Also seen there were the male Blue-winged Teal, 35 Killdeer, 15 Spotted Sandpipers, a Solitary Sandpiper, and 2 Least Sandpipers.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Young Spotted Sandpipers at Green Pond ~ July 4, 2010
On my way home from my daughters', I made a stop at Green Pond's flooded fields. The area is quickly drying up. Only the area to the east of "the island" still has water. As it neared sunset, I spotted five little 'fluffballs' that turned out to be young Spotted Sandpipers. I watched them as one of the parents closely followed them around. At one point, the adult called and all five young sought protection underneath the parent bird. As it turns out, it's the male (not the female) who does the incubating and parenting as in the phalaropes. I was unaware of this until Augie Mirabella wrote and informed me about it. I was amazed that all five could just about disappear underneath 'his' partly-spread wings.
Adult Spotted Sandpiper with young at the flooded fields by Green Pond, Northampton County. The last two birds are scrambling for cover underneath the parent bird.
Also seen there were the male Blue-winged Teal, 35 Killdeer, 15 Spotted Sandpipers, a Solitary Sandpiper, and 2 Least Sandpipers.
Also seen there were the male Blue-winged Teal, 35 Killdeer, 15 Spotted Sandpipers, a Solitary Sandpiper, and 2 Least Sandpipers.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Many Killdeer and Waxwings at Green Pond ~ June 28, 2010
As some of you know, my other hobby besides birding is ice hockey. Well, last night, I got another 'lifer' when our team won the Geezer Hockey League championship! Photos of that can be found at my Ice Hockey Adventures Album.
I continued last night's celebration by taking the day off. I made a mid-day stop at Green Pond. The main flooded field's water level is dropping. The half to the west of the island is now mostly a mudflat, but the eastern half still has a good amount of water in it. As I scanned across the area, I made as accurate a count as I could and came up with 73 Killdeer! It's the highest number I've ever seen there, but I would imagine it's not unprecedented. As has been the case for about a week now, about 20 Cedar Waxwings were taking off from the eastern shoreline, 'flycatching', and returning to the muddy shore.
Cedar Waxwings at the flooded fields by Green Pond, Northampton County. Eight of the waxwings are visible in this photo.
Cedar Waxwing at the flooded fields by Green Pond, Northampton County.
Cedar Waxwing 'flycatching' at the flooded fields by Green Pond, Northampton County. Note the red, 'waxy' tips at the trailing edge of the secondaries.
The injured male Blue-winged Teal continues to hang in there.
I continued last night's celebration by taking the day off. I made a mid-day stop at Green Pond. The main flooded field's water level is dropping. The half to the west of the island is now mostly a mudflat, but the eastern half still has a good amount of water in it. As I scanned across the area, I made as accurate a count as I could and came up with 73 Killdeer! It's the highest number I've ever seen there, but I would imagine it's not unprecedented. As has been the case for about a week now, about 20 Cedar Waxwings were taking off from the eastern shoreline, 'flycatching', and returning to the muddy shore.
The injured male Blue-winged Teal continues to hang in there.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Black-bellied Plovers at Green Pond ~ May 22, 2010
This afternoon's stop at the flooded fields by Green Pond at around 1:45 produced four Black-bellied Plovers. Two were in breeding plumage, one was near breeding plumage, and the other was still in the drab non-breeding garb. At around 2:30, they flew off to the south. I was able to get some long-distance 'documentation photos' of them.
Black-bellied Plovers at the flooded fields by Green Pond, Northampton County. This long-distance photo shows the four that were present.
Black-bellied Plovers at the flooded fields by Green Pond, Northampton County. This long-distance photo shows three of the four that were present.
Black-bellied Plovers at the flooded fields by Green Pond, Northampton County. This long-distance photo also shows the male Blue-winged Teal with an apparently-injured left wing.
Other birds seen there included 4 Semipalmated Plovers, 6 Spotted Sandpipers, a Solitary Sandpiper, 13 Least Sandpipers, and one Blackpoll Warbler that was singing near the pond.
Other birds seen there included 4 Semipalmated Plovers, 6 Spotted Sandpipers, a Solitary Sandpiper, 13 Least Sandpipers, and one Blackpoll Warbler that was singing near the pond.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Bar-tailed Godwit at Brigantine N.W.R.! ~ May 17, 2010
Since I already had the day off, I made a late morning decision to head to Brigantine (Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge) in search of the Bar-tailed Godwit that had been there since Thursday. As luck would have it, I drove to the area of the dike where it had most often been seen and found another birder already on the bird. It was a long way out in the Danzenbaker Pool. After about 30 minutes, it started taking short flights, moving closer to us each time.
Bar-tailed Godwit at Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, New Jersey.
Bar-tailed Godwit at Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, New Jersey. This photo shows the conspicuous white rump, dark wrists, and lack of any wing stripe.
Bar-tailed Godwit at Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, New Jersey. This photo shows the conspicuous white rump, dark wrists, and lack of any wing stripe.
