Dreambirds of Fancy

My middle brother, Jarrod, teases me about being the obsessed birder I am. Typically, he asks if a certain species is on my lifelist - inevitably an absurd name he makes up. What he comes up with is hilarious, so I share the laugh. How downright goofy official bird names can seem reminds of a recent dreambirding first. All species I dreamed of were fantastical, made up... loosely based in reality. A bit ironic that only now are these dreams drifting away from reality, eh? Regarding these new "species", I'm going to let it all hang out and make up some names for them... where's Jarrod when I need him?

Slice of the Texas "Hill Country" - a common sight west of Fredericksburg

I was birding in the "Hill Country" of central TX with my long-time, real-life, friend Shawn Ashbaugh. The landscape was Live Oak savannah; a sight most prevalent west of Fredericksburg. I was in the open when Shawn called to me with a find. In the dream, this bird was a vagrant from northern Mexico. Nice going Shawn! Beautifully colored was this songbird, and like most others, very active - so not the best look. Head was probably green, though not brightly so. Back/scapulars were a cobalt blue, edging of the secondaries grass green and the rump an electric violet-purple. Tail feathers were also edged with green. Que linda! I'll call this one the - "Violet-rumped Leafbird". Of real-world species, it most resembled a mashup of...

Emerald Tanager (Tangara florida)

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immature passerine from american tropics, yet to be re-identified

= "Violet-rumped Leafbird"

Time with this exquisite little one was all too brief, as it soon disappeared into the canopy for good. Immediately upon turning around, I spotted a second fantasy bird - perched nearby on a low branch. Resembling a European Robin, it looked much more like a Catharus thrush (e.g. Swainson's) with the robin's unmistakable auburn frontside. "Orange-breasted Confusing-Thrush" sounds about right to me.

European Robin (Erithacus rubecula)

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Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus)

= "Orange-breasted Confusing-Thrush"

The last bird caught my eye as it flushed from branches to my right. It wasn't "ugly", per se, but it definitely looked like evolution gone a little wrong. As with the other birds, the view was exceedingly brief. This guy gave the added challenge of being on the wing. Oh well, I'll take what I can get. This gem looked like the visual hybrid of a Worm-eating Warbler and a Short-eared Owl. I like the way "Short-eared Worm-eating Owl" sounds so I'll stick with that moniker.

Worm-eating Warbler (Helmitheros vermivorus)

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Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus)

= "Short-eared Worm-eating Owl"

I dig the novelty of these dreamcreatures, if only because they're birds. Truth be known, though, the more bizarre a dream is the more unsettled it makes me. Feedback always welcome...

Muse On Sabbatical?

Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) 

Image online here

In the dreambirding realm, things have been a bit frustrating as of late. The source - dream recollection has waned significantly. I still scribble down everything I can remember upon awakening (an act of physical comedy most mornings, just so you know). The past three or four times I've blurrily put pen to paper only a few sentences, regarding vague and uninteresting highlights, come out. Mostly, I can just remember the birds, little else.

Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana)

Image online here

One dream had a male Western Tanager among some foliage. Another, a Wood Thrush. Last night I dreamed I was walking in an open area (a park?) with different species of pheseant walking around. Male Superb Lyrebird, Golden Phaesant, and Indian Peafowl (peacock) are all I can remember. I believe at one point I, and whomever I was with, were attempting to catch one of these beauties. The result - more physical comedy.

Superb Lyrebird (Menura novaehollandiae)

Image online here

Golden Phaesant (Chrysolophus pictus)

Image online here

Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus) - cock

Image online here

I'm hoping with this post to send a flare into wherever these nightly visitations come from - just to remind such powers I'm still here.  To that end, I'm also officially requesting vibes to be sent this way for the Muse to return.  Many thanks, in advance, for your efforts and energy.

Aviarist Encounter (Part II) - Through A Glass Darkly

(NOTE: The first part of this dream can be enjoyed here.)

... That many exotics clustered in such a small area was too much for me to resist investigating. Asking a neighbor revealed to which house the birds belonged. A maid answered the door, and when I asked about the birds, she let me in. It's a very nice place inside - well appointed. I was immediately introduced to the couple responsible for the birds. Apparently they: ran a "world-famous" exotic bird rehab center/aviary, had authored books on the subject and even had an "exotic" sounding last name; Zormun, I believe. I was then introduced to their three teenage children, and we all sat and chatted for a bit. Dad was a character; a fabulous fabulist as it were.

