This morning I joined a group for a birdwalk at Santee NWR in South Carolina. It was a typical SC morning....in the early morning needing to scrape some frost off of the car, later shedding layers until a t-shirt is comfy.
Highlights were 10 huge American White Pelicans flying over our group. Apparently this was the first time more than one had been seen on the refuge! I also enjoyed seeing 50+ American Pipits at pretty close range, allowing good views of this less-than-spectacular bird. 2 blue phase Snow Geese were unusual (especially since there weren't any of the typical white ones). Rounding out my favorites were 6 Sandhill Cranes, 5 Fox Sparrows, and a couple of Loggerhead Shrikes! 59 species in all
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Saturday, October 22, 2011
My New Favorite Spot
After a cold, calm night, I discovered a number of late fall migrants had arrived in South Carolina. I was happy to find 44 species of birds in my local patch, including the first fall Juncos, White-Throated Sparrows, and Winter Wrens.
I recently discovered one little spot that is fast becoming one of my favorite places in the world! Down by a fairly broad river, there is a solitary picnic table that sits at the end of an overgrown trail. It overlooks a tiny weedy field and is bordered by woods. On the far side of the river, past a number of tall dead trees and agricultural fields you can see for miles (?) to the horizon.
This combination makes for some wonderful birding just by staying in one spot. This morning I was delighted by Pied-Billed Grebes floating by on the river, Wood Ducks flying over the water, a perched Red-tailed Hawk, and a group of jays pestering a very energetic Sharp-Shinned Hawk. Birds were constantly emerging from the tiny weedy patch: Swamp, Song, Field, and White-Throated Sparrows, Indigo Bunting, Goldfinches, Common Yellowthroats, House and Carolina Wrens. Finally, on the wood edge were a White-Eyed Vireo, and Brown Thrasher.
The thing to learn from this I think is that often times local spots in the areas around where we live that aren't famous or heavily birded can be great spots for birds. I think combinations of habitats such as this little area are what to look for.
I recently discovered one little spot that is fast becoming one of my favorite places in the world! Down by a fairly broad river, there is a solitary picnic table that sits at the end of an overgrown trail. It overlooks a tiny weedy field and is bordered by woods. On the far side of the river, past a number of tall dead trees and agricultural fields you can see for miles (?) to the horizon.
This combination makes for some wonderful birding just by staying in one spot. This morning I was delighted by Pied-Billed Grebes floating by on the river, Wood Ducks flying over the water, a perched Red-tailed Hawk, and a group of jays pestering a very energetic Sharp-Shinned Hawk. Birds were constantly emerging from the tiny weedy patch: Swamp, Song, Field, and White-Throated Sparrows, Indigo Bunting, Goldfinches, Common Yellowthroats, House and Carolina Wrens. Finally, on the wood edge were a White-Eyed Vireo, and Brown Thrasher.
The thing to learn from this I think is that often times local spots in the areas around where we live that aren't famous or heavily birded can be great spots for birds. I think combinations of habitats such as this little area are what to look for.
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| View of the River from the Picnic Table |
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| Weedy patch on the left, bordered by woodlands |
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Warbler Woods
My new (mobile) home is located in an oak-hickory forest. Within a 1/2 mile there is a small lake and a decent sized river. I have been amazed at the number and diversity of warblers that I have seen from my office window, and within the woods and habitats nearby.
In about 2 months of birding, I've seen 70 species of birds, including 15! species of warblers, which include about 10 seen just from my office window. By far the highlight has been not one, but two male Golden-Winged Warblers. One was in the trees above my house in late September, and the other I saw last week in a small weedy area. Other birders have assured me that Golden-Winged is not a common bird here in South Carolina (I thought it might be more common here than in NJ or VA).
Other warbler highlights have been Blackburnian, Hooded, and Worm-Eating, as well as a number of Tennessee Warblers.
I was also surprised how common Summer Tanagers are here. I think they are mostly gone now, but in August and September it was unusual if I didn't see or hear one on a walk. Brown-headed Nuthatches squeak high up in the pine trees, and Yellow-throated Vireos hide way up in the deciduous trees.
All that to say, I'm thankful God brought me to a place where trails and good habitats are right outside my door!