At 3:00, it flew across the south dike and out into the bay, landing in the direction of the Atlantic City casinos. It was a new 'Lower 48' bird for me, bringing back great memories of the ones I saw near Nome during my 2007 trip to Alaska.
At 3:00, it flew across the south dike and out into the bay, landing in the direction of the Atlantic City casinos. It was a new 'Lower 48' bird for me, bringing back great memories of the ones I saw near Nome during my 2007 trip to Alaska.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Black Tern at Green Pond ~ May 14, 2010
I made one of my afternoon stops at the flooded fields by Green Pond at around 1:00 and was surprised to find a Black Tern flying back and forth behind 'the island'. I called a few friends, watched it for about a half-hour, and then had to head home. A little after 3:00, I was able to return with my camera. The bird was still there, occasionally diving to feed. I managed to get some long-distance 'documentation photos' of it.
Black Tern at the flooded fields by Green Pond, Northampton County.
It was only my second sighting of Black Tern for the county. Also present there were 7 Dunlin.
It was only my second sighting of Black Tern for the county. Also present there were 7 Dunlin.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Willets in PA! ~ April 27, 2010
I finally got to put my binoculars on Willet in the state today! A group of 15 that were reported earlier in the day were still present when I arrived at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area at about 4:30. And, they were still there when I left at 6:00. The birds were a couple hundred yards away but were in good light, meaning it wasn't raining. It was one of those state birds that had eluded me for years, until today.
Willets at the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area, Lancaster County. Note the bold, white wing stripe on the extended wing.
Willets at the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area, Lancaster County.
Thanks to Jim Binder for finding this group and Randy Miller, Dave Wilton, and Jason Horn for letting me know about them.
Thanks to Jim Binder for finding this group and Randy Miller, Dave Wilton, and Jason Horn for letting me know about them.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
TX - FL Trip ~ February 1, 2010
I had been reading reports about the Amazon Kingfisher and Roadside Hawk in Texas and the Masked Duck, La Sagra's Flycatcher, and Red-footed Booby in Florida. That made it tough trying to decide which state to visit for my once-a-year out-of-state trip. Thanks to a tip from a birding friend, I found out that I could go to both states for less than it would cost me for the gas to drive there. So, after happily recording a 'shutout' at my 10:30 hockey game late Sunday night, I drove home, showered, threw my bags in the car, and headed for Philadelphia International. I arrived in plenty of time for my 5:35 AM flight to Laredo, Texas, with a plane switch in Houston.
I landed in Laredo, got my Hertz rental car, which turned out to be a Toyota Prius, and headed for the spot where the Amazon Kingfisher was being seen, arriving a little after 11:00 AM. The bird was visiting the area where the Zacate Creek spills into the Rio Grande River. It had been most reliably seen in the early morning and late afternoon, apparently spending much of the day out of sight somewhere along the Rio Grande. Along with up to twenty other birders that included Wes Biggs, I watched for hours, waiting for the bird to show itself. Afternoon sightings from there included Gadwall, Pied-billed Grebe, White-faced Ibis, Double-crested and Neotropic Cormorants, Snowy and Cattle Egrets, Green Heron, American Coots, Black-necked Stilts, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Spotted and Least Sandpipers, Osprey, Sharp-shinned and Cooper's Hawk, White-winged Dove, Ringed Kingfisher, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Black Phoebe, Great Kiskadees, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, and Orange-crowned and Yellow-rumped Warblers.
It was now after 5:00 with still no sign of the bird. As the sun got lower and lower, a number of birders 'packed it in' for the day. At 5:45, a bird flapped its way in towards the creek and I realized it was 'the' bird. It eventually worked its way up the creek where I managed to get very satisfying views of my 'life' Amazon Kingfisher, a 1st record for the U.S.!
This Ringed Kingfisher also hunted along the creek.
I landed in Laredo, got my Hertz rental car, which turned out to be a Toyota Prius, and headed for the spot where the Amazon Kingfisher was being seen, arriving a little after 11:00 AM. The bird was visiting the area where the Zacate Creek spills into the Rio Grande River. It had been most reliably seen in the early morning and late afternoon, apparently spending much of the day out of sight somewhere along the Rio Grande. Along with up to twenty other birders that included Wes Biggs, I watched for hours, waiting for the bird to show itself. Afternoon sightings from there included Gadwall, Pied-billed Grebe, White-faced Ibis, Double-crested and Neotropic Cormorants, Snowy and Cattle Egrets, Green Heron, American Coots, Black-necked Stilts, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Spotted and Least Sandpipers, Osprey, Sharp-shinned and Cooper's Hawk, White-winged Dove, Ringed Kingfisher, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Black Phoebe, Great Kiskadees, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, and Orange-crowned and Yellow-rumped Warblers.
It was now after 5:00 with still no sign of the bird. As the sun got lower and lower, a number of birders 'packed it in' for the day. At 5:45, a bird flapped its way in towards the creek and I realized it was 'the' bird. It eventually worked its way up the creek where I managed to get very satisfying views of my 'life' Amazon Kingfisher, a 1st record for the U.S.!
This Ringed Kingfisher also hunted along the creek.
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