 a year ago tonight was on a flight to houston getting ready to kick off a big year of birding. ended up being a tremendous adventure - people, places, birds, other critters, photos, stories, and experiences far beyond anything hoped or dreamed of. ended up identifying 498 species, and getting photos of most, which recently led to the reduction of the count by two species it turned out had been misidentified back in january.
not sure what the coming year will bring, but here's hoping its a great one for all of us, filled with wonder, adventure, learning, friendship, good health, and lots of love. happy new year : ) |
 common mergansers - a small sampling of what was there
bosque del apache national wildlife refuge |  hooded mergansers - a small sampling of what was there
bosque del apache national wildlife refuge |  bosque del apache national wildlife refuge |  bosque del apache national wildlife refuge |  snow geese - a small sampling of what was there
bosque del apache national wildlife refuge |  more snow geese con sandhill cranes - another small sampling
bosque del apache national wildlife refuge |  snow geese con sandhill cranes
bosque del apache national wildlife refuge |  great blue heron con raindrops
bosque del apache national wildlife refuge |  elk con sunset
bosque del apache national wildlife refuge
ps - was corrected by a ranger at bosque del apache, was not an elk, rather a very large mule deer. need to work on my mammals : ) |  elk
bosque del apache national wildlife refuge
ps - was corrected by a ranger at bosque del apache, was not an elk, rather a very large mule deer. need to work on my mammals : ) |
a little christmas eve cheer, bosque del apache style. managed to slip down there and back before the bulk of the snow arrived, one last hoorah before some weather induced downtime. saw things today i've never seen before - more mergansers and snow geese in one place, and an honest to goodness elk crossing the ponds by the front entrance as the sun was setting. despite the cold and the rain, was magical. wishing everyone the very best of holiday seasons : )
ps - was corrected by a ranger at bosque del apache, was not an elk, rather a very large mule deer. need to work on my mammals : )
 county line ponds adjacent to bandelier national monument
these were really cool, had been unable to figure out how to access them but last weekend ran into a birder who works at bandelier who gave easy directions - right before the bandelier entry road dives into the canyon there is a green gate on the left side of the road, you park there and walk about five minutes down the dirt road bending to the right, and viola! : ) |  county line ponds
bandelier national monument |  mountain bluebird
county line ponds
bandelier national monument |  bandelier national monument |  bandelier national monument
don't see this every day, lab property abuts one side of the dirt road trail |  bandelier national monument |  bandelier national monument |  juniper titmouse
entrance road overlook
bandelier national monument |  entrance road overlook
bandelier national monument |  american robin
entrance road overlook
bandelier national monument
fun to find this guy hanging out on my truck : ) |  directly across the street from the bandelier national monument exit. more lab property. |  new mexico highway 4
if the labs had not taken over the mesa, would have made an awesome national park. everywhere you look there are caves, a lot of which have art. met someone once who had assisted her graduate professor with a survey of cave paintings in the area, they had access to some of the off limits areas of the labs, and she said it was an extraordinary experience, that there were signs of habitation everywhere. |  new mexico highway 4 |  new mexico highway 4
there is a pueblo on the lab property that apparently is open for small group tours a couple of times a year, is something on my wish lists of things to do. |  new mexico highway 4 |  santa clara pueblo water treatment plant |  red-tailed hawk
pojoaque pueblo water treatment plant |  pojoaque pueblo water treatment plant |  pojoaque |  santa fe : ) |
some highlights of a "keeping it local" saturday morning, largely spent visiting water treatment plants north of santa fe. no new birds, but temps were above freezing and the skies sure were pretty. happy saturday : )
 say's phoebe
los poblanos open space |  sandhill cranes
los poblanos open space |  sandhill cranes
los poblanos open space |  sandhill cranes
los poblanos open space |  sandhill crane
los poblanos open space |  sandhill cranes
los poblanos open space |  sandhill cranes
los poblanos open space |  sandhill cranes
los poblanos open space |  sandhill cranes
los poblanos open space |  los poblanos open space |
spent the work day in albuquerque learning about microsoft azure, and managed to get in a little birding during the lunch break. los poblanos open space is an awesome, low key place to see sandhill cranes, and was a beautiful, beautiful day. good stuff. happy thursday : )
 Hotel McCoy - Tucson
This place was exceptionally neat, a cool retro vibe, super clean and friendly, and affordable. They partner with 70 local artists to appoint the rooms and the motel overall. Highly recommended. |  Hotel McCoy
Tucson
Was a late night last night. The motel is like an old motor court, you park right in front of your room. The gentleman who checked me in could not have been nicer, and matched me well with a room of beautiful art. |  Sunrise
Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge |  Sunrise
Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge |  Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge |  Prairie Warbler
Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge
Was so excited to get to see this bird, is one I had looked for at several different times and several different places throughout the year. |  Prairie Warbler
Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge
Was neat to get a good, and an extended, look at the bird. |  Prairie Warbler
Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge
One more, just because. : ) |  Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge |  Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge |  Patagonia |  Patagonia |  Patagonia |  Just south of Patagonia, near the border |  Patagonia |  Patagonia |  Patagonia |  Patagonia |
Some highlights of a quick overnight trip to Arizona, likely the last out of state birding of the big year. Had originally planned to stay until midday tomorrow but got enough ground covered today to call it an early trip and head home. Only got one new species, but it was a neat one, a far from home Prairie Warbler. Was also the 500th species for the year. Woo hoo!!! So far my flight is on time, looking forward to sleeping in my own bed tonight. Happy Saturday. : )
