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.
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| 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).
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| 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!
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 . . .
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.
