A lot of this year has been spent in the field, naturally. Where else to see all the birds? However, in order to get into the field, and far afield, to such places as Florida, Louisiana, Arizona etc etc etc, a lot of planning is involved. And yesterday I planned on staying indoors in order to plan the next 2 weeks. My head was spinning, frankly, and I don't doubt it might spin right off my neck in short order. Of course, Sue is convinced I have flipped my lid and any chance of recovery prior to December 31, 2012 is very unlikely. I spent most of the afternoon making flight, rental car, hotel reservations and Pelagic reservations for Florida and Louisiana, where I will be attending the Yellow Rails and Rice festival and hoping to see a few other good year birds, in addition to the rails.
By mid-afternoon I was feeling cooped up and decided to take a walk in the woods and just look at local birds in James Gardens. However, while I was looking at sparrows and kinglets, my iPhone dinged with an e-mail with an Ontbirds report of a Townsand's Solitaire being seen by Josh Vandermeulen out at Van Wagner's Beach, across from Hutch's between the two ponds.
I ran back to the car, battled westbound rush hour traffic and made the 35 minute drive in just under an hour. I arrived shortly after a small group of other chaser-birders, and just before a couple of enthusiastic kids who also wanted to see the Solitaire, a rare visitor to to the east. I had chased and missed one last winter, so I was hoping I wasn't too late. I asked the first birder I saw if they were seeing the bird and he told me it had just disappeared into a thicket a few minutes before I arrived. Great. Late again.
But, in this case, less than 10 minutes after I arrived the Solitaire appeared atop the thicket. I pointed, and all heads turned to see the bird alight and fly slowly enough across the path and to the other side, giving everyone present very good looks at the bird. I was too enthralled to think of taking a photo, as had I tried I'd have not had a good look at it and doubt I'd have taken a good photo. I was hoping it would appear again, but only had one quick fly-by with another late arriving birder after the rest of the folks had left. It was fun to chase after a bird again and run into a few of the local Hamilton/Niagara birders I have been seeing on and off over the past 9 months.
This afternoon, I am heading north for Boreal Owls and perhaps one or two other boreal species. Then Tuesday am flying to the Tampa area and birding there for a few days, after I finish my work portion of the trip. Then it's down to Miami and Key West, then to Louisiana for rails and such speciality birds as Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Brown-headed Nuthatch and Bachman's Sparrow.
Friday, 12 October 2012
Monday, 8 October 2012
Happy Thanksbirding
And on the menu for this Canadian Thanksgiving Monday, we had Peach Glazed Turkey, with homemade cranberry sauce, mashed Potatoes, corn and Pumpkin Pie for dessert. However, it was the appetizer that really made today special, as Sue and I found a Winter Wren while out birding this afternoon, where I had found the Nelson's Sparrow the previous day. I had hoped we could find one for Sue, but I was hoping we'd also find the Winter Wren the OFO group found in what they call Dundas Marsh or the Willows.
But prior to our walk down to Spencer Creek we parked near another Royal Botanical Gardens path that was kind of like going through a corn maze, without the maze or the corn. I was half expecting to find a rotting corpse like so many people do in episodes of CSI or Bones. However, we found lots of nice birds and an unusual duck family, as you will see below.
Later, while walking on a path on Cootes Road we found an American Mink and that was number 16 on my list of Rodent-y things for the year. Never thought I'd even crack a Baker's Dozen in that category.
We had lunch at Hutch's Diner at Van Wagener's Beach, and then made our way back to Coote's Road and our search for the Nelson's Sparrow and ran into Barry, who I am sure is convinced I am stalking him, as he and another fellow I've run into a few times in Hamilton, who I shall call Joe, since I am not sure I ever got his name, were also searching for Nelson's Sparrows. We didn't see one at the dried up pond, but on the way back to the car, Sue got a good look at the Lincoln's Sparrow I had seen on the way in and then, after hearing it a number of times, finally found the Winter Wren, number 537 for the year. Having seen the Pacific Wren a couple of weeks ago in California, I have now seen all the North American Wrens there are to see, including the oddly named Wrentit, which, is not actually a Wren. As I told Sue when as we drove home, "One less bird to obsess about the rest of the year." Of course, she countered, "Oh, you will find others to obsess about."