 Black Mangrove Leaves
South Padre Birding and Nature Center and Alligator Sanctuary |  This place is magical, already miss it
South Padre Birding and Nature Center and Alligator Sanctuary |  Eastern Phoebe
South Padre Birding and Nature Center and Alligator Sanctuary |  Blue Teal
South Padre Birding and Nature Center and Alligator Sanctuary |  Tri-colored Heron
South Padre Birding and Nature Center and Alligator Sanctuary |  Roseate Spoonbill
South Padre Birding and Nature Center and Alligator Sanctuary |  Little Blue Heron
South Padre Birding and Nature Center and Alligator Sanctuary |  Redheads con American Wigeons
South Padre Birding and Nature Center and Alligator Sanctuary |  Snowy Egret
South Padre Birding and Nature Center and Alligator Sanctuary |  South Padre Birding and Nature Center and Alligator Sanctuary |  Green Heron (lower right of the waterfall)
South Padre Birding and Nature Center and Alligator Sanctuary |  Laughing Gull
Mudflats - South Padre Island |  Snowy Plover
Mudflats - South Padre Island |  Piping Plover
Mudflats - South Padre Island |  Semi-palmated Plover
Mudflats - South Padre Island |  Royal Terns con Black Skimmers
Mudflats - South Padre Island |  Laughing Gulls
Mudflats - South Padre Island
Was busy checking out all the birds when I felt eyes on me |  Pine Warbler
Valley Fund Lots - South Padre |  Wilson’s Warbler
Valley Fund Lots - South Padre |  Port Isabel |  Mostly Laughing Gulls
Zapata Memorial Boat Ramp |  Mostly Laughing Gulls
Zapata Memorial Boat Ramp |  Gull-billed Tern
Zapata Memorial Boatramp
Life bird
The second short bird from the left in the row where the big birds have bright orange bills |  Port Mansfield
Stopped to take a photo of some deer on the side of the road, this one sauntered right up to the passenger window |  Red-necked Phalarope
Port Mansfield Marine Sanctuary |  Northern Harrier
Port Mansfield Marine Sanctuary |  Port Mansfield
The deer and the dogs even get along |  Port Mansfield
They ended up being all over town, and the nature center was a place where deer and kids hands full of food met |  Port Mansfield
Not a statue! |  Port Mansfield
This one is a statue. : ) |  Port Mansfield
Priorities! |  Near San Perlita
Is neat to see there are wind farms all over the valley |  Near San Perlita
This one was right by the road with a clear road to it and no fence or signs.... |  Near San Perlita
...took the opportunity to get a closer look. |  Near San Perlita
The blades were spinning and sounded like large swords slicing through the air. Was a little unnerving to stand under. |  Near San Perlita
Does not seem like a lot to keep such a big tower anchored. |  Near San Perlita |  Near San Perlita |  Near San Perlita
When I was here in January was told the fires are farmers burning sugar cane fields, not sure if that applies now, but really gave the sky a cool look |  Cattle Egrets
Harlingen Soccer Complex
We’re more than 70 of them huddled along the bank ducking the wind |  Valley International Airport |
Some highlights from the last day of the trip. Was super windy again today, but this time out of the north, cooled the temps into the 60s and made for some great bird viewing, including another life bird, species number 499 for the year. At the airport and so far everything seems on time, if it stays that way should be home home around 1am. Taking the late flight saved enough points to go to Phoenix the weekend after next. Woo hoo! Happy Sunday. : )
 laguna atascosa national wildlife refuge
was the only customer on the bay side van tour this morning, the temps were in the low 90s and the winds were gusting in the 40s but the guides were die hards like me, and although there were not oodles of birds, we still had a fun morning. this weekend was a break between bow hunting season and rifle hunting season, which this buck seemed to be enjoying. |  nilgaia
atascosa national wildlife refuge
most of the folks on the bus tour yesterday really wanted to see these, and we did not, but this morning they were seemingly everywhere. had never heard of them before but was fun to see them. |  laguna madre shoreline
laguna atascosa national wildlife refuge |  black-throated green warbler
valley fund lots - south padre island |  holiday sand castle village
south padre island |  holiday sand castle village
south padre island |  holiday sand castle village
south padre island |  holiday sand castle village
south padre island |  holiday sand castle village
south padre island |  holiday sand castle village
south padre island |  holiday sand castle village
south padre island |  holiday sand castle village
south padre island |  holiday sand castle village
south padre island |  holiday sand castle village
south padre island |  holiday sand castle village
south padre island |  holiday sand castle village
south padre island |  mcallen nature center
these were really cool, kind of a modern take on giant lincoln logs for anyone to play with |  inca dove
mcallen nature center |  mcallen nature center |  mcallen nature center |  yellow-headed parrot (center)
mcallen parrot roost neighborhood
life bird
a different parrot colony than the one I visited last weekend, and a lot more challenging, they went from street to street to street before finally settling down in the trees in front of a couple of houses. these guys are hard to see, much less get photos of, and they don't show up at their roosts until it is already getting pretty dark. |  yellow-headed parrot (just left of center)
mcallen parrot roost neighborhood |  red-lored parrot - yellow cheeked subspecies (right)
mcallen parrot roost neighborhood |  lilac-crowned parrot (center)
mcallen parrot roost neighborhood
life bird, and species #498 for the year |
some people choose to spend their saturday nights having a nice dinner or maybe seeing a movie, then there are those of us who follow a large group of parrots from street to street trying to identify the three less represented species, and in the process get two life birds. tomorrow will get in one last full day of birding, if everything is running on time tomorrow evening should be in albuquerque a little before midnight, and then home in santa fe around 1am. has been a great trip. happy saturday : )
 white ibis (juvenile)
south padre island birding and nature center and alligator sanctuary |  great egret
south padre island birding and nature center and alligator sanctuary |  green heron