In about 2 months of birding, I've seen 70 species of birds, including 15! species of warblers, which include about 10 seen just from my office window. By far the highlight has been not one, but two male Golden-Winged Warblers. One was in the trees above my house in late September, and the other I saw last week in a small weedy area. Other birders have assured me that Golden-Winged is not a common bird here in South Carolina (I thought it might be more common here than in NJ or VA).
Other warbler highlights have been Blackburnian, Hooded, and Worm-Eating, as well as a number of Tennessee Warblers.
I was also surprised how common Summer Tanagers are here. I think they are mostly gone now, but in August and September it was unusual if I didn't see or hear one on a walk. Brown-headed Nuthatches squeak high up in the pine trees, and Yellow-throated Vireos hide way up in the deciduous trees.
All that to say, I'm thankful God brought me to a place where trails and good habitats are right outside my door!
Monday, October 3, 2011
Rainy start to October has been excellent!
Well with yet ANOTHER camping weekend being washed out, Deb, Ron, and I were bummed out a bit. But, Deb and I decided to get some birding in anyway yesterday, even in the rain. The morning started well, as I was checking the weather we had this Cape May Warbler visit our stream/pond out front!
Having done Cape May, Brig, and Donio park a million times in the last month, I decided to go to one of my spring herping/birding routes to see what I could come up with. So we hit Jackson Road and Cedar Lake first. 2 Cape May Warblers and 2 Yellow Rumped Warblers were the highlights here amongst a modest flock of migrants.
Then Heislersville WMA. Rain coming down. Not much in the impoundments. So we decided to call it quits. On our way out, In a pretty steady rain, we ran into a very large flock of migrants, and while trying to keep the rain off our lenses, we started calling out lots of birds!
Baltimore Oriole, Redstart, Magnolia, Waterthrush, Yellow, B+W, BTB, Yellowthroat, Parula, Palm, White Eyed Vireo, Red Eyed Vireo, Phoebe...Bald Eagle above!
So in about 3 hours of birding we ended up seeing 63 species!
So I decided today I would do my usual lazy route: Donio, then the backyard.
Donio was loaded with great shorebirds. 13!! Pectoral Sandpipers! Semipalmated, Least, L Yellowlegs, 27 Killdeer, and a solo Spotted Sandpiper.
The house was even better...12 migrating Ospreys, Merlin, Chestnut Sided Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Redstart, Yellowthroat, Cape May Warbler, RE Vireo, House Wren, 5 Indigo Buntings.
So even though we didn't camp, we got our fair share of birds!
Milestones:
Yard Bird #115 - Tennessee Warbler
Atlantic County Bird #222 - Northern Waterthrush
Cumberland County Birds #166-168 - N Waterthrush, BTB Warbler, Magnolia Warbler
Having done Cape May, Brig, and Donio park a million times in the last month, I decided to go to one of my spring herping/birding routes to see what I could come up with. So we hit Jackson Road and Cedar Lake first. 2 Cape May Warblers and 2 Yellow Rumped Warblers were the highlights here amongst a modest flock of migrants.
Then Heislersville WMA. Rain coming down. Not much in the impoundments. So we decided to call it quits. On our way out, In a pretty steady rain, we ran into a very large flock of migrants, and while trying to keep the rain off our lenses, we started calling out lots of birds!
Baltimore Oriole, Redstart, Magnolia, Waterthrush, Yellow, B+W, BTB, Yellowthroat, Parula, Palm, White Eyed Vireo, Red Eyed Vireo, Phoebe...Bald Eagle above!
So in about 3 hours of birding we ended up seeing 63 species!
So I decided today I would do my usual lazy route: Donio, then the backyard.
Donio was loaded with great shorebirds. 13!! Pectoral Sandpipers! Semipalmated, Least, L Yellowlegs, 27 Killdeer, and a solo Spotted Sandpiper.
The house was even better...12 migrating Ospreys, Merlin, Chestnut Sided Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Redstart, Yellowthroat, Cape May Warbler, RE Vireo, House Wren, 5 Indigo Buntings.
So even though we didn't camp, we got our fair share of birds!
Milestones:
Yard Bird #115 - Tennessee Warbler
Atlantic County Bird #222 - Northern Waterthrush
Cumberland County Birds #166-168 - N Waterthrush, BTB Warbler, Magnolia Warbler
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Local findings...Sicklerville birding!
