterflies by the thousands migrate through North Texas on their way the high mountain fir forests of central Mexico. I noticed my first one of the season early this morning, while walking through Arbor Hills Nature Preserve in Plano. Then I noticed another and another. The migration is definitely on.

Its a remarkable long distance journey these small insects make every fall and spring. Their migration can begin as far north as Canada, and is aided by favorable weather patterns which can carry these butterflies quite far. The prevailing winds can also lift these insects high in the air. When I worked in downtown Dallas a few years ago I noticed Monarch Butterflies flying by our 40th story windows regularly during late September and through October.

 
County - Denton
City - Plano
Date - September 25, 2011
Time of Day - Morning
Temperature - Warm (70-89°F/21-32°C)
Weather - Clear
Habitat - Recreation-Park
Type of Behavior - Migration
Gender - Female
Maturity - Adult
Observer - Chris Jackson
Main Article - Monarch Butterfly Observation Location

Cedar Waxwing – Spring Migration

 Birds, Cedar Waxwing  No Responses »
Sep 082011
 
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Cedar Waxwings begin moving through the DFW Area in mid January during their spring migration. This observation is of a large group of birds that had gathered on a row of small trees just outside my house.

 
County - Denton
City - Carrollton
Date - January 31, 2005
Time of Day - Noon
Temperature - Cold (less than 50°F/10°C))
Weather - Cloudy
Habitat - Residential – Single Family
Type of Behavior - Migration
Gender - Mixed
Maturity - Adult
Observer - Chris Jackson
Main Article - Cedar Waxwing Observation Location