south padre island birding and nature center and alligator sanctuary
has been cloudy and overcast for the last few days, the sun finally broke through for a few minutes this afternoon. |  little blue heron
south padre island birding and nature center and alligator sanctuary |  another green heron (saw three this afternoon)
south padre island birding and nature center and alligator sanctuary
this place is so special, tons of great birds, and really nice people to boot. the caretaker remembered me from january, he is usually out on the boardwalk early in the mornings and sometimes in the evenings is doing work around the center in a rowboat with his kids. every time i talk with him he remarks on how much he loves the center, something we are in complete agreement on. |  least grebe
south padre island birding and nature center and alligator sanctuary
another south texas specialty, but uncommon to find on padre island. found him at the last bird blind right before the exit, and was able to share the sighting with some other birders : ) |
some highlights of another full day of birding, spent the morning on a shuttle bus tour of the lakeshore section of laguna atascosa national wildlife refuge (normally closed to the public), and then the afternoon at the south padre birding and nature center. had wanted to do the bus tours back in January but they were all canceled due to the government shutdown. the tours are a mixed blessing, you get to see places you would not normally see, but even though this one was a full four hours, we covered a lot of ground and only got to get off the bus three or four times. not conducive to picture taking or in depth birding. had three terns that might have been the gull-billed i've been looking for, the habitat was right, the behavior was right, but the bus only paused for a moment and was unable to verify the field marks. taking another tour with the same volunteers tomorrow morning, hopefully this time of the bayside drive, with another chance at the gull-billed terns and maybe some wilson's plovers. you never know til you try. happy friday : )
 zone-tailed hawk
salineno wildlife preserve
made the trek back over there first thing this morning.... |  ladderback woodpecker
salineno wildlife preserve
...and the place was packed with birds.... |  audubon's oriole
salineno wildlife preserve
...about half an hour in along came this life bird. |  osprey con fish
salineno wildlife preserve |  green kingfisher
salineno wildlife preserve
spent another hour and a half down along the river hoping to get a morelet's seedeater, which apparently was missed by about 30 mins, but sure was peaceful and beautiful, and this little guy perched right in front of me |  roma bluffs looking into mexico |  la feria nature center |  nutria
la feria nature center |  long-billed thrasher
valley fund lots - south padre island
this place is amazing, two vacant city lots, one across the street from the other. both lots have a variety of native trees and bushes planted along with water features and feeders, the birders stay outside the perimeter fences, and the birding is outstanding, warblers and woodland birds galore that are not normally found here. have been told it is even better the end of april when the migrating birds, especially the warblers, are moving through. |  green tailed towhee
valley fund lots - south padre
hard to see but a rare bird for here |  tennessee warbler
valley fund lots - south padre
a continuing rare bird, was photobombed by a rufous hummingbird, another rare bird for here |  indigo bunting
valley fund lots - south padre |  pine warbler
valley fund lots - south padre |  rufous hummingbird
valley fund lots - south padre |
some highlights of a day spent birding across the lower rio grande valley, the sky was flat grey but the temps were in the 60s, apparently back home it has been snow, snow, and more snow. even managed to get a life bird. happy thanksgiving to each and every one of you, with extra gratitude for your friendship : )
 plain chachalacas
estero llano grande state park
these guys are the jester cousins to the black bellied whistling ducks |  common yellowthroat
estero llano grande state park
was going to skip the bird walk but reluctantly tagged along, same thing i did in january and it was outstanding. the guides are volunteers but they have to apply at the different parks and are selected based on qualifications, the walk today was lead by a husband and wife and they had so much information on how the birds got their names and about behavior, for example, snowy egrets move their yellow feet around under the water not to stir up mud and prey, but instead to entice fish that they can then grab. started the walk with just myself and one other person, and a father and son joined us later as did one of the naturalists at the park, was easy to ask questions and to see the birds. a really great time. |  glossy ibis
estero llano grande state park
one of these had shown up in ohio back in april but it was a day with a lot of flooding so i skipped trying to go see it and headed back to my motel instead. had hoped to get one on one of the houston trips but no luck, finally got one today. species number 495 for the year : ) |  least grebe
estero llano grande state park
one of the "valley specialties" |  yellow crowned night heron
estero llano grande state park |  green kingfisher
estero llano grande state park |  common pauraque
estero llano grande state park |  anhinga
estero llano grande state park |  vermillion flycatcher (female)
estero llano grande state park |  salineno wildlife preserve
this place was really cool, is right on the rio grande and the two and a half acres was once owned by a couple from up north who used it for themselves and their friends as a winter escape. when they got older and no longer came down they donated the land to the valley land trust (kinda like the nature conservancy) who then made an arrangement with texas fish and game to supply volunteers who park their trailers here over the winter and continue to feed the birds per the original owners instructions, the volunteers could not have been any nicer, spent a couple of hours shooting the sh*t with them waiting for a pair of audubon orioles who are regulars at the feeders but did not stop by while i was there. also took a nice walk along the river unsuccessfully looking for a morelet's seedeater again. was a good time. |  salineno wildlife preserve
looking across the river at mexico
some folks from oregon who were leaving as i got there saw the orioles across the river, i hung around down there for a good bit but never saw them |  turtle power, international border style!
