I finally saw a bird I've hoped to spot for years! I knew they were in this area but this is the first one I've ever seen!
A Yellow-billed Cuckoo!!!
I think it is a juvenile because of the absence of color on his beak and the dim stripes on his tail.
But isn't he a beauty!!!
I had driven over to the Pruitt Trailhead of Halpata Tastanaki Preserve and hadn't really planned to hike.
But I had my day pack 'just in case' and the weather was so beautiful, I couldn't resist a short walk. I met 3 hikers and talked with them and saw a big bird with a lot of white showing fly behind them. So when they walked on....I kept going.
And I saw him! He was darting down to catch something tasty and I even got that photo.
Look a little closer! A nice juicy caterpillar!
At the top of page 268 in The Sibley Guide to Birds it says, " All three cuckoos are slender, long-tailed, and inconspicuous; they move furtively through dense foliage of bushes and trees in search of caterpillars."
What a thrill to see this beautiful bird! I can't wait to go back and hope that I hear his call next time.
I watched a large flock of Sandhill Cranes fly over yesterday! Time for migratory birds to move through the central part of our state! That's exciting too!
I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE
and I’d Rather B Birdin’.
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38 comments:
What a photo, caterpiller in the mouth! You were truly in the right place at the right time!
It's a little cool and blustery for a walk today. Just took a card out to the mailbox. A light coat was a good idea!
Congratulations. Your next quest will have to be for the more elusive Mangrove Cuckoo.
How great!
...I'm cuckoo for your Cuckoo. The last shot is fabulous.
That is really exciting for you! I can clearly see that you have identified him correctly because of the shape of his bill and body. The tenacious birder gets the photo! Here’s to more finds. Oh, have you learned how to pshhh psshhh to get the birds to use their calls? It really does work here in my backyard anyway. 😊
this is my first viewing of one also. he sure is beautiful, I love the wing feathers.. the details are so pretty. yummy wormy.... ha ha
Wow! Great photo! Congrats!
Hello
Congrats on your sighting of the Yellow-billed Cuckoo. They are awesome birds. Love the photos, especially the ones with the caterpillar. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Happy Saturday, enjoy your weekend. PS, thanks so much for leaving me a comment.
Your photos are really grand. The yellow-billed cuckoo did some wonderful posting! Have a wonderful day!
It is very pretty indeed!
I enjoyed your shots.
Have a nice weekend!
Great pictures!Hugs!
I'm surprised you haven't gotten an award from the Audubon Society! Your pictures are wonderful and so happy for you. You're right he is a beauty!
How wonderful! I can't get over how long his tail is!
What a beautiful bird you captured. Super photos, nice and close-up.
Enjoy the weekend!
Oh--I love him and those photos--
I am soo jealous of you!
luv, di
I can feel this real too. What wonderful photos you got
We are so alike. I am the same way, I go back after seeing a bird and hope to hear the song. This recently happened to me on our hike, I finally got to hear a swan trumpet.
I ordered the book you shared The Happiness of Pursuit from the library today.
He most definitely is a 'looker' ~ gorgeous and wonderful photos!
Happy Day to You,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
The only cuckoo bird I've seen is crazy for a puffy type of cocoa cereal. Thanks for sharing photos of the cute guy or gal.
He's beautiful. That was exciting to spot him especially with his catch of the day.
Fantastic pictures. Amazing capture of the caterpillar in his beak.
oh diane, how very exciting for you, i know the feeling!! your images are really beautiful, showing off the yellow eyeliner and splashes of yellow under it's beak. and to capture it with a caterpillar, it is the cherry on top!! i hope you see it again, but if you never do, will will always remember this encounter!!
have a happy sunday!!
Awesome! They are so silent, so secretive...to have spotted one is a thrill!
And GREAT photos!!
Nice work Diane. Great skill in tracking the cuckoo to get those close-up photos.
Beautiful! Great photos!
Have a blessed day!
I have never seen a cuckoo before. These are amazing photos! Wow! I can't imagine how exciting this must have been for you. Thank you so much for sharing. This is a really beautiful bird. You have a wonderful day, hugs, Edna B.
You caught the Yellow-billed Cuckoo, beautiful photos.
Thank you for sharing this wonderful bird.
Oh wow! You really got some wonderful shots, especially with the caterpillar. I've never seen one of these birds before.
A beautiful bird! I will never forget the first one I saw as a kid in New Jersey. It was gobbling down tent caterpillars by the dozen.
Lucky you! What a thrill to see the Yellow-billed Cuckoo. It certainly made your walk a pleasure.
Very pretty bird. Great timing to catch the bird with a hairy caterpillar between its beak. Have a good new week!
Unusual looking bird, but really pretty. Great photography as always.
Well worth the wait! What a beauty.
Amalia
xo
Stunning photos! What a great bird.
How fabulous to see this bird, your photographs are lovely, especially the one with the caterpillar in its mouth :)
All the best Jan
Wow! I am in awe. Huge congratulations and thanks for sharing the photos of this beautiful bird.
congratulation! It is a really gorgeous lookong bird. And you got some pretty good shots to. :)
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