Common Redpolls

On December 21, 2007 I was once again heading out the door to go to the cemetery, when I spotted something different at my feeders. I quickly grabbed my camera out of the truck and started shooting not realizing that my batteries were going dead. Not cover shots of Ohio lifer birds but enough good enough for documentation shots.

They were observed for about 20 minutes and then flew east. As far as I know, they have not been back since.

My Urban Cooper's Hawk

Yesterday January 03 2008 I walked out of my house heading to the cemetery to see the Merlin and at the end of my neighbors driveway 3' away from the street was a Cooper's Hawk eating a Rock Dove! As I haven't tried to post in awhile because of very slow dial up internet I thought maybe this would be a good time to try again.


This was the view from my porch steps with McCracken Rd. a few feet behind the bird.

This Cooper's was not at all concerned with the traffic. At this point I walked very slowly down the driveway for better photos.

No need for a caption here.

I guess it had enough of me because it grabbed its meal and flew to the backyards out of my sight.

I have had two Cooper's hanging around my neighborhood all fall and hopefully they will stay for the nesting season.

Cape May, NJ

June 02, 2007

There were a few dyed Semipalmated Sandpipers and we found these at Fortesque Beach. It was pouring rain and windy that morning so these images are not of the best quality, although they do illustrate what we were looking for, that being the flagged birds. The bird in the foreground has the lime green flag. Try reading these while these little guys scurry around!!!

This photo was taken by Bill Banks at Sandy Point, West Haven, Connecticut. It shows the lime green flag and the letters KEA and a lime green band on the upper leg. This Knot was flagged and banded in Suriname.I asked Bill if I could use it on this blog to illustrate what it was that we looking for. Of course the image is copyrighted by Bill Banks.

For more information on the flags and the program go to: National Wildlife Research Centre - Pan American Shorebird Program

Cape May, NJ

June 01, 2007

Cook's Beach,

Today we have chosen to start at Cook's Beach to scan for the flagged shorebirds. We had a total of 51 birds, 3 Semipalmated Sandpipers, 40 Ruddy Turnstones, 7 Red Knots and 1 Sanderling.

Although there are no shorebirds in this image you can see the frenzy that is created with this group of gulls trying to eat the Horseshoe crab eggs that do not get buried.

Is this comfortable birding or what? Actually it was a bit uncomfortable, high 80's but no bugs on the beach!!!!

Later in the afternoon we moved to Reed's Beach. The birds seemed to be concentrating in bigger numbers there as the tides changed.

There is a platform viewing area with benches and signage telling the story of the Horseshoe Crab/shorebird link in the Delaware Bay. This view is looking north from the viewing platform. If you look closely you can see the concentration of gulls at the waters edge.

This is the view looking south towards Cook's Beach. Beyond the "keep off the dunes" sign is a antennae set up by a group from Georgia (never saw them to ask questions) who had transmitters attached to Ruddy Turnstones. Presumably they were trying to determine where they were roosting. We were not able to observe any flagged birds because of the angle of the sun and as it was coming up on high tide the birds were flushing very easily and heading off to that roosting place.

So it off chasing bugs and critters. Lori photographed this male Seaside Dragonlet from the truck window while I was off chasing something.

When we got back to the campground we had a few really neat visitors. First was a male Fowlers Toad that I nearly stepped on, and after I got a photograph of him he hopped over to the tree nearby and I lost him.

Never expecting he would be a Tree Toad.

The next visitor was another Fowler's Toad. Female?

There was a hole in the trunk of this tree and I thought I saw it go in there. Sure enough about 10 minutes later it was peering out!!!

This Luna Moth was the last visitor for the night. It got into the screen tent when we were cooking dinner, obviously attracted to the lantern lights. A couple of close-ups and we put it out.


Hopefully we can get to the beaches around sunrise, 5:17AM!

Brigantine NWR, NJ.

May 30, 2007
After scanning through thousands of Semipalmated Sandpipers we finally got something different. A White-rumped Sandpiper, actually we had 14 for the day.


Here is a White-rumped (foreground) feeding with a Semipalmated. Other than the obvious size difference another field mark is the streaking on the breast, belly and flanks. This one is near breeding plumage.


Another field mark that is not so obvious is the reddish coloration at the base of the lower mandible.

We were scanning for banded and flagged shorebirds, specifically Red Knots and of the 80 + we observed none had them.

For more information on the flagged birds:
http://www.cws-scf.ec.gc.ca/nwrc-cnrf/default.asp?lang=en&n=CA9EA2C5-1

A very neat bird. American Oystercatcher. They do nest in and around the Refuge.

Gull-billed Terns getting ready to pass on the genes!!! Video???

What a face! This White-eyed Vireo kept me busy for quite awhile trying to get a good photograph. I think I succeeded.

What is this? That was my first reaction to seeing this juvenile Barn Swallow. Don't remember ever seeing one before.

Off to Cape May in the morning.

Marathon birding days at Brigantine NWR, NJ

May 27-28, 2007

Once we take care of our entrance fee and make are way onto the Wildlife Drive I hear STOP! Shut the engine off! Lori has spotted the Clapper Rails and she proceeds to photograph. Of course it takes me a few seconds to see what it is, and I only get a fleeting glimpse. Which is generally all anyone gets of these birds.

The Wildlife Drive is 8 miles around one-way and we have been here an hour and haven't gone a 1/2 mile.

This is one of the reasons. A Phalarope. It was officially counted a Red-necked Phalarope. I am still not so sure. More research.

Another reason, a displaying Willet that finally did mate. Wanna see the video?? They are a common nesting species here.

There were thousands of Black-bellied Plovers in various stages of molts. This one here is just about in full breeding plumage.

Glossy Ibis are common and reportedly there was a White-faced Ibis but, after scoping many of them we did not locate it.

Although common, not many stand out during the day like this Black-crowned Night-heron.

There were plenty of Short-billed Dowitchers also in various stages of molt.

We both enjoy Marsh Wrens. Watching their aeriel displays is actually quite amusing.

What can you say? A very stunning Common Tern.

While fueling up and getting ice at the Wawa I spotted this Polyphemus Moth on the support column. How many people walked past this one? I did have a few people ask what it was I was photographing.

Up before sunrise and heading out the gate at Brigantine well after sunset.

We will be back at sunrise, for another great day of birding.

First Big Day for 2007

This was our first marathon day birding day this year. 15 hours!!! We started at Brush Creek State Forest, Dry Fork Rd. Scioto Co. and ended the day at Brush Creek Rd. Adams Co.

There were many singing Hooded Warblers

And a few Kentucky warblers also

As well as Ovenbirds

Lori got these photos of the Prairie Warbler bathing along Abner Hollow Rd. in Adams Co.

Couldn't resist adding this one!!!!

All cleaned up and ready to go....

Of couse it is after the 15th of May, so now I make my switch from birds as priority to bugs

One of Lori's favorite Butterflies! A Pearl Crescent

Little Wood Satyr

A species of Robber Fly, Laphria (bee-like Robber Flies)

Gray Petaltail Tachopteryx thoreyi

Another local nester

A great day to be out and about!