salineno wildlife preserve |  golden fronted woodpecker (female)
salineno wildlife preserve |  great kiskadee
salineno wildlife preserve |  golden fronted woodpecker (male)
salineno wildlife preserve |  altamira oriole
salineno wildlife preserve |  bewick's wren
salineno wildlife preserve |  gray hawk
salineno wildlife preserve |  salineno wildlife preserve |
from start to finish today was one of those magical days where you somehow end up at the right place at the right time. was originally supposed to rain all day, but only got sprinkled on a couple of times and a front that passed through mid-morning instantly dropped the temps a good 10 to 15 welcome degrees. went on an awesome bird walk at estero llano, hung out with a couple of volunteers at salineno wildlife preserve, and this evening was doing laundry and ran into a mom from houston who was excited to ask a bunch of questions and get information to help her support her 14 year old daughter who is really into birding. a nice, nice day. happy turkey day eve : )
 great blue heron
south padre island birding, nature center, and alligator sanctuary |  brown pelicans
south padre island birding, nature center, and alligator sanctuary
love watching these guys do their aerial circus thing |  osprey
south padre island birding, nature center, and alligator sanctuary
one benefit to the winds being so strong is a lot of the birds were kiting in place for extended periods of time. was really hard holding the camera still though. |  reddish egret
south padre island birding, nature center, and alligator sanctuary
landed on the rail a few feet away |  great tailed grackle
south padre island birding, nature center, and alligator sanctuary
these really are beautiful birds, super colorful and iridescent |  clapper rail
south padre island birding, nature center, and alligator sanctuary
watched him preen for a good 20 minutes, looked like something had a hold of him by the scruff of his neck as there was a big bare patch behind his neck and it appeared to be pretty uncomfortable |  mangrove subspecies, yellow warbler
south padre island birding, nature center, and alligator sanctuary
he really is in there, is a rare bird here, got lucky this morning and saw him twice in two different areas of the center about two hours apart. |  black bellied whistling ducks
south padre island birding, nature center, and alligator sanctuary
these guys are the court jesters of the center, they show up any time any where, and always bring a smile |  royal terns
bay access mudflats - south padre island |  armadillo
laguna atascosa national wildlife refuge
is apparently a frequent visitor to the visitor center, and completely ignored everyone as he ate his way around the building |  i missed this quiz - any takers?
laguna atascosa national wildlife refuge |  green jay
laguna atascosa national wildlife refuge |  laguna atascosa national wildlife refuge |  laguna atascosa national wildlife refuge
love these things and the creative things people do with them : ) |  wilson's warbler
laguna atascosa national wildlife refuge |  a very, very large western diamondback rattlesnake. were two of them in the road about 50 yards apart
laguna atascosa national wildlife refuge |  same rattlesnake, was huge!!!
laguna atascosa national wildlife refuge |  the winds even took a toll on the pumpkin people
south padre island birding, nature center, and alligator sanctuary |  belted kingfisher
south padre island birding, nature center, and alligator sanctuary
have never seen one in the woods like this, think he was seeking shelter |  black necked stilt
south padre island birding, nature center, and alligator sanctuary |  green heron con fish
south padre island birding, nature center, and alligator sanctuary
part one |  green heron con fish
south padre island birding, nature center, and alligator sanctuary
part two |  green heron con fish
south padre island birding, nature center, and alligator sanctuary
part three |  green heron con fish
south padre island birding, nature center, and alligator sanctuary
part four
he just kept grabbing fish and swallowing them whole, was really something to see |  common gallinule
south padre island birding, nature center, and alligator sanctuary |
some highlights from a *very* blustery day four, at times the winds were so strong had to reset my feet, but still managed to get in a full and good day of birding. still only one new species for the trip, but was pretty much expected that would be the case. doing a bird walk at estero llano tomorrow (they saw a glossy ibis today) and van tours at laguna atascosa on friday and saturday mornings, will see what else turns up. happy tuesday : )
sunset, south padre style. was the only one on the boardwalk so had it all to myself, seemed a shame not to share. my secret is out of the bag, my camera seeming does a better job when left to its own devices. enjoy : ) |
sunset, south padre style. was the only one on the boardwalk so had it all to myself, seemed a shame not to share. my secret is out of the bag, my camera seeming does a better job when left to its own devices. enjoy : )
 zacate creek
laredo
looking at mexico across the rio grande |  crested caracaras
zacate creek
laredo
these guys are *everywhere*. driving over literally saw a pair every couple of miles. they have extended their range up to houston, am betting we will have them in new mexico before too much more time passes. |  zacate creek
laredo |  zacate creek
laredo
the border is such a fascinating place, this beautiful waterfall is right by the rio grande, underneath the falls is a ton of floating trash, and above it (not in the photo) is a border patrol truck. |  sunset
south padre birding and nature center and alligator sanctuary
this is looking at a portion of the public boardwalk at the convention center, which is right next door to the birding center. at a couple of points their boardwalks are only a couple of feet apart. have not been over to the convention center boardwalk yet, but was told it is closed due to storm damage. am hoping they plan to repair it.
