Small milestone for the life list

I haven't tallied up my birding lists since summer. I have all the totals scribbled down in my old travel log, so it didn't take long to transcribe everything into my (somewhat unkempt) Word docs and organize everything again.

I was quite thrilled to find that my year list has reached 136 (my best year yet) and my life list has finally reached -- and surpassed -- 200! It's actually at 201, to be exact. My 200th bird apparently was the Gray Jay I saw in SD last August, and the 201st was the White Pelican (seen over my college campus last month).

After the CBCs this year, I may have one or two more for the life list and probably a good handful more year birds. I'm pretty happy right now though. The list is growing, slowly but surely!

Until next time,

Happy birding!

A wild Greater Sandplover chase, part 2

This is Part II. If you haven't already done so, please read Part I first! :-)
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Dave, Wes, and Erik wanted to know what other birds I needed for my list. I didn't have it with me (nor was I prepared for their generous offer to help me find whatever birds I needed!), so we decided to go after a Painted Bunting, since there were supposed to be a lot of them in the area.

As we drove down a narrow little road towards an old plantation, we stopped in front of a house with a plethora of feeders around it. There were tons of peacocks in the yard, but no buntings as far as we could tell. As we were inspecting the feeders from a distance with our binoculars, the homeowner came out and invited us into his back yard.

He said he had tons of Painted Buntings and other species that visited his feeders, but they come and go randomly (as birds often do). We didn't find any at his house, but when he learned we had been over to see the Greater Sandplover, he gave us an article about it that had come out in his local newspaper. He also showed us all of his peacocks (there were probably 20 or more strutting around on his roof, his car, in the bushes, etc).

It's amazing the interesting people you meet when birding! Just in that one day, we met people from all over the state and the country, talked to complete strangers who had fascinating stories to tell, and were all more than willing to help us in whatever way they could.

After leaving the peacock house, we went to the end of the road and birded around the plantation (really cool place, I wish I'd had more time to explore!). We ran into another birder we had talked to back at Huguenot, and she said she had seen a Painted Bunting back along the road where we had come from.

We headed back to the location she indicated. We stopped at one point along the way, and observed an American Redstart feeded a baby Brown-headed Cowbird. (I felt kind of bad for the Redstart -- the cowbird most likely pushed her babies out of the nest, but she will instinctively go on feeding it until it grows up).

Finally, we pulled over one more time and Wes played a tape of a Painted Bunting call. After a good 5 or 10 minutes, the bird swooped down out of nowhere and started chattering irritably at us.If at all possible, I was even more excited for the bunting than I was for the Greater Sandplover!
It wasn't exactly a lifer (I saw Painted Buntings when I was really little), but it was exciting to see it again and really appreciate it this time.

Wes, Dave and Erik asked what other birds I needed, and I mentioned that I didn't have very many sparrows, so we decided to grab lunch and then find some pine forests in which to go look for a Bachman's Sparrow.

We went to a park called Haw's Creek, but it was overgrown with scrub and the wrong kind of habitat for sparrows. Plus, by now there were thunderstorms all around us and it was raining off and on, so we decided to take a quick break and then head back across the state. Before we left, we did manage to see a female Ruby-throated Hummingbird feeding on some trumpet vine flowers over the parking lot, which was a fun treat.

As we headed back west, we saw quite a few Swallowtail Kites flying over the road. When we drove under three of them together -- a juvenile and two adults -- we pulled over and Wes brought out his bird call tape.

The Kites doubled back and flew towards us, swooping in low and turning their heads inquisitively towards us to figure out what the sound was.

It was really cool to see them up close. They seem like very curious birds; after a while, two of them lost interest, but the third one hung around for a bit, still trying to figure us out.

In that one trip, I got 12 year birds, 7 lifers, and an unforgettable experience.

On the way back, driving through rain and thunderstorms, Wes and Dave told more tales about their birding adventures.

Once again, I am simply in awe of the incredible people I've met through birding. How amazing it is that three random folks who I don't even know would offer to take me across the state, show me new birds, and share their fantastic stories and wealth of knowledge.

