I was working outside and happened to notice two Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers chasing each other around a tree when a third one appeared. I was glad to be able to get a photo of all three of them in the same frame.
Here's a little better photo of two of them.
And finally, here's a fairly good photo of one of the three.
A Golden-crowned Kinglet was also working the neighbor's spruce trees, but I was never able to get a photo of it.
Friday, March 31, 2023
Wednesday, March 29, 2023
More New Arrivals This Afternoon ~ March 29, 2023
Just before noon, I arrived at East Bangor Dam and began scoping the area. Two Mute Swans easily stuck out among the many waterfowl there.
I counted 55 Ring-necked Ducks, 38 Wood Ducks, 11 Green-winged Teal, 3 Pied-billed Grebes, 2 Buffleheads, 2 American Wigeon, and a Great Blue Heron.
A Swamp Sparrow that briefly sang from the cattails was my first-of-the-year, known as an "FOY" bird.
Birds seen in the air included a Sharp-shinned Hawk (FOY), a Cooper's Hawk, 8 Tree Swallows, a Northern Rough-winged Swallow (FOY), 2 Common Ravens, and an Osprey (FOY).
I took the short drive over to Lake Minsi and scanned both the west and east sides. I arrived at a total of 122 Ring-necked Ducks, 6 Double-crested Cormorants (FOY), 5 Great Blue Herons, 3 Bald Eagles, 3 Tree Swallows, 2 Mute Swans, and a Wood Duck.
A quick stop at Echo Lake produced 32 more Ring-necked Ducks, 3 Buffleheads, and another 'fly-by' Osprey.
The next stop was near the Martins Creek power plant. There, I found 11 Ring-necked Ducks, 9 Buffleheads, 7 Ruddy Ducks, 7 Green-winged Teal, an American Wigeon, and an American Coot.
Nearby were 4 American Kestrels and a fairly-distant Eastern Meadowlark (FOY).
From there, I headed to the Regency ponds. The north pond held 19 Buffleheads, one continuing male Blue-winged Teal, and a Ring-necked Duck among 16 Mallards and 14 Canada Geese. The Wilson's Snipe had been last seen on the 23rd. I searched the shoreline in the favored area and found one Wilson's Snipe tucked in behind the concrete drain. Whether it was the same continuing bird or a new migrant is anyone's guess.
When I searched the cove of the north pond, I spotted a Killdeer tucked in behind that concrete drain.
Yet another of the total of 8 Killdeer was also apparently trying to hide behind another small block of concrete.
While looking at the Snipe, I noticed an adult Bald Eagle circling overhead.
In the next few minutes, I watched a Common Raven and a Cooper's Hawk fly by.
My last stop was at Green Pond. There, I found a total of 5 Eastern Phoebes (FOY). Three were along the edge of the Farmersville Road retention pond and two were at the little pond by the house at the intersection.
AN IMPORTANT NOTE:
ARE YOU the "BAD APPLE?" While I was at the Regency ponds, one of the residents came over to me and told me that a photographer was seen INSIDE the fence the other day trying to get a photo of a bird in the north pond. If this is you, I want you to know that they have a description of your car AND the license plate number. If you are seen there by the residents, you will be asked to leave. It was also shared with me and I will be watching for it, too. So, I hope the prize photo that you got was all worth it. I thought this should be mentioned. We have to police ourselves if we want to be able to continue to bird in the remaining spots that we have.
Birds seen in the air included a Sharp-shinned Hawk (FOY), a Cooper's Hawk, 8 Tree Swallows, a Northern Rough-winged Swallow (FOY), 2 Common Ravens, and an Osprey (FOY).
AN IMPORTANT NOTE:
ARE YOU the "BAD APPLE?" While I was at the Regency ponds, one of the residents came over to me and told me that a photographer was seen INSIDE the fence the other day trying to get a photo of a bird in the north pond. If this is you, I want you to know that they have a description of your car AND the license plate number. If you are seen there by the residents, you will be asked to leave. It was also shared with me and I will be watching for it, too. So, I hope the prize photo that you got was all worth it. I thought this should be mentioned. We have to police ourselves if we want to be able to continue to bird in the remaining spots that we have.