just beyond the boardwalk is a giant mudflat that can be a great place to see shorebirds, when I was there yesterday there is a big sign saying someone is trying to get it zoned to build a restaurant and bar. there are plenty of vacant buildings on the island, am hoping they end up using one of those instead of building at the mudflat site. |  sunset
south padre birding and nature center and alligator sanctuary |  sunset
south padre birding and nature center and alligator sanctuary |  the first morning i was here in january was the first person on the boardwalk and walked out to a railing full of great blue herons and black crowned night herons. one of the women who works here came out shortly thereafter and said she had never seen such a thing. this evening was a reprise of sorts, and i was leaving it was getting pretty dark for taking photos, but could not pass up the little blue herons and the tri-colored heron that seemed to form a goodbye committee : )
south padre birding and nature center and alligator sanctuary |
some day three highlights. today ended up being a wild hair day, set out for laredo in search of morelet's seedeaters and red-billed pigeons, did not end up finding either, but did have a really nice drive and made it back to the island just in time to see an amazing sunset. was a warm one, highs in the upper 80s. happy monday : )
 was the first person at the nature center again this morning, and arrived to witness this crazy exodus at the entrance : )
great tailed grackles, muscovy duck (domestic variant), rock dove, and of course those crazy black bellied whistling ducks
south padre island birding, nature center, and alligator sanctuary |  scissor tailed flycatcher
south padre island birding, nature center, and alligator sanctuary |  osprey
south padre island birding, nature center, and alligator sanctuary |  south padre island birding, nature center, and alligator sanctuary
he looks like he is under duress??? |  black bellied whistling ducks
south padre island birding, nature center, and alligator sanctuary |  blue headed vireo
south padre island birding, nature center, and alligator sanctuary |  great kiskadee
south padre island birding, nature center, and alligator sanctuary |  laguna madre from the tower
south padre island birding, nature center, and alligator sanctuary |  was in the 60s, windy, and overcast yesterday, today in the 70s, calm, and clear. they are still trying to get in the spirit though. saw a sign today for a sand castle santa's village that is supposed to be opening tomorrow, going to try to track it down while i'm here
south padre island birding, nature center, and alligator sanctuary |  canvasbacks, ruddy ducks, american coots, and i think a lesser scaup. there were huge groups of ducks to the left and the right, and a one way highway of sorts passing right in front
osprey overlook
laguna atascosa national wildlife refuge |  tennessee warbler
valley land fund lots - south padre |  these guys were zonked out and super cute : )
south padre island birding, nature center, and alligator sanctuary |  south padre island birding, nature center, and alligator sanctuary |  big padre
south padre island birding, nature center, and alligator sanctuary |  long billed thrasher
south padre island birding, nature center, and alligator sanctuary |  northern parula
south padre island birding, nature center, and alligator sanctuary |  green heron
south padre island birding, nature center, and alligator sanctuary |  redhead
south padre island birding, nature center, and alligator sanctuary |  some sort of jellyfish
south padre island birding, nature center, and alligator sanctuary |  roseate spoonbill
south padre island birding, nature center, and alligator sanctuary |  roseate spoonbill
south padre island birding, nature center, and alligator sanctuary |  double crested cormorant
south padre island birding, nature center, and alligator sanctuary |  least bittern
south padre island birding, nature center, and alligator sanctuary |
some highlights from day two of the trip, kept it local to the island and just across the laguna madre, was hoping to focus on shorebirds, but ended up being mostly about warblers. no new species, but spent a very pleasant morning birding the nature center with a 70 year old gentleman (with 20-10 vision no less!) from minnesota, ran into him again along with his very sweet dog later in the day at laguna atascosa national wildlife refuge. happy sunday : )
 south padre island birding, nature center, and alligator sanctuary
the alligator part is new since january, they have always had gators hanging around, but now have a fenced off area with a bunch of them |  tricolored heron
south padre island birding, nature center, and alligator sanctuary |  cooper's hawk
south padre island birding, nature center, and alligator sanctuary |  great tailed grackle
south padre island birding, nature center, and alligator sanctuary |  roseate spoonbill
south padre island birding, nature center, and alligator sanctuary |  roseate spoonbill
south padre island birding, nature center, and alligator sanctuary
got to watch these guys feeding for quite awhile, was really, really cool : ) |  reddish egret
south padre island birding, nature center, and alligator sanctuary
was at the center for three hours, and was not until the last 20 mins or so that other birders started to show up. was super cool having the place all to myself. |  green heron
south padre island birding, nature center, and alligator sanctuary |  black bellied whistling ducks
south padre island birding, nature center, and alligator sanctuary |  spotted sandpiper
south padre island birding, nature center, and alligator sanctuary
this guy was hanging around the gator enclosure, and while i was watching him came within about a foot of becoming breakfast for a fast approaching 4 footer. |  south padre island birding, nature center, and alligator sanctuary |  turtle power, south padre style
south padre island birding, nature center, and alligator sanctuary |  south padre island birding, nature center, and alligator sanctuary |  ruddy turnstone
zapata memorial boat ramp |  laughing gull
zapata memorial boat ramp |  space x
boca chica |  sanderling
boca chica beach |  space x
boca chica
this is a new area right near the beach, labeled their "starship landing pad". while i was taking this photo an alarm was going off somewhere within the fence, and a very polite sheriff who had been parked along the road approached all the onlookers and told us they were having an issue and that he was sorry but we needed to move along. am pretty sure this is where the explosion happened a few days ago. |  ringed kingfisher
medford pond |  brownsville landfill
the tamaulipas crow used to frequent the landfill and unlike a lot of places they have always welcomed birders there. the crow rarely shows anymore, but the warm welcome remains |  brownsville landfill
there are a *lot* of birds there |  creasted caracaras
brownsville landfill |  black vultures
brownsville landfill
there were hundreds of black vultures and an equal amount of turkey vultures, was amazing to get to see |  muscovy ducks
robinhood resaca - brownsville
domesticated wild ducks, or domestic varient ducks, that is the question. if the prior these are life birds and will count for this years totals, if the later, were still really cool to see. |  golden-fronted woodpecker
joe and tony oliveira park
the only time the sun shown all day |  red-crowned parrots
joe and tony oliveira park