And I suppose she is right. And so, on Thanksgiving Monday, I should be thankful to Sue for putting up with a crazed "lister," for the past 9 months. Only 84 days to go. She might just survive my Big Year after-all.
But prior to our walk down to Spencer Creek we parked near another Royal Botanical Gardens path that was kind of like going through a corn maze, without the maze or the corn. I was half expecting to find a rotting corpse like so many people do in episodes of CSI or Bones. However, we found lots of nice birds and an unusual duck family, as you will see below.
Later, while walking on a path on Cootes Road we found an American Mink and that was number 16 on my list of Rodent-y things for the year. Never thought I'd even crack a Baker's Dozen in that category.
We had lunch at Hutch's Diner at Van Wagener's Beach, and then made our way back to Coote's Road and our search for the Nelson's Sparrow and ran into Barry, who I am sure is convinced I am stalking him, as he and another fellow I've run into a few times in Hamilton, who I shall call Joe, since I am not sure I ever got his name, were also searching for Nelson's Sparrows. We didn't see one at the dried up pond, but on the way back to the car, Sue got a good look at the Lincoln's Sparrow I had seen on the way in and then, after hearing it a number of times, finally found the Winter Wren, number 537 for the year. Having seen the Pacific Wren a couple of weeks ago in California, I have now seen all the North American Wrens there are to see, including the oddly named Wrentit, which, is not actually a Wren. As I told Sue when as we drove home, "One less bird to obsess about the rest of the year." Of course, she countered, "Oh, you will find others to obsess about."
And I suppose she is right. And so, on Thanksgiving Monday, I should be thankful to Sue for putting up with a crazed "lister," for the past 9 months. Only 84 days to go. She might just survive my Big Year after-all.
American Mink
Nearly lost in the No Corn-No Maze Corn Maze
The Winter Wren!
The Odd Duck Family
Teeter-totter Herons
Sunday, 7 October 2012
Thanks E-bird and the OFO
Just a short post today, but one to hi-light just how much we rely on and should be thankful to our technology when it comes to birding. Thanks to a few good folks who were on yesterday's OFO Hamilton field trip, who also posted on E-bird, I had the GPS coordinates of the Nelson's Sparrows I had been seeking, without success, the last little while.
Once I parked the car in the Coot's Paradise area it didn't take long to find lots of Sparrows and in short order I got a spectacular look at the elusive, at least for me, Nelson's Sparrow.
Number 536 for the year with just a little help from the Ontario birding community.
Once I parked the car in the Coot's Paradise area it didn't take long to find lots of Sparrows and in short order I got a spectacular look at the elusive, at least for me, Nelson's Sparrow.
Number 536 for the year with just a little help from the Ontario birding community.
Saturday, 6 October 2012
From Humber Bay to Presquil'e in a Day
I had a lovely day to go birding with the hopes of finding a couple of new birds but instead got a really nice look at a Brant and the pleasure of birding with Fred Helleiner up at Presquil'e.
I will return next week when Gull island is not closed off for hunters.
I will return next week when Gull island is not closed off for hunters.
Tuesday, 2 October 2012
The Final Quarter
3 months to go. Wow. I remember thinking on January 1, that this was the first day of the rest of my Big Year. Well, today feels like the first day of the rest of my Big Year. While I'd have never thought that, in my first year of birding, I'd be able to see even 500 species, I am now making a full charge toward the finish line and going for 600.
It's not going to be easy. But even for me, I think it can can be done. I am returning once again to Arizona and likely Texas. I will be doing Pelagics out of New Jersey and Florida. I will be heading down to South Florida for a couple of days, and maybe even to the Dry Tortugas if necessary. I will go anywhere in Ontario I can drive to in a day to chase whatever shows up, including special trips for Boreal Owl and Sharp-tailed Grouse.
With the baseball season ending on Wednesday, and only a very specific work schedule the rest of the year, I will have plenty of time to go birding the next three months, and will get back to chasing. I am not looking forward to the cold weather birding, but that comes with the territory.
And I have just booked one of the coolest trips of the year. The Yellow Rails and Rice Festival in Louisiana. You actually get to ride a combine through a rice field and watch as the rails are flushed from the grass. Not sure how many birds I will add on that trip but it has got to be a hoot and a half just to do it!
