Spring is Here! Thank Goodness. . . .

We are so happy that we are now getting warmer weather! With it has come the beginning of the spring migration. Over the past week, in addition to our regular visitors to the feeder has been a few Redpoll, which apparently are not all that common in this neck of the woods.

Common Redpoll

Other recent sightings are a Red-breaster Merganser and a Northern Mockingbird. 

We are excited about our upcoming trip to Provence. We hope to do some birding while there, both in the hills around Roussillon where we are staying, as well as during a special day trip we have planned to the Camargue - which is a huge National Park just south of Arles. The park is essentially the delta for the Rhone River - and happens to be one of the largest fresh water landing zones for the Spring migration in Europe . . . I have secured a birding guide to spend the day with us, so upon our return I will certainly share some of the fun.

The Winter That Did Not Want To End

Boy, oh boy - it has been a long winter! We had another snow storm last night that delivered 3" of fresh snow and a glaze of ice, after the storm turned to rain . . . But the weather has not impacted the force of nature, as the annual Spring migration north has clearly begun. 

Common Loon

Yesterday, after dropping Emily off for one of her dance classes, Marianne and I headed over to Norwalk Harbor, where we spotted several Common Loons, a Red-throated Loon and a Greater Scaup.

Bonaparte Gulls

We knew to go over there as I recently signed up for the Connecticut Ornithological Association's listserv (http://www.ctbirding.org/), which is very active. Earlier in the day, Chris Bosak, a reporter for the Norwalk Hour, alerted members of the listserv that the Loons were there. Chris publishes a fun featured article in the Hour each week ("For the Birds" - here is a link to his website: http://www.birdsofnewengland.com/). As a funny coincidence, our daughter Kate was an intern at The Hour 2 years ago this Spring, as she was finishing up her senior year at Staples HS, and I believe worked with Chris. 

Wilson's Snipe

Late last week and through the weekend, we were alerted by the listserv to several other good sightings in the area, including a Northern Gannet and a flock of Bonaparte Gulls at Southport Beach, a Wilson's Snipe at Sherwood Island State Park in Westport, and a Northern Shoveler and a Ring-necked Duck at Buckley's Pond on the Westport/Fairfield border. 

American Black Duck

But there have been many other sightings as well over the past week, including a Red-winged Blackbird at Sherwood Island SP,  and an American Black Duck over at Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk.  

American Tree Sparrow

Northern Cardinal

On Saturday, Marianne, Emily, Kate and I ventured up to one of the Ct Audubon Society sites - The Coastal Center at Milford Point. And what a treat it was. While it was lightly snowing and bitterly cold when we arrived, I could tell it will be a regular spot for us to visit when the weather improves, as it sits right in the estuary of the Housatonic River where it meets the Long Island Sound.  While there, we saw an absolutely gorgeous Northern Cardinal (male), and a family of American Tree Sparrow.

Common Grackle

Brown-headed Cowbird

Our home bird feeder has been especially busy, with a large flock of European Starlings (probably over 100) descending on the trees framing our backyard over the period of several days. Mixed in with them have been a couple of dozen Common Grackle's and a half dozen Brown-headed Cowbirds.  The Grackle's in particular are real pigs - as they have been eating us out of house and home. I filled the bird feeder, and it was emptied 2 days later.

Northern Flicker

American Goldfinch

In addition, our regular visitors have continued to seek food from the feeder, including a large population of Dark-eyed Junco’s, Black-capped Chickadees, Titmouse, House and Song Sparrows, White-breasted Nuthatch, and our trio of Woodpeckers (Downy, Red-bellied and Northern Flicker). On Saturday, we also had 2 Carolina Wren’s, and a beautiful pair of American Goldfinch.

That is about it for now. I can't wait for Spring to come! Now on to Mexico City with Sarah for a short adventure. Hopefully I can find some fun birds while I am there for the weekend.

Greenwich Point

Brandt

Marianne, Emily and I had a fun visit with Sarah and her boyfriend Carlos this weekend, who traveled down from Cornell for an overnight stay. On Saturday afternoon, we decided to get out and enjoy the balmy weather (as it got close to 60 degrees out) - with a trip to Greenwich Point Park, known locally as Tod's Point. 

After moving out of Manhattan early in our marriage, we first lived in Old Greenwich back in the late '80s and early '90s - and regularly visited Tod's Point, which was only a mile or so from our house. Marianne and I have very fond memories of "strollering" our eldest daughters there when they were infants, so we knew right where to go for our favorite walk . . . 

