A very good friend of mine, an “old” friend like me, just shared this with me. It is worth sharing here also.
The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed. (Psalms 37:23-26 KJV)
The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side. And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; (Matthew 13:1-3 KJV)
These are some of the photos taken that day. It was hot, summer and not many birds available to watch unfortunately. It was enjoyable just the same and we plan on going back again when the fall birds start migrating through or stopping for the winter.
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And flocks shall lie down in the midst of her, all the beasts of the nations: both the cormorant and the bittern shall lodge in the upper lintels of it; their voice shall sing in the windows; desolation shall be in the thresholds: for he shall uncover the cedar work. (Zephaniah 2:14 KJV)
According to studies, January to June is usually the breeding season of Coppersmith Barbets found in the Indian Subcontinent. I had seen a courtship display of this species last year where the female waited patiently for the male, the male kept returning to the female with food in its beak, the male used to puff himself up, start flapping its wings and then feed the female displaying his affection to her, and then the eventually they would mate.
Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. (Colossians 4:6 KJV)
The article goes on to describe this behavior as “a term ‘allobilling’ trying to find out what this behavior meant. From what i read, ‘allobilling’ is mutual mouthing between two birds.”
This mouthing is what caught my interest as a Christian. What kind of “mouthing” are we doing?
A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it! (Proverbs 15:23 KJV)
Grey Kingbird (Tyrannus dominicensis) by Lee at Honeymoon Is SP
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.
(Zechariah 9:9 NKJV)
‘TELL THE DAUGHTER OF ZION, ‘BEHOLD, YOUR KING IS COMING TO YOU, LOWLY, AND SITTING ON A DONKEY, A COLT, THE FOAL OF A DONKEY.’ ” (Matthew 21:5 NKJV)
Since writing about the Grey Kingbird last week, I have been thinking about birds that have “King” in their name. Here are some of the ones, plus many of the “King”fishers.
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Both our Choir with the Orchestra and the Hyssongs did great and I couldn’t decide so here are both of them.
“The King is Coming” – Faith Baptist Choir and Orchestra. Intro by Pastor Osborne
Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. (John 18:36-37 KJV)
“… and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low…” Ecclesiastes 12:4b
Precision in communication is highly important. This is especially true of the type of communication called music, whether you are talking about Mozart or magpie-larks.
Only about three percent of bird species are known to sing duets. In a duet, one mate begins singing, and the other mate begins a half second later. Among Australian magpie-larks, pairs that are newly mated usually lack that precision. However, in pairs that have been together for two years, the lag time of the duet usually varies by only a few hundredths of a second.
Researchers also discovered that this precision serves a purpose. Male magpie-larks respond to perceived threats by increasing their singing. When they played the less-precise duets to 12 pairs of other magpie-larks, the males only responded in this way seven times in five minutes. However, the more-precise duets resulted in nine responses in five minutes. In short, other magpie-larks are more intimidated by pairs that sing with precision than by those who do not. This is important in preserving an established couple’s territory from invasion by new couples.
Communication with precision is yet another fingerprint of God on the creation. In Scripture, the ultimate in precise communication, God even points us to the birds as He urges us to recognize His involvement in the creation.
Prayer:
Thank You, Father, for taking care of all Your creation and especially for sending Your Son to save me. Amen.
Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata) by Dan at Zoo Miami
O Lord GOD, You have begun to show Your servant Your greatness and Your mighty hand, for what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do anything like Your works and Your mighty deeds? (Deuteronomy 3:24 NKJV)
What a beautiful duck. When we look around us, the Lord’s Hand is at work everywhere. Be thankful today for the Lord’s Blessing.
Brown-headed Barbet (Megalaima zeylanica) by Nikhil Devasar
Hang in there, today!
O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. (Psalms 34:8 KJV)
Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata) by Dan at Zoo Miami
O Lord GOD, You have begun to show Your servant Your greatness and Your mighty hand, for what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do anything like Your works and Your mighty deeds? (Deuteronomy 3:24 NKJV)
What a beautiful duck. When we look around us, the Lord’s Hand is at work everywhere. Be thankful today for the Lord’s Blessing.