Well some rain, wind, and crappy weather forced me to delay my Cape May camping trip to a further date (yet to be determined). So, I spent my Sunday/Monday/Tuesday birding in the backyard and at Donio Park and Penbryn Pond.
Sunday consisted of a few afternoon hours on the back porch overlooking the garden...and it was surprisingly fantastic! First off, 3 Ruby Throated Hummingbirds were busy all day feeding in the garden and on a new feeder I got. They are still present today.
The more exciting show though, was the steady stream of warbler surprises in the confines of the garden....the first being a very dull Cape May Warbler that I flushed from the garden, and then spent a good 15 minutes in the red cedars, where a Magnolia Warbler was also foraging. A Northern Parula, 3 Common Yellowthroats, 4 American Redstarts, a Chestnut Sided Warbler, and a Black and White Warbler also made appearances. And a blue tailed, brown-bodied Indigo Bunting spent about an hour in the backyard.
Found a Ruby Crowned Kinglet on Monday in the backyard. A sure sign of Autumn arriving!
Donio Park has been a hotspot. I visited Monday and Wednesday and in just 2 40 minute walks saw:
2 Blackburnian Warblers
1 Tennessee Warbler
4 Northern Parula
1 Black Throated Green Warbler
1 Pine Warbler
1 American Redstart
1 (adult) Bald Eagle
1 Pectoral Sandpiper, 1 G Yellowlegs, 8 L Yellowlegs, Semi Sandpipers
Rough Winged Swallows (plenty)
2 Green Winged Teal
Though the numbers aren't as impressive locally compared to in Cape May or other migrant traps, I certainly get more satisfaction out of finding stuff locally!
Sunday consisted of a few afternoon hours on the back porch overlooking the garden...and it was surprisingly fantastic! First off, 3 Ruby Throated Hummingbirds were busy all day feeding in the garden and on a new feeder I got. They are still present today.
The more exciting show though, was the steady stream of warbler surprises in the confines of the garden....the first being a very dull Cape May Warbler that I flushed from the garden, and then spent a good 15 minutes in the red cedars, where a Magnolia Warbler was also foraging. A Northern Parula, 3 Common Yellowthroats, 4 American Redstarts, a Chestnut Sided Warbler, and a Black and White Warbler also made appearances. And a blue tailed, brown-bodied Indigo Bunting spent about an hour in the backyard.
Found a Ruby Crowned Kinglet on Monday in the backyard. A sure sign of Autumn arriving!
Donio Park has been a hotspot. I visited Monday and Wednesday and in just 2 40 minute walks saw:
2 Blackburnian Warblers
1 Tennessee Warbler
4 Northern Parula
1 Black Throated Green Warbler
1 Pine Warbler
1 American Redstart
1 (adult) Bald Eagle
1 Pectoral Sandpiper, 1 G Yellowlegs, 8 L Yellowlegs, Semi Sandpipers
Rough Winged Swallows (plenty)
2 Green Winged Teal
Though the numbers aren't as impressive locally compared to in Cape May or other migrant traps, I certainly get more satisfaction out of finding stuff locally!
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Herps in SC
Living in SC has been pretty warm. I've already found some interesting birds (Summer Tanagers seem to appear on every walk I take). But last night Lisa and I took a casual evening stroll through a nearby park. Shortly after arriving (while trying to find an entrance to the building with a bathroom, I went to open a door and found a surprise:
I believe it to be a Green Tree Frog!
Later in the walk as it was starting to get dark, a couple ladies passed us and said there was a snake ahead on the trail. Sure enough, this fellow was moving across the path! Now Lisa and I have seem to have a knack for finding poisonous snakes. The last three live snakes we have seen are as follows: Cottonmouth, Eastern Timber Rattlesnake, and now......Copperhead!
I believe it to be a Green Tree Frog!
Later in the walk as it was starting to get dark, a couple ladies passed us and said there was a snake ahead on the trail. Sure enough, this fellow was moving across the path! Now Lisa and I have seem to have a knack for finding poisonous snakes. The last three live snakes we have seen are as follows: Cottonmouth, Eastern Timber Rattlesnake, and now......Copperhead!
You never know in August...