there is a large, mixed colony of parrots that roost in the park, they reliably show up at sundown but exactly where is the tricky part, managed to stake out the right tree in january and identify two of the four species that regularly appear there.... |  red-lored parrot
joe and tony oliveira park
life bird
.....this evening was in the right place at the right time to not only watch them fly in, but they also went crazy pulling fruit off the trees in peoples back and side yards, so much so that as it was happening there was a super strong smell of citrus. was exceptional to get to see, and enough light remained to even get a few photos. |  joe and tony oliveira park |  red-lored parrot
joe and tony oliveira park
got to see, and get photos, of two of these |  not sure yet which variety of parrot this is
joe and tony oliveira park |  not sure yet which variety of parrot this is
joe and tony oliveira park
they were funny, every one of the 100+ birds had a piece of fruit, and when they were done, they all quickly dropped them and flew off to their roost tree for the night. |
some highlights of a full and fun first day of remedial retirement practice, south padre island style. was one of the first stops in this big year of birding, and am thrilled to be back for this week of thanksgiving. love the laid back vibe and all the cool critters. happy saturday : )
 Nelson’s Sparrow
Bob Road - Bolivar Peninsola
Life bird |  Nelson’s Sparrow
Bob Road - Bolivar Peninsola
Life bird |  Rettilon Road
Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary |  Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary
There were hundreds of these little dead crabs all up and down the wet sand line on the beach. Don’t remember ever seeing anything like it before. |  Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary
The sky was unbelievable, at least a thousand shorebirds too. And only one human. Good, good stuff. : ) |  American Pelicans
Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary |  Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary |  Reddish Egret (White Morph)
Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary |  American Avocets
17th Street Jetty - Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary |  Roseate Spoonbill
17th Street Jetty - Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary |  Reddish Egret
Texas City Dike |  Royal Terns
Texas City Dike |  Sandwich Tern
Texas City Dike
This guy was squawking and squawking.... |  Sandwich Tern
Texas City Dike
......and then he made this face..... |  Sandwich Tern
Texas City Dike
.....and he seemed as surprised as me when this fish popped out. : ) |
Some highlights of the last day of the trip, spent birding the Bolivar Peninsula and back over to Houston Hobby. Landed in Albuquerque in 45mph winds, and was the first person stopped from exiting security as they closed the airport for a suspicious something at one of the baggage checks. A hour and a half and counting, a large and not so fun to be around crowd. Was a beautiful moonrise though. Happy Monday. : )
 Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge
Same bridge as last night, was still asleep when I got there this morning. : ) |  Sprague’s Pipit
Attwater National Wildlife Refuge
Life bird |  Attwater National Wildlife Refuge |  Sprague’s Pipits
Attwater National Wildlife Refuge
Always seems like once you find one, they are all over the place |  LeConte’s Sparrow
Attwater National Wildlife Refuge
Life bird |  LeConte’s Sparrow
Attwater National Wildlife Refuge |  Attwater National Wildlife Refuge |  Eastern Meadowlark con Tree Swallow’s
Attwater National Wildlife Refuge |  Inchworm?
Attwater National Wildlife Refuge
Was a super active little fellow |  White-tailed Hawk
Just outside Attwater National Wildlife Refuge |  Stephen F. Austin
Munson Historical County Park
Angleton
Caught my eye from quite a distance, cannot overstate just how big this thing is. Never know what you are going to see. : ) |  Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge |  Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge |  Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge |  Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge |  White Pelicans
Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge |  Crested Caracara
Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge |  White Ibis
Anahauc National Wildlife Refuge |  Boat-tailed Grackle
Anahauc National Wildlife Refuge |  Great-tailed Grackle
Anahauc National Wildlife Refuge |  White-faced Ibis
Anahauc National Wildlife Refuge |  Turtle power!!!
Anahuac style
Anahauc National Wildlife Refuge |  Snowy Egret
Anahauc National Wildlife Refuge |  Brown Pelican
Anahauc National Wildlife Refuge |
Some highlights of a beautiful day spent birding wildlife refuges south of Houston. Mid 70s, light winds. Got two life birds along the way. Happy Sunday. : )
 White Oak Park near downtown Houston |  Great Blue Heron
White Oak Park, Houston |  W G Jones State Forest
Conroe |  Brown-headed Nuthatch
W G Jones State Forest
Conroe
So far the only new bird for this years list |  Dunlin?
Paul Rushing Park - Katy Prairie
Hard to believe how quickly the shorebirds get confusing agsin |  Rental car is the bomb, got upgraded to a Kia Sorento with only 2,500 miles and with Apple CarPlay. |  Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge
Was as huge as he looks! |  Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge |  Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge |
In Sealy, Texas tonight after flying into Houston early this morning. Spent the day birding north and west of Houston. You know you’ve been traveling a lot when you are walking through Houston Hobby and hear a “hey!” And one of the Southwest flight attendants comes over and hugs you because she remembers talking with you on a flight awhile back. Same (minus the hug) for the rental car shuttle driver, and both the woman at the rental car counter and the one working their security gate. Was fun getting such a warm welcome. Some of the other highlights of the day.....Happy Saturday. : )
 Sunrise
Galveston Seawall |  Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
11 Mile Road |  White Ibis
La Fitte’s Cove Nature Preserve |  Double-crested Cormorant
Sportsman’s Road |  Great-tailed Grackle
Galveston-Bolivar Ferry |  Least Sandpiper
Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary - 17th Street Jetty |  Flounder
Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary - 17th Street Jetty
The woman who caught this was so excited, was really sweet . Apparently they are great eating. A lot of folks fishing for their supper everywhere you go down here. |  American Avocets
Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary - 17th Street Jetty |  Marbled Godwit
Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary |  Herring Gull
Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary |  Reddish Egret
Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary |  As seen from the Galveston-Bolivar Ferry, notable for the.... |  .....dolphins swimming in front of the ship. According to the nine year old girl standing near me on the ferry, this is not uncommon behavior. : ) |  American Oystercatcher
Texas City Dike |  Royal Tern
Texas City Dike |  Sandwich Tern
Texas City Dike |  Lesser Black-backed Gull con Royal Terns
Texas City Dike
The dyke is five miles long, was full up of fisherman on one side and hundreds of shorebirds on the other. |  Turtle Power Texas City style!