I was then informed things had to move along as they needed to catch a plane, for an out-of-the-country conference, later that evening. Toward that end, they gave me an autographed copy of their latest book. It was a hefty compendium of all known escaped-bird populations in the continental U.S. - replete with VERY detailed maps. I'm floored, humbled, and honored all at the same time.

I'm then taken on a tour of the grounds. French doors lead to a porch and fairly spacious backyard - at least an acre I'd guess. In the very back appeared to be a very large, seemingly iron/mesh wire, structure - the formal aviary I presume. Sadly, the tour never got that far.

(the flight-cage in the dream closely resembled the "1904 free-flight aviary" found at the St. Louis Zoo, pictured here.)

Why we never make it that far never surfaces, but it may have something to do with the following. Between the porch and the aviary was a tennis court and a large, empty, in-ground pool. Dozens upon dozens of people were huddled in small groups or milling about both features, and the yard in general. Mrs. Zumon, "Ursula" I believe, was proudly droning on about the place. I missed it all as I became more and more intrigued by these people. Looking more closely, it became obvious they (including children) were not in good shape. The arrangement looked to me either like a refugee, or detention, camp. I was revolted. Why was she just going on as if they didn't exist, why were they here, and who were they? I couldn't stomach questioning, so no answer ever came. Again for reasons never explained, the tour then wrapped up abruptly and awkwardly (at least for me). I soon walked out the front door, in the direction of my car. Some delivery digression, eh? The last thing I remember is looking up and seeing another pair of "tyrant" flycatcher, Sulphur-bellied, hanging out at the top of a tree bordering the street.

Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher (Myiodynastes luteiventris)
Image Found Online Here

Aviarist Encounter (Part I) - Meeting The Menagerie

It started with my being a delivery driver out on a call. Things began to get interesting as I was slowly rolling down a neighborhood street, scanning house numbers for the correct address. Eventually I began spotting a very eclectic series of birds along a three property-wide stretch. Several Zenaida Dove (Zenaida aurita) were waddling in the middle of the street.

Zenaida Dove (Zenaida aurita)

Image Online Here

A pair of Houbara Bustard (Chlamydotis undulata) were poking around a front yard.

Houbara Bustard (Chlamydotis undulata)
Image Online Here

On a large rock, next to a mailbox, a Common Potoo (Nyctibius griseus) sat in the sun.

Common Potoo (Nyctibius griseus)
Image Online Here

At the tip-top of a small tree sat a Piratic Flycatcher pair.

Piratic Flycatcher (Legatus Leucophaius)

Image Online Here

To top it all off, a Short-eared Owl swooped across the otherwise sleepy neighborhood street several times.

Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus)
Image Online Here

And, it got curiouser and curiouser indeed. Stay tuned 'til tomorrow for the thrilling conclusion!

Indiana Jones - And The Carnival of Doom

[I just awakened from this one, the freshest dream blogged here to date.]

I was hiking in a very rural, very green, setting: low hills, some forest and a lot of wide open meadows. Early on I passed a small marsh; scaup and Bufflehead were visible. I didn't bother IDing the scaup, though my real-life experience favors Lesser rather than Greater.

Bufflehead (Bucephala albeolus) - male & female
Image online here

Next came negotiating unvegetated canyons. Gratefully they were fairly shallow. Besides beautiful rock strata, I came across two houses clearly built generations ago.  Both were so dilapidated that entire outer wall sections were missing.  On the positive side; no need to use a door. 


The first I investigated cautiously, praying the thing wouldn't collapse on my head. Mundane artifacts of bygone eras dustily lined wall, shelf and table. Immediately after exiting I looked for the trail.  I noticed someone up ahead. They were dressed like Indiana Jones - bullwhip and all. Normally I'd think this was cool and would make my acquaintance. However, in this dream I was wary of him, avoiding his attention.  So, I continued through the canyons, keeping my distance.

Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) - male & female
Image online here

By the time I exited the skeleton of the next house, atop a hill, he was less than a hundred feet away.  What I saw in the wide valley below made me forget all about him though.  Storm clouds. Huge, violently dark, storm clouds.  My first look found a tornado roping out it's last moments of life. Yikes! Suddenly, a loud flash of lightning startled me blind. All interest in Indiana, or hiking, were shocked away. I frantically searched for shelter. There was the rickety house behind me.  I might stay dry and electrocution-free there... might. 


Eventually, I discovered a small shed at the edge of nearby woods. Appearing solid, I figured I'd give it a try. Turns out this was not an original idea. Inside were two other people, both friends of mine from real-life. Shortly after I was inside, someone else showed up... you guessed it - Indiana.