Brown-headed Barbet (Megalaima zeylanica) by Nikhil Devasar
Hang in there, today!
O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. (Psalms 34:8 KJV)
All the kings of the earth will give thanks to You, O LORD, When they have heard the words of Your mouth. And they will sing of the ways of the LORD, For great is the glory of the LORD. (Psalms 138:4-5 NASB)
The Grey Kingbird (Tyrannus dominicensis) which we saw at Honeymoon Island SP last week was a Life Bird for me. Most Americans call it Gray, but the I.O.C. List of Birds use the Grey spelling. Either way, grey or gray, it is the same bird. That is one reason they use the Scientific name of Tyrannus dominicensisto ID the bird.
Recently I purchased the Latin for Bird Lovers book, because I have tried to see what these “scientific” mean on my own and thought this would be interesting. The book has over 3,000 bird names. I found it to be something quite useful, for me, at least. So let’s see what our Tyrannus dominicensis actually means.
Tyrannus – “ti-RAN-nus” – “Tyrant, as in Tyanannus Allugularis, The White-throated Kingbird” [p.205]
dominicensis – “doe-min-ib-SEN-sis-” – “After the Commonwealth of Dominica in the West Indies, as in Pluvialis dominica, the American Golden Plover, which passes through the West Indies during migrations.” [p.61]
Grey Kingbird (Tyrannus dominicensis) by Lee at Honeymoon Is SP
The bird also has found a house, And the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, Even Your altars, O LORD of hosts, My King and my God. (Psalms 84:3 NASB)
“The Grey or Gray Kingbird, also known as Pitirre (Tyrannus dominicensis) is a passerine bird. It breeds from the extreme southeast of the USA, mainly in Florida, through Central America, from Cuba to Puerto Rico as well as eastward towards all across the Lesser West Indies, south to Venezuela, Trinidad, Tobago the Guiana and Colombia. Northern populations are migratory, wintering on the Caribbean coast of Central America and northern South America.
Grey Kingbird by Dan at HISP
This tyrant flycatcher is found in tall trees and shrubs, including the edges of savanna and marshes. It makes a flimsy cup nest in a tree. The female incubates the typical clutch of two cream eggs, which are marked with reddish-brown. Grey Kingbirds wait on an exposed perch high in a tree,which is where we found it, occasionally sallying out to feed on insects, their staple diet.
The adult Grey Kingbird is an average-sized kingbird. It measures 9.1 in (23 cm) in length and weighs from 1.3 to 1.8 oz (37 to 52 g). The upper parts are grey, with brownish wings and tail, and the underparts are white with a grey tinge to the chest. The head has a concealed yellow crown stripe, and a dusky mask through the eyes. The dark bill is heavier than that of the related, slightly smaller, Tropical Kingbird. The sexes are similar, but young birds have rufous edges on the wing coverts, rump and tail.
Grey Kingbird (Tyrannus dominicensis) by Lee at Honeymoon Is SP
The call is a loud rolling trill, pipiri pipiri, which is the reason behind many of its local names, like pestigre or pitirre, in the Spanish-speaking Greater Antilles, or “petchary” in some of the English-speaking zones.
Like other kingbirds, these birds aggressively defend their territory against intruders, including mammals and much larger birds such as caracaras and Red-Tailed Hawks. This phenomenon has led to the widespread adoption of the pitirre as a nationalist symbol (a sort of David vs. Goliath figure) in Puerto Rico.
It is found in increasing numbers in the state of Florida, and is more often found inland though it had been previously restricted to the coast. The species was first described on the island of Hispaniola, then called Santo Domingo, thus the dominicensis name.” (from Wikipedia with editing)
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) by Lee at Honeymoon Is SP
I added this Northern Mockingbird which was also there at the State Park. At first we kept thinking the Kingbird was a Mockingbird. If you compare the photos, you will notice the Mockingbird has a white spot on its wings and also a black spot near its ear. They are very close though. Also, Dan’s photo of the Kingbird came out more brownish. It may be that he caught a younger one. There were several at the park.
Isn’t the Lord great in that He makes us work for the IDs of these birds. As I have said, He should have put name tags on them, but then we wouldn’t learn about His creativity, would we? It is good for us to learn new things. Never get bored with learning.