Skyline Drive |
Some day two highlights from Galveston, no new species, but was a fun day full of shorebirds. Was originally scheduled to leave mid-day tomorrow, but starting late tonight a big chance for thunderstorms, so instead will get to sleep in my own bed again tonight. Happy Sunday. : )
 White Ibis
Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary - 17th Street Jetty
Big groups of these guys overhead all afternoon. |  Osprey con fish
Bob Road |  Seaside Sparrow
Bob Road
Life bird |  Black-Bellied Plover
Bob Road |  Loggerhead Shrike
Bob Road |  Great Blue Heron
Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary
Have seen these guys everywhere this year, from the tops of telephone poles to the strongest of surfs. |  Piping Plover
Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary |  Ruddy Turnstone
Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary |  American Oystercatcher
Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary |  Royal Terns
Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary |  Clapper Rail
Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary |  Brown Pelican
Galveston-Bolivar Ferry |  Black Skimmer
R A Apffel East Beach Park |  Willet
R A Apffel East Beach Park |  Lesser Black-backed Gull
R A Apffel East Beach Park
Life bird |  Sandwich Tern
R A Apffel East Beach Park
A new bird for the year |  Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier con beautiful moonrise. : ) |
Some highlights from the first day of a quick holiday weekend trip to Galveston. Woke up this morning in my own bed (albeit very early), and by 11:30am was doing the first checklist of the day on the Galveston-Bolivar ferry. Am running out of birds to see for the year, but managed to get three more today, including the Seaside Sparrow and the Lesser Black-backed Gull, both life birds. Happy Saturday. : )
 melrose migrant trap
a little stand of woods out in the middle of nowhere, that can have exceptional birds normally not found here, especially during migration. |  hermit thrush
melrose migrant trap |  western kingbird
melrose migrant trap |  nashville warbler
melrose migrant trap |  red-naped sapsucker
melrose migrant trap |  rock wren
melrose migrant trap
these guys were everywhere! |  olive-sided flycatcher
melrose migrant trap |  scissor-tailed flycatcher
near lake sumner state park |  western diamondback rattlesnake
south of santa rosa
this was fascinating, when I first saw him was on the center stripe of the highway, trailing blood from his tail. doubled back to get a better look, he was slowly making his way off the road when a semi came through. the snake was stretched entirely across the lane, but a split second before it would have been run over, pulled itself in and managed to avoid being hit again. this was taken after it got to the shoulder of the road, where it seemed to be resting. hope its okay. |  blue hole
santa rosa |  blue hole
santa rosa |
some highlights of a wild hair day, the original plan was a quiet day at home, ended up at the melrose migrant trap out east of fort sumner, where I ran into one of the audubon field trip guides and a couple of her friends. we had a lot of fun birding melrose, then on the way home i stopped a couple more places and got so see an honest to goodness western diamondback rattlesnake. happy saturday : )
 arroyo chamisa trail
santa fe
saturday |  arroyo chamisa trail
santa fe
saturday |  chipping sparrows
buffalo thunder casino ponds
saturday |  white rock overlook
saturday |  white rock overlook
saturday |  red-necked phalaropes
pojoaque water treatment ponds
saturday |  pojoaque water treatment ponds
saturday |  pajarito ski basin road
los alamos
sunday |  pajarito ski basin road
los alamos
sunday |  belted kingfisher
pojoaque water treatment ponds
sunday |  barn swallows
pojoaque water treatment ponds
sunday |  american wigeon
buffalo thunder casino ponds
sunday |  great blue heron
buffalo thunder casino ponds
sunday |  bushtits
buffalo thunder casino ponds
sunday |
some highlights of a nice weekend spent never venturing more than 50 minutes from home. only one new species, but really enjoyed the beautiful weather and the down time. be it ever so humble...…..happy sunday : )
 Railroad Bridge Park
Sequim |  Railroad Bridge Park
Sequim
Had spent an hour on this bridge the day before, waiting for the rain to stop in the hopes of seeing a Vaux’s Swift, to no avail. Tried again this morning, again to no avail, while I was diligently watching for any bird at all to show itself an older man walking by paused to say hello and asked if I had seen any fish. Was wondering about this as a couple who passed the day before were gushing about how they had seen four fish. When I looked at him funny he pointed at the water and said “There!”, turns out the fish were spawning Salmon. We ended up getting to watch four of them for a good while. Was really, really cool. : ) |  Discovery Bay |  Discovery Bay
This work of art rates two photos. : ) |  Pileated Woodpecker
Ueland Tree Farm
Searched in vain for a Red-breasted Sapsucker, but was thrilled to stumble across two Pileated Woodpeckers. : ) |  Seals
Point Defiance-Gig Harbor Viewpoint
Stopped here in the hopes of seeing a Sabine’s Gull that had been reported the day before, turned out the gull was way across the narrows, was able to see both it and a Parasitic Jaeger with the help of a couple of very kind local birders who were camped out on the cliff...... |  Point Defiance-Gig Harbor Viewpoint
.......of course the birders, who were older than me, were on the other side of the fence. In the name of life birds gathered up my courage and joined them. : ) |  Dark-eyed Junco
Oregon Subspecies
Point Defiance-Gig Harbor Viewpoint |
Some highlights of the last day of the trip, started out with long shots for finding three specific life birds, ended up getting one and with the help of some local birders, an unexpected life bird to boot. At SeaTac now waiting on my flights, has been a great trip. Happy Tuesday. : )
 Olympic National Park |  Hurricane Ridge
Olympic National Park |  Golden-crowned Kinglet
Hurricane Hill
Olympic National Park |  Fox Sparrow
Sooty Subspecies
Hurricane Hill
Olympic National Park
Life bird |  Olympic National Park |  Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Cirque Trail