It's not going to be easy. But even for me, I think it can can be done. I am returning once again to Arizona and likely Texas. I will be doing Pelagics out of New Jersey and Florida. I will be heading down to South Florida for a couple of days, and maybe even to the Dry Tortugas if necessary. I will go anywhere in Ontario I can drive to in a day to chase whatever shows up, including special trips for Boreal Owl and Sharp-tailed Grouse.
With the baseball season ending on Wednesday, and only a very specific work schedule the rest of the year, I will have plenty of time to go birding the next three months, and will get back to chasing. I am not looking forward to the cold weather birding, but that comes with the territory.
And I have just booked one of the coolest trips of the year. The Yellow Rails and Rice Festival in Louisiana. You actually get to ride a combine through a rice field and watch as the rails are flushed from the grass. Not sure how many birds I will add on that trip but it has got to be a hoot and a half just to do it!
Saturday, 29 September 2012
Great Discovery in California!
In a year where I have been searching for all the bird species I can find, which now stands at 535, I have also been cataloguing what I call Rodent-y Things, such as Pine Martens, Snowshoe Hares and California Ground Squirrels, I had counted over a dozen of these cute and fuzzy beasts. But there was one that I had not come across, and didn't expect to. The Code 5 of Rodent-y Things!
It is a mythical being, or so adults might think, but children know that this little guy is real. And I found him in the Pinnacles National Monument camp grounds.
Yes folks, I found The Easter Bunny.
Ha you say. How can that be? How would you know the Easter Bunny from Bugs Bunny, or the March Hare?
Simple. You will know you have found the one, real Easter Bunny when you find the one and only bunny that taste tests the candy before delivering it to the children on Easter Morning.
And I have photographic proof. Of course, without a photograph, no one would believe you've found a Code 5 anything. So, submitted for your approval, these three, un-retouched photographs of The Easter Bunny eating an M&M this past week, as I wandered the campground in search of California Quail, whom I believe are the sworn protectors of this most famous and no longer mythical bunny.
It is a mythical being, or so adults might think, but children know that this little guy is real. And I found him in the Pinnacles National Monument camp grounds.
Yes folks, I found The Easter Bunny.
Ha you say. How can that be? How would you know the Easter Bunny from Bugs Bunny, or the March Hare?
Simple. You will know you have found the one, real Easter Bunny when you find the one and only bunny that taste tests the candy before delivering it to the children on Easter Morning.
And I have photographic proof. Of course, without a photograph, no one would believe you've found a Code 5 anything. So, submitted for your approval, these three, un-retouched photographs of The Easter Bunny eating an M&M this past week, as I wandered the campground in search of California Quail, whom I believe are the sworn protectors of this most famous and no longer mythical bunny.
scroll down to see the photographic proof:
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Thursday, 27 September 2012
Target Birding
We had targets and we went after them with near military grade precision. Sure, I'd have loved a glance at a California Condor or had found, to my satisfaction, a Lawrence's Goldfinch,(probably did see one, but the glimpses were too fleeting to count). However, the next day, on a lovely outing with my friends and master San Francisco bird guides, Eddie and Noreen, we targeted a handful of birds in the greater San Francisco area.
We started, at the Arastradaro Preserve where we had a lovely morning walk, and found in quick succession, a Nuttall's Woodpecker, Oak Titmouse and after a bit of searching, a lovely little Wrentit. I guess the name comes from the fact that it is a Babbler that combines the the relative size of a Titmouse, with the tail of a Wren. Or the guys that named it were just a little weird.
Our next stop, oddly enough,(though I am never surprised at these nice coincidences, or where I end up anymore), was at Mount Davidson, where I had inadvertently driven to a week early when I arrived in San Francisco. Our targets for the mountaintop were very pacific, as in Pacific Wren and Pacific-Slope Flycatcher. But as we were walking up the mountain trail we were rewarded with a lovely Warbler Show that included a Hermit Warbler, which I had been too early for during my first trip to California in January. After that we had good looks at a Pacific Wren and finally, both at the top of the mountain,(where the fantastic views of San Francisco were obscured by a low fog), and on the way back down the trail, a Pacific-Slope Flycatcher.