I am infinitely grateful to Wes, Dave and Erik for taking me along on their great adventure, and putting up with my newbieness and ornithological ignorance. I am also indebted to my mom for getting up at 4am for me, tolerating my insanity, and supporting me in this wonderful journey. I can never thank you enough!

Until next time,

Happy birding!

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To see the rest of my photos from the trip, click here.

CMBS | Part 5

“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.” - Charles Darwin

Day 4: June 27, 2007

When the sun rose in the early hours of my fourth morning on Hog Island, it didn't last for long. As we set out on the Puffin V, the fair skies were obscured by a thick blanket of storm clouds. Nonetheless, like good, hardcore birders, we set out to sea, destined for Eastern Egg Rock Island.

The boat ride was fun at first. It was kind of like a roller coaster. Only wetter. And cold. The boat would pitch up into the air, and then slide down again on the waves, tickling the pit of your stomach.

Near the islands, we could see Harbor Seals and porpoises, and but further out, we saw little more than huge, rolling waves.

When we arrived at Eastern Egg Rock we were greeted by a pair of Razorbills, flying past the boat. There seemed to be hundreds of terns, as well, flocking the island. I would have given anything to go ashore, but unfortunately, we weren't aloud.

Eastern Egg Rock is the southern-most breeding ground for Atlantic Puffins in the US. A Puffin colony was established there in the 1970s, thanks to Project Puffin, an effort to restore the bird's population in Maine.

In the 1981, there were only 4 breeding pairs on the island, but when I was there in 2007, the population had increased to 90 pairs. Talk about a success!

The Atlantic Puffins were not as easy to spot as the other birds. They're much smaller than you'd expect, if you've never seen one before, and rather difficult to photograph without a good camera.

After circling the island a couple times, we proceeded to a nearby gull breeding ground, known as Ross Island. This little piece of land was covered -- and I mean covered -- in gulls. Hundreds of them.
As I hiked up the rocky shore with the other campers and ornithologists, I realized that gulls nests were built in every nook an cranny on the ground.

We got to hold a few chicks, some of which were only days old. The experience was mindboggling; gulls flocked to the skies and chicks peered out from beneath the rocks around which we were standing.

Later on that day, we took a fieldtrip to the mainland to visit the Clarry Hill Blueberry barrens. Here, we hoped to see Upland Sandpipers, which were apparently often sighted on the rock walls that separated the blueberry fields.

We hiked up a gently slanted hill, but soon after our arrival, a thunderstorm struck with full force. We hightailed it back to the van and waited it out. Lightning struck so close by at one point, that it crackled deafeningly almost before we saw it strike.

And then just like that, the skies cleared to a pristine, periwinkle blue. We piled out of the van again, binoculars and spotting scopes in tow.

While we never saw the Upland Sandpiper, we were serenaded by a few nearby Savannah Sparrows perching on the rock walls.

What a day to remember! Through seasickness and storms, we managed to see some great birds and have some once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

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Check back in a couple days for Part 6: The Last Day

Another life bird!

"Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you." - Frank Lloyd Wright

So I'm sitting here at my desk, trying to solve for the determinant of a 3x3 matrix in my Algebra II class. The window is open and a nice breeze is drifting through; some Tufted Titmice are calling in the distance.

Then suddenly, this loud, obnoxious grating noise makes me jump. It's really close by. I heard it a couple days ago while riding my bike, but didn't think anything of it. This is really loud, though, and almost tree frog-like.

I look out the window, scanning the bare branches of the elm tree. The only bird in sight is sitting with its back to me; it is about the size of a dove, and for a moment, I nearly dismiss it as one.

But something is different. It has brownish coloration, and its head is way bigger. I grab my binoculars and focus in on the bird. It turns slightly and I see that its head has a big crest, its belly is greyish-yellow, and its back is grey and brown.

It's calling again: reeep REEEP rrrip rrrrip. After barely 2 seconds, it takes off.

I have seen just enough though. Flipping to the section on "Tyrranidae" in my field guide, I start comparing pictures and descriptions. The only one that fits is the one I had in mind.

A Great Crested Flycatcher!

It hasn't returned to the tree, but I can still hear it calling in the distance. What a fantastic bird! Big (Relatively), loud, boastful, and certainly unexpected.