We weren't in there long before he told us his car was not that far away and it would be safer there. In my dreams, I do whatever Indiana Jones tells me to do. In no time we were all piled into his silver BMW. Curiously, real-life friend Klondike was at the wheel. We proceeded to drive into the valley, where the storm seemed to be fiercest. Why? I guess since Indiana Jones was in my dream gratuitous, life-threatening, drama was required. 


We soon drove into a village that looked right out of a wild west set. On the outskirts of town a carnival was still in operation, despite the ominous skies. While driving slowly through the midway gaming area, someone informed me that for prizes they gave out feathers from various bird species. The "grand prize" was the bird itself; alive or dead he did not say. His tone seemed intending to impress me. I mostly feigning interest, but was ultimately disgusted.

... and we have a winnaah! Step right up and take your pick...

Image online here

Then things got really "dramatic" (read: scary). The storm roiled above more potent than ever. Two rope-like tornadoes dropped down just a few hundred feet ahead. We were on a narrow, dirt-pack street. and they were coming directly at us! We had but seconds. When the one on the right was just feet away it hit something electrical. A huge shower of sparks and flames burst up.   It instantly became a monstrous whirling mass of electric arcs, yellow-orange flame, and debris! At the last moment, both twisters parted giving us just enough room to pass between unscathed. Really! Freakin'! Scary!

Relief was brief, as we didn't and couldn't drive much farther. The road we were on ended in a cul-de-sac. Tall trees, and a hill, lay beyond the last houses. All I could see beyond them was a massive cloud of dust blowing sideways with unnatural speed. I screamed. Apparently, I'd seen the twister first. Klondike suggested parking in between buildings. I said he was crazy; that our best bet was to out run it with the beemer. On our way out of town, I leaned my head out the window and looked up. Cloud rotation was severe in several places. I knew these were all potential tornadoes. Oiy!

As if that weren't enough, the last scene saw us driving by the carnival one last time. The gigantic twister had out paced us, but had shifted and was about to engulf the carnival. Horrified, I watched all the people, still on the rides, still testing their accuracy at silly games, disappear behind the black-gray-brown curtain of certain death. I couldn't look any more; the sound of the howling winds was more than enough.

The dream ended with our heading back up the hill where we'd started with the car. I saw at least one more tornado touch down in the valley as we started ascending to safety.

A Lucid Moment

The setting was Pond 1 W at Hornsby Bend, in Austin (Del Valle) TX. I was scanning the pond on the north side while real-world birding buddies, Shawn Ashbaugh and Scott Young, were scanning shorebirds from the SW corner (see link above). As has happened many times when birding in real life, Shawn started excitedly waving his arms to get my attention. Clearly they'd found something good. Just about anything would have been more interesting than the Pectoral Sandpipers (Calidris melanotos), Least Sandpipers (Calidris minutilla) and Solitary Sandpiper (Tringes solitaria) I'd been perusing. [All three species are beautiful and amazing, as all birds are, it's just that they are common as dirt at Hornsby Bend. With amazing views of thousands of all three, I welcome every opportunity to study a rarity.]

Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos) - Background

Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla) - Foreground

Image online here

Solitary Sandpiper (Tringes solitaria)
Image online here

After snagging my scope/tripod and jogging toward Shawn/Scott, a very cool thing happened. A dark blur flew across my path, a dozen or so meters ahead. My intuition screamed "immature Peregrine Falcon!", but I couldn't rule out a Cooper's Hawk. As my eyes followed the raptor's glide into Pond 1 W, the bird morphed into a thin, rectangular piece of card board. It then flipped and wobbled back and forth a bit before landing in the muck. Weird, eh? That's what I thought too.  The phrase "that kind of stuff only happens in dreams" also went through my mind. Then a brief, intense, rush of excitement hit me - like intense anticipation. Sadly, this feeling passed as quickly as it came.  I became aware Shawn was beckoning me to hurry up (this too is common in real life). What just happened was I had teetered on the brink of becoming fully aware that I was dreaming - while I was dreaming! This falcon/accipiter incident marked the first "Lucid" moment I remember experiencing while dreambirding. Too bad I never did positively ID the raptor... sigh.

With true dreamspeed we soon joined Scott in the SW corner. In that few seconds journey Shawn told me they thouth they had found a Long-toed Stint (Calidris subminuta). Whoooa! Now that's a quality bird! From that revelatory moment up until I was looking at it, I wracked my brain's for field marks. Something about plumage bounced around (breeding plumage is a bit brighter, turns out). My mind honed in looking for a pronounced whitish eye-line and maybe even a split supercilium (a field mark of the Little Stint - Calidris minuta, turns out). After some inspection, sure enough, we all agreed it was indeed a Long-toed Stint. Huzzah!