I've always thought August was a strange month for birds. Nesters are leaving, some migrators are starting to pass through, and who the heck wants to go out in the woods in August (i.e. mosquitos, humidity, flies, bugs, humidity, mosquitos, etc. etc.)? I always used to think growing up that September and October were the times to see migrating birds. We always used to assume August was a "dead month" for migration. I don't really know why. But, I remember a few years back hitting Higbee Beach around August 20th and finding a wealth of quality birds including Cerulean, Blackburnian, Canada, and Brewster's Warblers in a 1-hour walk. The following week landed more goodies at Brig (Yellow Headed Blackbird, CS Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, etc.)
Ever since I've tried to make a better effort to get out more in the last half of August. This morning was one of those mornings! Though I only recorded 22 species in my backyard in about 2 hours, I was treated to some very enjoyable and surprising finds!
I didn't get out of bed til about 9:00, so when I stepped outside around 9:20, my expectations weren't exactly through the roof. I couldn't even find a bird for the first 5-10 minutes in the yard.
Then I found one: a White Breasted Nuthatch. Not amazing or rare, but a start nonetheless. I ventured back deeper into the woods, and all I could come up with was a ton of squirrels. Everywhere. Oh, and a few spiderwebs (that entangled my face).
So, after 15 minutes, I had more mosquito bites than bird species, and I was ready to quit, and started thinking about where I might go to find some birds, then I heard a welcoming sound, when one is looking for warblers...a Tufted Titmouse. Then I located an American Redstart....so I decided to keep looking around.
I let my woods go a bit this year, opting not to mow much and let it get overgrown in certain spots to see if that would help with habitat. Well, the male Canada Warbler that was working in that brush certainly confirmed my decision :) I watched him for about 10 minutes. Awesome.
I had been distracted watching him and hadn't paid much mind to some other birds up in the canopy of the black cherry trees above me. So I started looking up when I caught a raptor flying circles above, about 40 yards above...a Peregrine Falcon. In August. In Sicklerville. Weird!
After spending a few more minutes out in the woods, I came up with a female Black & White Warbler, then I went in to get some breakfast.
I was telling Deb how the only "getable" hawk I had left to get for a yard bird was a Broad Winged Hawk which I told her would probably be a long shot....not 15 minutes later...that longshot was flying at 20 yards high right over the Meads house! I couldn't believe it! Deb and I ran out to the front and watched it circle over the field across the street for a bit.
The last interesting find this morning was a flyover Lesser Yellowlegs.
So 4 new birds for the yard (113 now) on a warm August morning was a surprise, though I'm starting to expect these crazy finds in August!
Ever since I've tried to make a better effort to get out more in the last half of August. This morning was one of those mornings! Though I only recorded 22 species in my backyard in about 2 hours, I was treated to some very enjoyable and surprising finds!
I didn't get out of bed til about 9:00, so when I stepped outside around 9:20, my expectations weren't exactly through the roof. I couldn't even find a bird for the first 5-10 minutes in the yard.
Then I found one: a White Breasted Nuthatch. Not amazing or rare, but a start nonetheless. I ventured back deeper into the woods, and all I could come up with was a ton of squirrels. Everywhere. Oh, and a few spiderwebs (that entangled my face).
So, after 15 minutes, I had more mosquito bites than bird species, and I was ready to quit, and started thinking about where I might go to find some birds, then I heard a welcoming sound, when one is looking for warblers...a Tufted Titmouse. Then I located an American Redstart....so I decided to keep looking around.
I let my woods go a bit this year, opting not to mow much and let it get overgrown in certain spots to see if that would help with habitat. Well, the male Canada Warbler that was working in that brush certainly confirmed my decision :) I watched him for about 10 minutes. Awesome.
I had been distracted watching him and hadn't paid much mind to some other birds up in the canopy of the black cherry trees above me. So I started looking up when I caught a raptor flying circles above, about 40 yards above...a Peregrine Falcon. In August. In Sicklerville. Weird!
After spending a few more minutes out in the woods, I came up with a female Black & White Warbler, then I went in to get some breakfast.
I was telling Deb how the only "getable" hawk I had left to get for a yard bird was a Broad Winged Hawk which I told her would probably be a long shot....not 15 minutes later...that longshot was flying at 20 yards high right over the Meads house! I couldn't believe it! Deb and I ran out to the front and watched it circle over the field across the street for a bit.
The last interesting find this morning was a flyover Lesser Yellowlegs.
So 4 new birds for the yard (113 now) on a warm August morning was a surprise, though I'm starting to expect these crazy finds in August!
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