That is my year bird #74.

Happy Birding!

Birding & Sketches

"In every walk with Nature one receives far more than he seeks." -John Muir

My year list is now up to 69, with the addition of a Red-winged Blackbird, a European Starling, and Common Ground-Dove (life bird!).

I spotted the Ground-Dove earlier today. I was watching a bunch of Mourning Doves out the window, when a smaller dove with an orange beak caught my eye.

I wasn't sure if I had seen it right at first, so I kept watching. It disappeared for a few minutes, but when it came back, I ran outside to inspect it further. When I opened the door, it scared all the doves, and when the Ground-Dove flew, I saw the characteristic red wings. There ways no denying it. So... YAY! Another life bird! And an unexpected one, at that!

And finally, I have two new sketches, a Pileated Woodpecker and a Pied-Billed Grebe.











That's all for now... until next time,

Happy birding.

Happy New Year!

Today marks the start of my year list for '08. Typing up last year's list this morning brought back some great memories of my 2007 birding adventures. I can't wait to see what this year has to offer.

In a way, I think 2008 might be easier, because I've mostly overcome the learning curve I had to go through last year. I'm starting fresh, and, although I won't get to travel, I hope to see some new local and state birds in the next few months.

I've already started off my 2008 year list with 6 species seen out my window this morning: Chipping Sparrows, Tufted Titmice, 1 Northern Cardinal, Carolina Chickadees, American Goldfinches, and 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler (no doubt with the help of my amazing new binoculars!!).

More updates later.

Happy New Year, and Happy Birding!

Good news and bad news

Let's start with the bad news: it turns out I've been miscounting my life list. Apparently, some birds had been repeated and/or counted twice (due to messy handwriting). This unfortunately brought my life list down by 2 birds.

On a happier note, I received new binoculars and a bird feeder for Christmas! One squirrel has already found the feeder, and I have been intermittently trying to fend it off while typing this entry.

The binoculars are amazing, and work so much better than the ancient pair I had been using before. I can't wait to go birding again!

And last but not least, I finally (finally, finally, finally!!!!) saw a European Starling!! Finally! They're such common birds here, but I've never seen one before and it's been driving me insane. I saw one up close today, standing on a birdhouse and in full winter plumage. It was making the most fascinating sounds.

Well, that's all for now. Until next time...

Happy birding!

Life Bird

I am very excited -- I saw a life bird today! At least, I'm 99.999% sure I did (and that's good enough for me!).

So, there I was, sitting at my computer, trying to create a presentation about the war trials of the Holocaust for history class. I zoned out and my mind started wandering (usually, not a good sign).

The next thing I knew, I was staring idly out my window, when what did I see, but a poofy-feathered, dark grey bird drinking from the bird bath.

I jumped up, abandoning my history project, trying not to lose sight of the little passerine. It flew up into the nearby elm tree, checked out the birdfeeder, but was unimpressed (I later understood why).

I studied it through my binoculars for as long as I could before it flew away. In all, I only had a few seconds to examine it.

At first, I didn't know where to start when I opened up my field guide. I flipped through the middle, trying to classify the bird. I realized its coloration was very much like an Eastern Kingbird, but its posture and mannerisms were somewhat different.

I flipped towards the back of the book, looking under "Flycatchers." As I glanced through the pictures and descriptions, two words formed in my head: Eastern Phoebe. I turned to the page on Phoebes and flycatchers, and there it was.

The picture and description of the Eastern Phoebe was almost exactly like that which I had just seen. As described in the book, the bird out my windowhad twitched its tail up and down when it sat still in the tree; it had a dark back, and a lighter, yellow-tinted underside. Its beak was pointy and black.

Upon further research, I've pretty much determined that what I saw was an Eastern Phoebe. It probably won't return to that spot, because Phoebes are insectivores; I have no idea what that one was doing there, other than taking a drink from the bird bath.

I know Eastern Phoebes are nothing unusual, but life birds are always exciting. Plus, it marks the 124th bird on my list!

Boy, December has been a great month, so far.

Unitl next time,

Happy Birding!