On my way to classes this afternoon I made a detour to drop something off at the student center, and happened to look over an expansive area where I can see for probably a mile West overlooking the Broad River. I noticed a distant raptor, had my binocs with me, and checked it out.
Boy was I surprised as I continued to scan the sky! I was counting raptors......1...3.....7....9 Mississippi Kites! There was a stiff wind, and they were enjoying it. I also spotted an Anhinga that was enjoying the currents (a first for this location!).
A bright male Rose-Breasted Grosbeak surprised me a couple days ago by landing on our deck rail by our sunflower feeder. 'Tis the season for surprises!
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Spring Tidbits
Although the current week has brought few new migrants to SC, the weeks previous brought Great-Crested Flycatcher, our first R-T Hummingbird, and a couple of warblers (Black-and-White, Prairie).
The recent weather, combined with finishing up my semester hasn't resulted in much beyond the typical local birds, but they are beautiful as well. Cedar Waxwings are one of those birds that puzzles me. Their movements seem very random, and they seem to nest in a variety of habitats that are unpredictable. One time this winter there were probably 200 waxwings in a small area on campus, many of which were swarming a holly tree for its remaining berries.
Mike
The recent weather, combined with finishing up my semester hasn't resulted in much beyond the typical local birds, but they are beautiful as well. Cedar Waxwings are one of those birds that puzzles me. Their movements seem very random, and they seem to nest in a variety of habitats that are unpredictable. One time this winter there were probably 200 waxwings in a small area on campus, many of which were swarming a holly tree for its remaining berries.
Mike
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Spring!!!
Today I had a Clouded Sulphur and 2 Cabbage Whites flutter through the yard!
The Bluebirds are eying up the houses across the street, Field, Song, and White Throated Sparrows are singing their hearts out!
The Spring itch is here!
Matt
The Bluebirds are eying up the houses across the street, Field, Song, and White Throated Sparrows are singing their hearts out!
The Spring itch is here!
Matt
Saturday, December 3, 2011
South Carolina Winter Walk
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
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, 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.
 |
| 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
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