“I’ll be happy to help you do some scouting”, said Gini The Naive.
This year will mark the 118th year of the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count. (Yes, as a matter of fact I WAS at the first count over a hundred years ago. Smart alecks.) At that time, a genius birder (okay, that’s redundant) had a novel idea. “Hey, how about we just COUNT the birds instead of seeing who can shoot the most?” A movement and a tradition were born. The data from each year’s count is compiled by Cornell University in New York and makes available a treasure trove of research material for scientists as they attempt to understand the status of our avian friends.
In order to help our team operate as efficiently as possible on the actual count day, I spent the prior week searching out known bird haunts and seeking new ones. Knowing which birds are present helps us concentrate on locating less common species. Part of this process involves listening for owls. They call when it’s dark outside. Therefore, we must be outdoors in potential owl habitat when it’s dark outside. Sunrise is about 7:00. The sky begins to lighten about 6:00. Yep, Gini The Naive deduced we needed to set the alarm clock really early! No complaints from her. Not even a whimper. That’s a good thing. She’s the one with the keen hearing.
After all was said and done, we had a very good official count day of birding and tallied a few more species than last year. The weather was great with a cool morning, warm day and gentle breeze. For me, highlights of this year’s efforts include: a single Bufflehead (not common in our area), a flock of 18 Wild Turkey (unusual in our dense suburban environment), a relatively high number of Blue-headed Vireo and an immature Sharp-shinned Hawk (a winter visitor in small numbers).
Gini The Naive was, as expected, simply fantastic during scouting week as I took her to all the great birding locales: the aforementioned pre-dawn owling forays, a cemetery, muddy marshes, dusty dirt roads and the ever-popular city dump. Once again, she proved she is, and shall ever be, Gini My Beloved!
Since you asked, I did take a couple of snapshots.
As the morning fog began to lift from the marsh it revealed one of the local fishermen already on the job. The Great Blue Heron paid no attention to my clumsy efforts.
A pair of Anhinga patiently wait for a bit of sunshine before they begin diving in the chilly water.
Another hunter of the wetlands, a Great Egret, has his eye on a frog and doesn’t acknowledge my presence.
Morning commute. A River Otter pushed up a wake under his chin as he headed for his office across the lake.
I wasn’t sure if this Osprey was curious, territorial or ticked off.
After watching a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker chase a Red-bellied Woodpecker around a clearing and in and out of the trees, the pair landed briefly on an oak before taking off on their game of tag again.
A dapper looking Black-and-White Warbler probes a hole in a branch for breakfast.
Golden Silk Orb Weavers craft very strong webs across paths to catch all manner of prey during the night – and occasional birders during the day who are constantly looking up instead of where they’re going!
I don’t know if the feathers under the talons of this Red-shouldered Hawk are from preening or left over from a morning snack.
This year I seem to have found more Blue-headed Vireos than in the past. That’s okay with me!
Pine Warblers can vary from very drab to very bright. This is one of the brighter variety and I chased after him quite awhile before he sat still for a picture.
Another bright yellow fellow, this Yellow-throated Warbler has found a hairy white caterpillar for brunch. Yum!
North America’s smallest falcon, the American Kestrel, is quite colorful. I was lucky to find one that remained on a perch while I was less than a mile away.
There I was, head up searching for warblers in the tree-tops, when I had the feeling I was being watched. One picture and this White-tailed buck sprang across the path in one leap and disappeared into the forest.
A cold morning and a fluffed up Yellow-rumped Warbler. We don’t often get to see the bit of yellow in their crown.
Speaking of beautiful. The majestic Turkey Vulture. The other birds are beside themselves with envy.
During the winter, a few sparrows hang around and challenge us to identify them. Head pattern, diffuse streaks on the breast and a nice rufous wing patch tell us this is a Swamp Sparrow.
Soft mud is a magnet for shorebirds. This Killdeer characteristically ran a few steps, probed the mud, ran a few steps, probed. Fun to watch!
A small stream in the middle of a pasture is not where I expected to spot a Bufflehead!
The back of an Eastern Meadowlark blends perfectly with the dried grasses where they live. That bright yellow front and loud, clear song, however, make it impossible for it to hide!
One of those little brown birds again. This Savannah Sparrow walked (quickly) from one clump of grass to another in a field before I caught him in the open long enough for a photograph.
Reaching for the latch to a corral gate, I spotted a Monarch Butterfly chrysalis. Every bit as beautiful as its contents.
Winter migration brings us an influx of Eastern Phoebes. These small flycatchers stay busy all day sallying forth from an exposed perch to capture any insect foolish enough to be out in the open.
Not to be outdone by his Blue-headed cousin, this White-eyed Vireo sang and posed for several minutes.
This is the closest I’ve been to a Sharp-shinned Hawk. They only visit during the winter and I normally see them as a brown blur as they speed after a little songbird in the woods.
This year’s Christmas Bird Count was a success for our entire 50+ person effort, my own 5 member team and was immeasurably enhanced by the participation of the one and only Gini My Beloved. She and I wish each and every one of you the best Holiday Season ever!
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR
Enjoy your search for a natural place and come back for a visit!
Like this:
Like Loading...
