Painted Redstart in Ocean Springs, Mississippi!
On Jan. 5, Nancy Madden found a Painted Redstart just east of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, on the Jackson County Christmas Bird Count. The bird has been seen every day since. I was in Mississippi today for an event at the Pascagoula River Audubon Center, and what was I going to do, just drive right past the bird without stopping? Ha.
The famous and spectacular Belle Fontaine Painted Redstart (Myioborus pictus), Mississippi’s second record! The only other record for the state is a sight record from Oct. 5, 1987, by Judy Toups and several others.
The bird is spending most of its time in a couple of live oaks within sight of the Gulf of Mexico. (I wonder how many other eBird checklists include both Painted Redstart and Brown Pelican?)
It turns out that the redstart is sticking close to one particular tree because a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is maintaining a series of sap wells in some of the limbs (note small holes visible here). The redstart is feeding from the wells.
It is also catching insects frequently (this fly, for example). Perhaps the sap wells are attracting more insects? In any case, it seems to be a pretty good deal for the redstart.
The bird’s genus name, Myioborus, means fly-devourer.
Marsha Kazal, who led us to the bird today, points up to the redstart tree. I wondered how many other Painted Redstarts in history had been seen by observers in heels — not the usual attire for reaching their montane homes!
My buddy Moz was entertained by my multitasking. Photo © Mozart Mark Dedeaux
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Very nice work and set of observations. To me this is an excellent set of quality rendered images, well edited with a slice of biology and social commentary. The heels shot say’s a lot. I know that the branches at this location are a work around.
Kudos. I shot a little video that you might like to see on youtube title Mississippi Painted Redstart.
Keep up the good work.
Cheers
Jonathan Gottsche
Great Work and beautiful post. Loved looking at it… what a beautiful bird and such a great one to have on your list.
Thanks for twittering about it. :)
Beautiful images of a fantastic state bird!
I was drawn in by the title of your blog, and I will continue to visit because your photos are beautiful! I have a fledgling bird blog of my own: http://www.playonbirds.wordpress.com. Stop by sometime!
:M,
Elana
Awesome Redstart. Awesome S&S. Awesome David.
Awesome observations, Lisa! :)
That’s a beauty. Excellent series of photos, too. Nice find! And a well-dressed birder ;)
Nice find! What a beautiful creature it is!