While there wasn't a lot of bird life visible yesterday, we did see a huge flock of Brandt geese patrolling the waters off the point - probably 200-300 (or more). 

American Goldfinch

Carolina Wren

Northern Flicker

Back at the house, we had a lot of activity around the bird feeder - including a very elegant American Goldfinch. He has become a regular visitor starting a few days earlier, along with a Carolina Wren, and our ongoing friend the Northern Flicker (once I filled up the bird feeder again, and just prior to the snow storm late last week that gave us 8" of fresh powder).

While not an uncommon species, I had only added the American Goldfinch to the Life List two weeks prior, when I was in the Seattle, Washington area on a business trip (Willows Lodge, Woodinville, WA). I can't wait for their breeding season to begin when their plumage turns a bright yellow!

House Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Earlier today, we had a delightful Song Sparrow visit us, along with a House Sparrow. I must say, having the Sibley Field Guide to Birds is proving indispensable, especially with the Sparrows - as one really needs to dig deep to differentiate based on their markings. 

Killdeer

I update this post late on Sunday - as we had a fun drive by Sherwood Island State Park this afternoon, and sighted a Killdeer, a common Plover. Notice the double breast-band that is distinctive of this bird. Seeing the Killdeer today is a sign of the changing of the seasons, as this is pretty far north for this species at this time of year . . . 

Sullivan's Island - South Carolina Revealed

Snowy Egret

Marianne, Emily and I just got back from a wonderful trip in the southeast over February break - first visiting my mother in Chapel Hill, NC, then three nights at the Wild Dunes resort on the Isle of Palm (just north of Charleston, SC). 

While there, the resort helped arrange a 2-hour outing with Elizabeth from Island Adventures - who knew right where to go for the best birding in the area. 

Tricolored Heron

Just south of the Isle of Palm is another barrier island called Sullivan's Island - and we headed right to the tip where a trolley line previously connected it to the mainland . . . in a low-lying marshy landscape that was perfect for the birds.

Willet

While a little windy, and slightly overcast, we had a good walk out on the jetty that formerly held the trolley tracks. It had been turned into a park - and what an amazing place it was. 

We were able to spot 20 new birds for our life list. We especially loved seeing the Brown Pelicans and the wide range of egrets and herons that are plentiful in the area this time of year (Snowy Egret, Great Egret, Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron). Just spectacular.

American Oystercatcher

Also plentiful were a variety of shorebirds - especially the Willet (a common sandpiper that loves the marshland). We also saw several American Oystercatchers and a Black-bellied Plover.

Hooded Merganser

While my field notes are poor, we did see several species of Gulls and Terns, including the Ring-billed Gull and the Forester's Tern, among others.

Boat-tailed Grackle

We also saw several species of duck, including a beautiful family of Hooded Mergansers, a Pied-billed Grebe . . . and a large flock of Double-crested Cormorants (which we get a lot of during the summer months up at Quonnie).  We also saw both a male and female Boat-tailed Grackle, which apparently are quite abundant - and amazingly loud (and annoying, according to our host Elizabeth)!

Savannah Sparrow

Our trip also highlighted how much we have to learn about Sparrows, as there are a ton of variations on the theme, with very subtle differences among them.  Three sparrows that we identified were the ever popular Chipping Sparrow and Savannah Sparrow, and what I believe is likely a Field Sparrow. 

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Lastly,  we were blessed with the sighting of our first Warbler, a beautiful Yellow-rumped Warbler. I can tell these may be among my most favorite of the birds . . . .

Truly a great day with nature in its full glory. 

Sapsucker Woods

Marianne, Emily and I just got back from a very nice visit with Sarah at Cornell over the weekend. Joining us on our adventure was my sister Peg, who recently relocated to the East Coast from Ohio. I must say that it is fun to see our daughter grow into her skin and become the amazing young lady she now is. Next step, graduation! 

Since kick-starting my more focused birding adventure (just prior to the New Year), I quickly learned about the amazing resources available through the Cornell Lab of Ornithology - and it's comprehensive Online Guide.

Since we were heading north anyway, I went online and learned that they organize Guided Bird Walks on Saturday and Sunday mornings in the 230-acre Sapsucker Woods, led by members of the local bird association. 

Cedar Waxwing

Despite temperatures reaching the high teens (at best), I ventured out on Sunday at 9am - and was joined by nine others on a very fun 90-minute walk with Bill our guide. Luckily it wasn't very windy. What I learned most from the walk is how much of a better listener I need to become, and to study up on the many myriad sounds of the forest - and the songs being sung! 

