Natural alarm clock

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Natural alarm clock

November 10, 2015 by Mike Powell

Who needs a rooster when you have a Red-winged Blackbird?

The silence of the early morning yesterday at Huntley Meadows Park was broken by the raucous call of a male Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus), announcing loudly his presence and the arrival of a new day.

On a frosty November morning, it was time to wake up.

Posted in Autumn, Nature, Photography, wildlife | Tagged Agelaius phoeniceus, Alexandria VA, Canon 50D, huntley, male Red-winged Blackbird, red-winged blackbird, Tamron 150-600mm telephoto | 10 Comments

10 Responses

on November 10, 2015 at 10:55 am | Reply Sally Morris

In our neighborhood, it’s the Carolina Wren. They have a whole variety of calls and songs…. One never gets board!
on November 10, 2015 at 2:28 pm | Reply Charlie@Seattle Trekker

I have found that at this point in my life I love to get up a lot earlier so that I can hear the birds in my world wake up and listen to what they have to say in the early morning hours. it is all pretty amazing.
- on November 11, 2015 at 5:51 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  I too seem to be getting up earlier as I age (though 20 years in the Army got me used to it). I love the moments when the silence of the night gradually gives way to the sounds of activity as birds and other creatures become more active.
on November 10, 2015 at 5:15 pm | Reply svtakeiteasy

I too like to listen to the birds in the morning. We get some pretty raucous ones our way too: wattle birds, which you sometimes feel like shooing off. Our blackbirds are more melodious and make their appearance at breakfast time. I love them, but they are not as good looking and colourful as your red-winged blackbird, Mike! And then there are the bullies: the noisy miners… they scare my pussycat who bleats at them but does not dare approach them 🙂
- on November 11, 2015 at 5:49 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Chris. Some people are annoyed when the birds start up in the morning, but I am an early-riser and love it. I suspect that your blackbirds are more like the ones Paul McCartney sung about in his wonderful acoustic song “Blackbird.”
on November 11, 2015 at 5:04 am | Reply New Hampshire Garden Solutions

I think all of ours must be visiting you at this time of year. Nice shot.
- on November 11, 2015 at 5:47 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Allen. I fear that some folks may think I sleep at the marsh, considering how many early morning photos I post. Keep sending your birds south to us–we’ll take care of them and send them back when in the spring. 🙂
on November 17, 2015 at 2:42 am | Reply Robert Kirkendall

Once a year the red winged blackbirds come to San Lorenzo River, I think to mate. They have a very distinct call, I can hear it in my head now.
- on November 17, 2015 at 4:58 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  I laughed when I saw the word you used to describe the call of the male Red-winged Blackbird. “Distinct” is a nice neutral word–it could also be characterized as extremely loud and sometimes obnoxious.
  - on November 17, 2015 at 9:40 pm Robert Kirkendall
    
    I can see that if it’s all you could hear, but I’m usually biking right by them on my way to work.