Long-toed Stint (Calidris subminuta)
Image found online here

The quality birds, for Hornsby that is, didn't stop there. Near the L-t Stint, an immature Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) was busily feeding. Better yet, almost directly in front of us a few juvenile Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) were just toodling around - the way only phalaropes do. These guys were all in non-breeding plumage, which along with the other two shorebirds strongly suggests this dream was taking place in the late summer/early fall. Upon seeing these cute little buggers so close, I couldn't resist leaning down and attempting to get ahold of one - they were that close! And as simple as that, I did. It's hard to explaing how giddly excited I felt. Another bout of morphing saw this inland rarity turn into a Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) of similar coloring. Probably startled by the transformation I let go of the pigeon and it flew away. Truly one of my cooler dreams.

Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)
Image Copyright - 2009 Karen Gallagher



Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) - juvenile
Image found online here

Revenge of the Birds?!?

As far as big red barns go, it doesn't get bigger, redder, or barnier.

Image online here

I exited a rural store, or diner, set in the ground floor of a renovated classic red barn. Yep, a barn red hanger with white trim. Immediately I noticed a Great Horned Owl fly from a tree nearby into a small grove to the left, adjacent to the establishment's dirt parking lot. This was one humongous bird! Like, moms grab your kids huge. It then dropped from it's perch atop a thick dead tree trunk in the forest, to the leaf litter below; clearly in hunting mode. Somehow it missed it's target; a Rock Squirrel that scurried away, eventually burying itself in the leaves. The owl then flew back up to its perch upon the tall stump.

Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)
Image online here

A man and his daughter came walking from the parking lot and went right to the base of the owl's tree. This is the point, as the detached observer, where you feel confident in predicting what's going to happen next; when you're aware of your profound powerlessness to do anything about it. Sure enough, this gargantuan 8-9' tall owl dropped down toward the man. It didn't attempt an attack from above, as expected. Instead, it settled on the ground, drew itself to full height, and faced him. They both proceed to grapple, "mano a ala (Spanish for wing)", as it were.


 I hope you find this imagery as funny as I did in the dream itself. It looked ridiculous.  It reminded me of a match between Godzilla and one of his many foes - minus the lasers and fire breathing. After those first few moments of hilarity, I actually began to feel concern for the guy. What if he were horribly maimed or eviscerated? It'd be my first bummer bird dream. In the end, the father held his own. The denouement saw a pause in the skirmish.  The owl took advantage the opportunity to avoid further risk, or to save face,  and flew deeper into the forest. The man, apparently not worse for the wear, found his daughter quickly, and both fled out of sight.

Dreambird Photo Session

My most recent dream began with my chasing a Ruddy Daggerwing (butterfly) in a futile attempt to get a photograph.  It finally ended up in a large opening where large dead trees lay in a labyrinthine mess about forty feet across. After a few moments of walking around it, I flushed a thrush. It was a Veery, but there were moments when the bill appeared a orange. I really wanted this to be an Orange-billed Nightengale-Thrush - but no such luck. For the next several moments, it tormented me, by flying right before I could get a picture, then landing so close to the butterfly that it would take off too. Too much reality in this dream for my tastes.

Veery (Catharus fuscescens)
Image online here

At one point the thrush landed on a thick angular branch about twenty feet away. Since it was well out in the open, I thought it a perfect opportunity for snapping a picture. 

Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus) - hen

Image online here

White-cheeked Turaco (Tuaraco leucotis)

Image online here

Through the viewfinder, I noticed several more birds had joined the perch. The assembly turned out to be one of the most diverse I've ever dreamed: Indian Peafowl (hen), White-cheeked Turaco, Hyacinth Macaw, Blue-naped Mousebird, and a Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse.  Wow!

Hyacinth Macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus)

Image online here

Blue-naped Mousebird (Urocolius macrourus)
Photo Copyright 2009 - Doug Janson

Excited, I seized the opportunity and got many dream-photos of them all. When the enthusiasm subsided I noticed they were taking turns diving off the branch out of sight - presumably onto the ground.  When I moved the camera, I discovered they were all devouring a medium-sized, unidentifiable, carcass. Yeah, a little unnerving to say the least.

Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles exustus)
Image online here

The background then began to quickly morph into a cafeteria-like setting. With this change of scenery the birds scattered quickly.  As the dream was ending, I saw a new species walking along a counter top; a green-phase Budgerigar.

Budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus) - green-phase

Image online here

You Always Remember Your First

I actually do remember the first time I dreamt about birds. It was probably in Fall 2002; no later than early 2003. The next morning, I remember thinking how psyched I felt to have gone birding in a dream. It is a 6+ year-old dream, so some of the latter details might prove to fuzzy, but I don't think so.

I was with a small group of birders, perhaps leading. We were birding our way along an overgrown tire-track road. Thickly settled bushes, interspersed with small trees, flanked either side. It was mostly cloudy, and well lit, at first.  This progressed to ominously lead grey skies during and the latter half of the dream. 


Scanning with binoculars, I picked up a medium-sized heron cruising in overhead from behind. It settled down out of view a few hundred feet to our right.  I start bushwhacking towards where the heron seemed to be. Quickly the vegetation opened a clearing of low bushes and grasses on the edge of a pond about a half-acre in size. 

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodius)

Image online here

Great Egret (Ardea alba)

Image online here

Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)

Image online here

Several herons were present in various places around the pond. Species included Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, and Snowy Egret. The highlight was a Black-crowned Night-Heron perched high in tree branches across the pond. It was with this Night-Heron, in this very first dream, that I experienced the ability to zoom and focus, sans binoculars. 


The dream ended shortly after our attention was immediately turned to a large group of American White Pelican migrating, in their mesmerizingly laconic way, fairly low overhead.

Black-crowned Night-heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) - adult

Image online here

Pelicans, soaring and swirling their way through migration.  They prefer to soar via rising warm thermals of air.  Because of their large size, the ponderous process evokes a comparison to ballet in its grace.  Image online here 

Caught Between Bukhara and Samarkand...

A Bactrian Camel in the Kyzyl Kum desert, Uzbekistan.  I'm sure you're booking flights right now. Image online here

There I was in the Kyzyl Kum Desert, in Uzbekistan, leading a well-behaved Bactrian Camel... anywhere. It was pure desolation, essentially featureless in every direction; a beige version of Mars. Some dream; just me, a camel, untolled rocks, some sand and a cloudless sky.   


What motivated me to make lemonade from this lemon tree of a situation was thinking of all the birds I would be adding to my lifelist. Unfortunately, since I have no familiarity with this region, my fantasies ran a bit afield: coursers, bustards, stone-chats, sandgrouse, rollers, stone-curlews and even Ostrich crossed my mind.  But, that's why they call them dreams.

Shoebill (Balaeniceps rex)

Image online here

Purple Sunbird (Cinnyris asiaticus) - male

Image online here

Early on a small flock of doves flew by.  Sadly, they were too distant for any hope of an ID.  Soon after a small oasis appeared on the horizon, and we made it there with dream-speed. There the bird life was excessively cosmopolitan.  A Shoebill waded along the opposite side of the spring-fed pond. A handsome male Purple Sunbird busily worked a date palm to our left.  Neither belonged in this part of the world, but the latter is at least found on this continent.  One bird I did get right was a Eurasian Roller atop another palm.

Eurasian Roller (Coracius garrulus)

Image online here

Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles orientalis)

Image online here

Soon after departing the oasis, I spotted a few birds I was anticipating.  A handful of Black-bellied Sandgrouse crouched amidst rocks and grass tufts within yards of our path.  A very active Eurasian Stone-curlew picked at the ground some way further on.  A sparrow that initially reminded me of a Savannah, flushed from a rock outcrop and settled low in a small bush. In this part of the world, this would be a Rock Sparrow/Petronia.  Aptly named.

Eurasian Stone-curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus)

Image online here

Rock Petronia (Petronia petronia)

Image online here

I then happened upon a small caravan of men and their camels. They ask where I'm going, and I tell them the Caspian Sea. This amuses them, as they inform me I'm heading very much in the wrong direction. They offer to help accompany me to a place where I can catch a different road that will take me towards my destination. They continued to rib me saying that if I don't go with them I'll surly get lost and die in this wasteland. So, even here everybody does want to be a comedian.

Common/Ring-necked Pheseant (Phasianus colchicus) - male

Image online here

We rode our camels together for some time, until we eventually came upon a small village adjacent to a much larger oasis. As we rode through town, I saw women in black or white burqas, many unidentifiable fowl scurrying about, and a small market. In the market a live Common Pheasant was for sale. At the very end of the market someone had a cage with a Common Nightingale in it, melodically singing away. The dream ended as I was looking over at the larger oasis with much anticipation. Unfortunately, I awakened before I could check it out.

Common/Rufous Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos)

Image online here