Tuesday, September 22, 2009
I'll try again
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Highlights: Moose, Canada Warbler
We'd like to thank all the folks who attended the WPBO field trip led by Jerry Ziarno and Tom Wheeker. While there was other excitement at the tip Point this morning the sighting of a bull Moose stole the show for many of us. He made it out to the tree line behind the Merlin pole and was seen by many right from the waterbird shack. We continued to see a drop off in warbler diversity as the mid-season migrants have begun appearing. Sightings in the woods today included Ruffed Grouse, Northern Goshawk, Bald Eagle, Black-backed Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Blue-headed Vireo, Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Tennessee, Nashville, Black-throated Green, and Canada Warblers, and Lapland Longspur.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Highlights: Gray-cheeked Thrush, Northern Waterthrush
Given that it finally felt like fall this morning we were hoping for a nice push of migrants today. That did not happen, but there was still decent activity. Sightings today included Northern Goshawk, Sharp-shinned and Red-tailed Hawk, Belted Kingfisher, Nashville, Magnolia, and Blackpoll Warblers, American Redstart, and Savannah, Lincoln's and White-crowned Sparrow.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
If you've spent anytime at the waterbird count in the last several years you have likely seen Little Jerry Kolak. Little Jerry is one of our resident Ring-billed Gulls and spends a lot of time next to the waterbird shack, yeah he's a bum. He has also likely heard many a confession from the waterbird counter on a slow day. Anyway, I got the below shot of Little Jerry with big Jerry Kolak today, little Jerry is the one on the left in case you were wondering.
Highlights: Mourning Warbler, Gray Catbird
We'd like to start off by thanking the WPBO board members who made the trip to the Point for the first board meeting to be held at the Point since I've been here. Despite my lack of recent posts the birding has remained good and we've entered the period when the early migrants are continuing and the mid season migrants have begun arriving. Recent sightings in the woods include Black-backed, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, Northern Flicker, Blue-headed and Red-eyed Vireos, Winter Wren, Brown Creeper, Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Veery, Swainson's Thrush, Tennessee, Nashville, Magnolia, Cape May, Black-throated Blue, Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Green, Blackburnian, Pine, Palm, Bay-breasted, Blackpoll, Black and White, Mourning, and Wilson's Warbler, Northern Parula, American Redstart, Northern Waterthrush, Horned Lark, American Pipit, Chipping, Vesper, Savannah, Lincoln's, Swamp, White-throated, and White-crowned Sparrows, Lapland Longspur, and White-winged Crossbill. The fall owl banding has started and after getting skunked during high winds the first night, Tim and Britta have banded 4 Saw-whets by the time I'm crashing tonight.
Chris Neri
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Highlights:Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Black-backed Woodpecker
The weather and birding was very similar to the last few days, which is okay by me. The warbler activity remained good well into the afternoon and sightings included Tennessee, Nashville, Yellow, Magnolia, Black-throated Green, Pine, Palm, Bay-breasted, Blackpoll, Redstart, and Northern Waterthrush. Other sightings included Blue-headed & Red-eyed Vireos, Least Flycatcher, Brown Creeper, and White-winged Crossbill.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Highlights: Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Black-backed Woodpecker
Much to our amazement the weather has continued to be absolutely gorgeous. The birding in the woods has also continued to be productive. Sightings yesterday and today included Northern Goshawk, Broad-winged Hawk, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Black-backed Woodpecker, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, and Swainson's and Gray-cheeked Thrush. The warblers have continued in good numbers with sightings of Tennessee, Nashville, Northern Parula, Yellow, Magnolia, Cape May, Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Green, Pine, Palm, Blackpoll, American Redstart, Northern Waterthrush, Common Yellowthroat, and Wilson's. After this spring's terrible warbler season, by far the worst I've experienced here, it is great to be having a good fall warbler migration.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Highlights: Buff-breasted Sandpiper
There wasn't much change today, gorgeous and good activity. Sightings included Belted Kingfisher, Pileated Woodpecker, Least Flycatcher, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Swainson's Thrush, Cedar Waxwing, Tennessee, Nashville, Magnolia, Black-throated Green, Black & White, and Wilson's Warbler. Chipping, Clay-colored, Savannah, Song, Lincoln's White-throated, and White-crowned Sparrows, and Evening Grosbeak.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Highlights: Connecticut Warbler
The last two days have been absolutely gorgeous and the woods have been productive. There has been nice warbler diversity with sightings of Tennessee, Nashville, Magnolia, Cape May, Blackburnian, Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Green, Pine, Palm, Blackpoll, Black & White, American Redstart, Ovenbird, & Connecticut. Other sightings have included Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Northern Goshawk, Broad-winged & Red-tailed Hawks, Bald Eagle, Least Flycatcher, Swainson's Thrush,Veery, and Red & White-winged Crossbills. Our local Merlin is regularly seen reeking havoc with other birds of prey and corvids, and today it was the Broad-winged's turn to deal with it (top photo).