Make me know Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths. (Psalms 25:4 NASB)
I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. (Psalms 32:8 KJV)
Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. (John 4:13-14 KJV)
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“Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing” by Sean Fielder
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The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the LORD upholds him with His hand. I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread. (Psalms 37:23-25 NKJV)
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(From an email link)
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Just got a notification from WordPress that today is my Sixth Anniversary here. Wow! Has it really been 6 years? Praise the Lord! Thanks all of you for the visits you have made to the blog. This blog started about 5 months earlier on another service.
Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) by Lee at Honeymoon Is SP
The birds of the air, And the fish of the sea That pass through the paths of the seas. O LORD, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth! (Psalms 8:8-9 NKJV)
We just got back from another birdwatching trip. This time we birded the Honeymoon Island State Park and MacDill AFB beach. Was gone overnight and have many photos to prep. Here are just a few photos for now.
These Double-crested Cormorants were just sitting along the Gulf shore and one was sleeping. They seem to be tired and may have decided to stay on shore because of Hurricane Arthur’s bands of rain that kept sweeping the area the last two days. A man walked between the two and they didn’t even move.
Grey Kingbird (Tyrannus dominicensis) by Lee at Honeymoon Is SP
This photo of a Kingbird, which is the best shot I have ever had of one, was also at the state park. (Actually, just checked, these are the only ones I have taken of Grey Kingbirds. This was a LIFE BIRD for me. Yeah!)
Today, July 4th, we checked out the shore on Tampa Bay at the base. The birds were few, but enough to give us a chance to get some photos. Without so many species, maybe I’ll be able to ID them. My ID’s of shorebirds is still weak. I will pouring be over my bird books again. Praise the Lord for bird books. (I still think the Lord should have hung tags on them.)
Trust those of us celebrating the Fourth have had a good day. We have!
I know all the birds of the mountains (and Lake Morton) , And the wild beasts of the field are Mine. (Psalms 50:11 NKJV)
We finally had a chance to take a short birdwatching adventure to Lake Morton over in Lakeland. I have been battling a cold and cough for the last three weeks. Our trips to Lake Morton don’t require much walking and it is one of the few places that people feed the birds.
When someone parks their car, before they can get across the street, the birds start walking towards them. Needless to say, the birds are expecting something.
Wood Stork up close by Lee at Lake Morton
As I was walking across the street, here they came; Wood Stork in the lead because of its long legs, White Ibises next, followed by the waddling shorter legged birds – Mute Swans, Mallards, Muscovy Duck and then the fly-ins – Boat-tailed Grackles and the Gulls. The Wood Stork met me at the curb.
Of course when you have a treat for them, you become the “Pied Piper.” Apparently, someone must have recently fed them, because they were gathered loosely together. Once I got to the table and sat down, the group gathered around. I was enjoying them so much, I didn’t take many photos then.
American White Ibis on Table by Lee
Once the food gave out, of which I didn’t have much to begin with, they moseyed off to rest in the shade until the next visitor with a bag of goodies came. One White Ibis hopped upon the table behind me, but too late because the bag was empty. Took its photo, but it was almost too close.
Woodstork & Lee by Dan at Lake Morton
One of the resident Wood Storks walked up in front of me and stood there. I reassured him that I had nothing else, but he (or she) just stayed there. I started talking to it, motioned to come closer, and it did. I could have reached out and touched the Wood Stork, but chose not to with that long beak. Have you ever heard a Wood Stork’s beak “snap” when it grabs food? It is loud. No, I like my fingers!
Wood Stork close-up by Lee at Lake Morton
We sat face to face for about 4 minutes of so; me talking and him just standing there looking at me.
Even though they are “ugly,” they are really neat. Have you ever seen a Wood Stork in the air? They are so beautiful and graceful, but up this close? I assured him that the Lord had created him and that He makes no mistakes.
Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite. (Psalms 147:5 NKJV)
Wood Stork flying over Lake Morton by Lee 2009
The wings of the ostrich wave proudly, But are her wings and pinions like the kindly stork’s? (Job 39:13 NKJV)
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Lee's Birdwatching Adventures Plus 