We birded a couple of other locations looking for some tougher birds without success, including the wonderful Heron's Head, where they served a wonderful vegetarian lunch, but on our last stop were able to get amazing looks at Clark's Grebes,(I had seen them from the Boat in Half Moon Bay,but my photo was out of focus), including a couple of babies, being fed by mommy Grebe.
Eddie and Noreen, of Naturetrip.com, are wonderful birders, have great ears for bird calls and are fantastic at locating birds in tough places, and know the Bay area like few others. If you're in San Francisco, please look them up for a great day.
Before we parted company Eddie gave me directions to the brickyards in San Rafael, where Vaux's Swifts were putting on shows, nightly, as they came back to roost in the chimneys. I got there after surviving San Francisco rush hour traffic, just as the sun was going down. It was an amazing show. Thousands of them, estimated at times to be over 12,000 in fact. At times it appeared as though bats were flying out of a cave at night, going out to hunt, or even a funnel cloud of a tornado. Or a gigantic swarm of bees. Either way it was impressive. Lot of other birders had come out for the show as well, including three guys who were doing a nightly count. One of them does banding at the Hawk Watch and another just started birding this January, just like me.
It was a cool way to end up the trip out west and left me with a Big Year total of 535, having added 37 new species the past week. That leaves me 37 species short of Roger Tory Peterson's 1953 total of 574, which has become a real number to strive for. Of course, 600 would be a Great Big Year and I am just 65 short of that total. 96 days left in the year. I need to find just 0.68 birds a day the rest of the way.
Scroll down to the bottom for a video of the Vaux's Swifts.
We started, at the Arastradaro Preserve where we had a lovely morning walk, and found in quick succession, a Nuttall's Woodpecker, Oak Titmouse and after a bit of searching, a lovely little Wrentit. I guess the name comes from the fact that it is a Babbler that combines the the relative size of a Titmouse, with the tail of a Wren. Or the guys that named it were just a little weird.
Our next stop, oddly enough,(though I am never surprised at these nice coincidences, or where I end up anymore), was at Mount Davidson, where I had inadvertently driven to a week early when I arrived in San Francisco. Our targets for the mountaintop were very pacific, as in Pacific Wren and Pacific-Slope Flycatcher. But as we were walking up the mountain trail we were rewarded with a lovely Warbler Show that included a Hermit Warbler, which I had been too early for during my first trip to California in January. After that we had good looks at a Pacific Wren and finally, both at the top of the mountain,(where the fantastic views of San Francisco were obscured by a low fog), and on the way back down the trail, a Pacific-Slope Flycatcher.
We birded a couple of other locations looking for some tougher birds without success, including the wonderful Heron's Head, where they served a wonderful vegetarian lunch, but on our last stop were able to get amazing looks at Clark's Grebes,(I had seen them from the Boat in Half Moon Bay,but my photo was out of focus), including a couple of babies, being fed by mommy Grebe.
Eddie and Noreen, of Naturetrip.com, are wonderful birders, have great ears for bird calls and are fantastic at locating birds in tough places, and know the Bay area like few others. If you're in San Francisco, please look them up for a great day.
Before we parted company Eddie gave me directions to the brickyards in San Rafael, where Vaux's Swifts were putting on shows, nightly, as they came back to roost in the chimneys. I got there after surviving San Francisco rush hour traffic, just as the sun was going down. It was an amazing show. Thousands of them, estimated at times to be over 12,000 in fact. At times it appeared as though bats were flying out of a cave at night, going out to hunt, or even a funnel cloud of a tornado. Or a gigantic swarm of bees. Either way it was impressive. Lot of other birders had come out for the show as well, including three guys who were doing a nightly count. One of them does banding at the Hawk Watch and another just started birding this January, just like me.
It was a cool way to end up the trip out west and left me with a Big Year total of 535, having added 37 new species the past week. That leaves me 37 species short of Roger Tory Peterson's 1953 total of 574, which has become a real number to strive for. Of course, 600 would be a Great Big Year and I am just 65 short of that total. 96 days left in the year. I need to find just 0.68 birds a day the rest of the way.
Scroll down to the bottom for a video of the Vaux's Swifts.
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