Monday, March 27, 2023
An Afternoon of 'First-of-Year' Birds ~ March 27, 2023
With showers moving towards the area, I headed to the Regency ponds. Notable waterfowl included 15 Buffleheads, the continuing two male Blue-winged Teal, and a male Ruddy Duck plus 7 Killdeer. I saw my first-of-the-year Tree Swallow flying over the south pond while both Black and Turkey Vultures soared overhead.
I had seen two Horned Larks in the field at the west edge of the development about a week ago, but they were too distant to get a photo. I searched the field again today and found one fairly close Horned Lark, which allowed me to get some decent photos of it.
My next stop was at the Christian Spring Road ponds where I found 13 lingering Snow Geese among Canadas and a Great Blue Heron among 21 Mallards.
After counting 14 Green-winged Teal at the Hollo Road retention pond, I stopped at the Newburg Road retention pond. There, I found my first-of-the-year Lesser Yellowlegs.
Nearby, in the southeastern area of the hospital grounds, I spotted two Killdeer. When I put my binoculars on one of them, I noticed three smaller birds feeding in the grass, which turned out to be American Pipits. I managed to get some fairly distant, mediocre documentation photos of them. They, too, were my first of the year.
I had seen two Horned Larks in the field at the west edge of the development about a week ago, but they were too distant to get a photo. I searched the field again today and found one fairly close Horned Lark, which allowed me to get some decent photos of it.
My next stop was at the Christian Spring Road ponds where I found 13 lingering Snow Geese among Canadas and a Great Blue Heron among 21 Mallards.
After counting 14 Green-winged Teal at the Hollo Road retention pond, I stopped at the Newburg Road retention pond. There, I found my first-of-the-year Lesser Yellowlegs.
Nearby, in the southeastern area of the hospital grounds, I spotted two Killdeer. When I put my binoculars on one of them, I noticed three smaller birds feeding in the grass, which turned out to be American Pipits. I managed to get some fairly distant, mediocre documentation photos of them. They, too, were my first of the year.
Wednesday, March 22, 2023
Green Pond and the Regency Ponds ~ March 22, 2023
At home, I noticed a raptor circling with a Turkey Vulture that deserved a look. It turned out to be an adult Red-shouldered Hawk migrating towards the northeast. I grabbed some poor photos before it disappeared behind some trees.
The flooded field near Green Pond produced 18 Green-winged Teal, a Killdeer, and a Northern Harrier that patrolled the area before heading off to the north.
The adjacent retention pond held 2 Snow Geese and 2 American Black Ducks while 14 Red-winged Blackbirds were at the little pond by the intersection.
Over at the Regency Boulevard retention ponds, 19 Buffleheads and a Ring-necked Duck were in the north pond. On the little spit by the gatehouse, a Wilson's Snipe was resting with a couple Killdeer.
At the south pond, I eventually found three more Wilson's Snipe. One of the birds flew over to join the other two and gave me the chance to get these photos as it came in for a landing.
Also in the south pond were the continuing two male Blue-winged Teal and several more Killdeer.
The flooded field near Green Pond produced 18 Green-winged Teal, a Killdeer, and a Northern Harrier that patrolled the area before heading off to the north.
The adjacent retention pond held 2 Snow Geese and 2 American Black Ducks while 14 Red-winged Blackbirds were at the little pond by the intersection.
Over at the Regency Boulevard retention ponds, 19 Buffleheads and a Ring-necked Duck were in the north pond. On the little spit by the gatehouse, a Wilson's Snipe was resting with a couple Killdeer.
At the south pond, I eventually found three more Wilson's Snipe. One of the birds flew over to join the other two and gave me the chance to get these photos as it came in for a landing.
Also in the south pond were the continuing two male Blue-winged Teal and several more Killdeer.
Monday, March 20, 2023
Regency Ponds and the St. Luke's Anderson Campus Pond ~ March 20, 2023
I went to the Regency Boulevard ponds and saw all of the continuing birds: 16 Buffleheads, the 2 male Blue-winged Teal, the pair of American Wigeon, one Wilson's Snipe, and 11 Killdeer.
On the way back home, I stopped at the retention pond and walking path behind the St. Luke's Hospital Anderson campus. The pond held two pairs of Hooded Mergansers.
Along the walking path, a pair of Eastern Bluebirds were checking out the two nest boxes there.
On the way back home, I stopped at the retention pond and walking path behind the St. Luke's Hospital Anderson campus. The pond held two pairs of Hooded Mergansers.
Along the walking path, a pair of Eastern Bluebirds were checking out the two nest boxes there.
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