Many of the species we found were familiar to me, as I suppose we live in a similar climatic zone to Cornell (e.g., Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpeckers, Blue Jays, et al). 

Hairy Woodpecker

However, there were several new species that I was able to add to my quickly growing Life List - including a Cedar Waxwing, a Hairy Woodpecker (which is a bigger version of a Downy Woodpecker - with a longer beak), a White-breasted Nuthatch and a White-throated Sparrow. 

There were numerous other birds identified by Bill, but since I didn't actually see them I haven't counted them . . . 

On my way out of the sanctuary, I spotted a massive female Red-tailed Hawk. We have a nesting pair that live across the street from us in Westport (up a 100' + Oak), so we see them fairly regularly (especially in winter when they cruise the sky and there are no leaves hiding them) - but this beauty was fun to watch, as I sat for nearly 10 minutes before she flew off . . .

I highly recommend visiting the Lab if any readers visit Ithaca! We will be returning for Sarah's graduation in May, and I certainly hope for another Guided Walk in the Woods!

Suet Cakes

Late yesterday, we loaded up the bird feeder with the last of our feed, and we added a suet cake in one of the side cages provided on the feeder. Our activity level skyrocketed today - as it is clear that the birds must crave the fat for their diet. 

Here is a photo of our new friend the Downy Woodpecker, who has visited us several times today. 

We also had a visit from a large (male) Red-bellied Woodpecker who lives nearby. Hopefully I will be able to capture him on camera soon  . . . as he is quite spectacular with both the nape and crown on his head a bright red. 

TUESDAY UPDATE: just a few minutes ago our Red-bellied Woodpecker friend visited us, again attracted to the new suet cake we put out over the weekend. What a glorious bird he is indeed! 

Hopefully we can get a good photo of our Northern Flicker as well, although we haven't seen him recently . . . 

Great Blue Heron

Emily and I had a lot of fun this afternoon, as we headed down to Compo Beach, then over to Sherwood Island State Park - both solid spots for bird watching. It was cold, with temps around freezing - but we found several new species to add to our Life List, including a juvenile Great Blue Heron (see pics below), Mute Swan, and a Red-winged Blackbird among others. While not a great time of year for adventuring outside, I am learning about some of the good spots to regularly visit come the Spring migration . . .

Yesterday, Marianne and I traveled up to the headquarters of the CT Audubon Society, which is located in Fairfield, CT. We joined the organization, and bought some new seed and suet, and a terrific laminated folding (graphical) field guide (Backyard Birds of New England) by David Sibley, who I am learning is one the best source for such guides. I think I will go back and get the Shoreline Birds folding guide at the CT Audubon Society next weekend. We have his larger "The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America" and it is truly a definitive source for us.

Woodpecker Wonder

This past weekend, we had a magical moment when three different species of Woodpecker visited our bird feeder on the back deck - including a Downy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker and a Northern Flicker.
        

Here are some stock photos of the three Woodpeckers, courtesy of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology - Online Guide, which I am quickly learning is a terrific resource on all things birds. The website has terrific guidance not only on help properly identify bird species, by size / shape / color / behavior and habitat - but it has a fantastic library of bird sounds / calls that will be fun to learn from.

Bill's Birding Adventure Officially Launches

Welcome to Bill’s Birding Adventure! Please join me as this blog explores the many faceted and fun worlds of birds . . .

While visitors are encouraged to join in the adventure, I mostly launch this blog as a platform for personal learning – as I spin up on all things related to this special vertebra. And there is much to learn indeed!

I have always loved birds – their beauty and variety, and especially their sweet sounding songs – the beginning of which can probably be traced to my parents, who loved nature. While urban and suburban dwellers most of their lives, they both grew up on farms. There passion for gardening was one small way to honor their roots. They loved to get their hands dirty.

Downy Woodpecker
Westport, CT 26Jan2013

However, it is my mother who has always loved the birds. Even at the fine age of 92, she still wonders at the sight of a Cardinal or Bluebird visiting the bird feeder outside her apartment window in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. I vividly remember the bird houses in our backyard as a child, and the bird books strategically placed near the picture window overlooking them – and the joy that my mother always got from seeing an unexpected species, whether winter, spring, summer or fall.

So it is with this spirit that I begin my more modest sojourn into the world of birds . . . focusing initially on species that are native to Connecticut, especially those that visit out newly installed bird feeder on the back deck. But no doubt the focus will expand, as Marianne and I travel throughout the US and Europe, including heading up to Rhode Island later this summer!