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.
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.
TX - FL Trip ~ February 2, 2010
I went back to the kingfisher spot early the next morning and got some more looks at the bird hunting along the creek. I also managed to get some better photos of it---not the best, but not bad either considering the heavily overcast conditions. This was one of those.
From there, I headed for the lower Rio Grande Valley where a Roadside Hawk had been sporadically seen at Frontera Audubon Sanctuary in Weslaco. Along Routes 359 and 285, I spotted many Crested Caracaras.
American Kestrels, Eastern Meadowlarks, a few Loggerhead Shrikes, and a group of Lark Buntings were also seen there along with one of my favorite raptors, a White-tailed Hawk. Unfortunately, the gray skies and light rain made getting any decent photos a real challenge.
I drove into Frontera Audubon's parking lot and discovered that I had missed the Roadside Hawk by less than five minutes! It was upsetting to hear, "It just flew." I spent the rest of the day there hoping for it to return, but ended up driving back to Laredo empty-handed in the 'lifer' department.
From there, I headed for the lower Rio Grande Valley where a Roadside Hawk had been sporadically seen at Frontera Audubon Sanctuary in Weslaco. Along Routes 359 and 285, I spotted many Crested Caracaras.
American Kestrels, Eastern Meadowlarks, a few Loggerhead Shrikes, and a group of Lark Buntings were also seen there along with one of my favorite raptors, a White-tailed Hawk. Unfortunately, the gray skies and light rain made getting any decent photos a real challenge.
I drove into Frontera Audubon's parking lot and discovered that I had missed the Roadside Hawk by less than five minutes! It was upsetting to hear, "It just flew." I spent the rest of the day there hoping for it to return, but ended up driving back to Laredo empty-handed in the 'lifer' department.
TX - FL Trip ~ February 3-4, 2010
February 3, 2010
Today was basically a travel day from Texas to Florida. The overnight rain continued as I headed to the Laredo Airport for my flight to Fort Lauderdale, FL via Houston. I arrived in Fort Lauderdale around sunset, got my Chevy Cobalt rental from Enterprise, and drove the 2-1/2 hours up I-95 to my motel in Palm Bay.
February 4, 2010
I left the motel and drove the short distance up I-95 to the Viera Wetlands, getting there around sunrise. Because of the heavy rains that had occurred a few days before I arrived, the dike roads around the impoundments were closed to vehicles. So, I started walking the half-mile or so down the dike to Cell #4 to search for the male Masked Duck that had been there for over a month. Partway down, a Loggerhead Shrike perched in a tree along the dike.
Then, I very slowly walked right past a Limpkin standing on the dike road.
Eventually, the bird flew into its more natural habitat.
White Ibis also provided great looks at close range.
Cell #4 held Blue-winged Teal.
One of many Common Moorhens worked the edges of the vegetation.
One of three American Bitterns posed for a photo.
A pair of Sandhill Cranes were sporadically calling while building their nest.
Evenutally, more birders started filing into the area and, after about two hours, someone spotted the prize duck diving among a few American Coots. The Masked Duck was another 'lifer'. Its black head, eye ring, pale blue bill, and chestnut-colored body were unmistakable.
While we were watching the duck, an adult Bald Eagle circled overhead.
The impoundments also held Hooded Merganser, Glossy Ibis, Great Egret, Tricolored Heron, and Belted Kingfisher, which was the fourth species of kingfisher for the trip.
Around lunchtime, I left Viera and motored all the way back down I-95 to Pelican Harbor in Miami. There, I was very lucky to get to see and photograph the sub-adult Red-footed Booby that was sporadically visiting the harbor.
I continued down US-1 and took the Rickenbacker Causeway down to Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park on Key Biscayne. There was only a little over an hour of light left when I got to the area where the La Sagra's Flycatcher had been spending most of its time. I saw very few birds there before sunset came, so I headed back up to my motel in Coral Springs.
Today was basically a travel day from Texas to Florida. The overnight rain continued as I headed to the Laredo Airport for my flight to Fort Lauderdale, FL via Houston. I arrived in Fort Lauderdale around sunset, got my Chevy Cobalt rental from Enterprise, and drove the 2-1/2 hours up I-95 to my motel in Palm Bay.
February 4, 2010
I left the motel and drove the short distance up I-95 to the Viera Wetlands, getting there around sunrise. Because of the heavy rains that had occurred a few days before I arrived, the dike roads around the impoundments were closed to vehicles. So, I started walking the half-mile or so down the dike to Cell #4 to search for the male Masked Duck that had been there for over a month. Partway down, a Loggerhead Shrike perched in a tree along the dike.
Then, I very slowly walked right past a Limpkin standing on the dike road.
Eventually, the bird flew into its more natural habitat.
White Ibis also provided great looks at close range.
Cell #4 held Blue-winged Teal.
One of many Common Moorhens worked the edges of the vegetation.
One of three American Bitterns posed for a photo.
A pair of Sandhill Cranes were sporadically calling while building their nest.
Evenutally, more birders started filing into the area and, after about two hours, someone spotted the prize duck diving among a few American Coots. The Masked Duck was another 'lifer'. Its black head, eye ring, pale blue bill, and chestnut-colored body were unmistakable.
While we were watching the duck, an adult Bald Eagle circled overhead.
The impoundments also held Hooded Merganser, Glossy Ibis, Great Egret, Tricolored Heron, and Belted Kingfisher, which was the fourth species of kingfisher for the trip.
Around lunchtime, I left Viera and motored all the way back down I-95 to Pelican Harbor in Miami. There, I was very lucky to get to see and photograph the sub-adult Red-footed Booby that was sporadically visiting the harbor.
I continued down US-1 and took the Rickenbacker Causeway down to Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park on Key Biscayne. There was only a little over an hour of light left when I got to the area where the La Sagra's Flycatcher had been spending most of its time. I saw very few birds there before sunset came, so I headed back up to my motel in Coral Springs.
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