Sunday, January 8, 2012

Hooded Crane at Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge, Tennessee ~ January 5-7, 2012

Devich Farbotnik and I left Thursday night and drove to the Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge in Tennessee, getting there before first light Friday morning. We spent all day Friday looking for the Hooded Crane that had been seen there since mid-December among about 10,000 Sandhill Cranes, but it never came into view.
Sandhill Cranes at the Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge.


Despite not seeing the Hooded Crane all day Friday, we did see a young Whooping Crane.
A long-distance photo of a Whooping Crane at the Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge. Note the rusty coloration on the head and neck and some near the rump.


Several Bald Eagles were present most of the day, occasionally stirring up the cranes as they flew overhead. A cooperative Eastern Phoebe flew around the viewing platform.
Eastern Phoebe at the Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge.


We stayed overnight in nearby Cleveland and returned Saturday morning. At around 8:45, the Hooded Crane flew in and landed in a field. It was only in view for about five minutes when a Sandhill Crane chased it behind some trees, so I wasn't able to get a documentation photo of it, but Devich was able to get an identifiable photo of it with his phone through his scope.
Devich Farbotnik's photo of the Hooded Crane (center, facing left) at the Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge. Note the dark forehead and light bill on the white head and the charcoal-colored body.


We left around noon and got back home around 11:00 Saturday night. The trip encompassed 1537 miles.

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Common Chaffinch in Hunterdon County, New Jersey ~ January 3, 2012

Just three days into the new year, I got news of a potential 'lifer' less than thirty minutes from my house! So I headed across the Delaware River to Hunterdon County, New Jersey where, after about a half-hour wait, I got to see a male Common Chaffinch that was visiting a private feeder.

Common Chaffinch in Hunterdon County, New Jersey.


The bird's plumage looked pristine and there were no leg bands of any kind. If this bird is accepted by the New Jersey records committee, it would be my 750th ABA bird!