Olympic National Park |  Meadow Trail
Olympic National Park |  Meadow Trail
Olympic National Park |  Francis Street Park
Port Angeles |  Francis Street Park
Port Angeles |  Port Angeles City Pier |  Port Angeles City Pier |  Port Angeles City Pier |  Belted Kingfisher
Port Angeles City Pier |  Common Loon con lunch
Port Angeles City Pier |  Common Loon
Port Angeles City Pier |  Red-necked Grebe
Port Angeles City Pier |  Port Angeles City Pier |  Port Angeles City Pier |  Port Angeles City Pier
Was an interesting place, they have clearly put a lot of effort into making the area very tourist and local friendly, and yet there were many homeless throughout. Not saying one should take precedence over the other, just interesting to note Santa Fe is not the only place grappling with these issues. |  Port Angeles City Pier |  Port Angeles City Pier
Doesn’t apply here, but with folks relying on GPS navigation so much now days, wonder if there will eventually be a movement to start to reduce the number of road signs in lieu of their virtual kin? |  Railroad Bridge Park |  Railroad Bridge Park
These were really clever, 12 or 15 stations in all. A sampling follows..... |  Railroad Bridge Park |  Railroad Bridge Park |  Railroad Bridge Park |  Sequim
Pronounced Sqim
Also learned Dungeness is pronounced Dungeon-ess |
Some highlights of a good day, got two life birds and saw some beautiful country. Will bird my way back to SeaTac tomorrow to catch an early evening flight, if all goes well should be back to my apartment around 11:40pm. Happy Monday. : )
 Bald Eagle con breakfast
Landing Park |  California Quail
Landing Park |  Orange-crowned Warbler?
Landing Park |  Western Gull con breakfast
Landing Park |  Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge |  Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge |  Red-necked Grebe
Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge
Life bird |  Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge |  Great Blue Heron
Three Crabs
Apparently is a thing out here for them to sit on telephone polls, is the second one I’ve seen |  Sekiu in the fog |  Cape Flattery Trail |  Cape Flattery Trail |  Cape Flattery Trail |  Cape Flattery Trail |  Cape Flattery Trail
Home of the Tufted Puffin. Might have squinted hard enough to see one, photos will tell for sure |  Museum of the Makah Nation |  Museum of the Makah Nation |
Some highlights of a good day, spent the morning birding the Dungeness area, and when the rains moved in around noon headed went to the end of the earth, at least in the northwest United States. Got three life birds for sure and two maybes, will know one way or another on those when I get home and can look at the photos on the “big screen”. Happy Sunday. : )
 Blaine Marine Park |  Blaine Marine Park looking towards Canada
Last week was one exit away from Mexico, this week one away from Canada. : ) |  Blaine Marine Park |  Blaine Marine Park |  Blaine Marine Park
For such a small town they have a great park - art, a small amphitheater, water fountains, signs for birders, and free parking. Incredibly welcoming. |  Blaine Marine Park
In addition to shadows being much longer up here, trees are starting to lose their leaves. |  Blaine Marina |  White-winged Scoter
Drayton Harbor Road
Whatcom, Washington
Life bird |  Semiahmoo Marina
Whatcom, Washington |  Semiahmoo Marina
Whatcom, Washington
An abundance of birds pretty much everywhere I went today |  Black Oystercatchers
Semiahmoo Marina
Whatcom, Washington
One of my favorite birds |  Harlequin Ducks
Semiahmoo Marina
Whatcom, Washington
Life bird
One of the two species that inspired this trip |  Yellowlegs and Dowitchers
Wiley Slough - Skagit Wildlife Management Area |  Snow Goose Farms Market
Vernon |  Port Townsend Ferry |  Common Murre
Port Townsend Ferry
Life bird |
Some highlights of a good, solid day of birding. Got four life birds and after two back to back 20 hour days managed to get to the motel a little after 5pm. Living large, have a recently renovated Super 8 to call home for the next three nights. Happy Saturday. : )
 Just outside Mount Rainier National Park |  Reflection Lakes
Mount Rainier National Park |  Canada Jays
Reflection Lakes
Mount Rainier National Park |  Haven’t figured out who this little guy is, but he sure was cute
Reflection Lakes
Mount Rainier National Park |  Paradise Visitor Center
Mount Rainier National Park |  Not sure what happened here but was really strange looking and a much larger area than show here
Just outside Mount Rainier National Park |  Nisqually River occupying the path of the not so long ago Nisqually Glacier |
A few quick highlights from the first day of a quick five day trip to Washington state. Started the day doing the full loop tour of Mount Rainer National Park, then met an old friend and her band of even older friends in Tacoma for dinner and a Michelle Malone club show. Hardly saw any birds in the National Park, but man it sure was pretty. In Burlington tonight, tomorrow will look for shore birds from Blaine down to Port Angeles. Happy Friday.....er....actually early Saturday morning. : )
 Whimbrel in the mist
Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge |  Black-bellied Plover con Willet
Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge
At the start of the year in Texas they were in their winter plumage, Ohio saw them in their breeding plumage, now back to their winter look. It all goes by so quickly. |  Elegant Tern
Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge |  Marbled Godwit
Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge |  Western Sandpiper
Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge |  Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge |  Willet
Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge |  Long-billed Curlew
Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge |  Long-billed Curlew
Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge |  Willet
Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge |  Whimbrel
Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge |  Tricolored Blackbird
Lindo Lake |  Lindo Lake |  Mission Trails Regional Park |  Border Field State Park
The infamous western edge of the border wall |  Heermann’s Gull
Border Field State Park |  Looking into Mexico
Border Field State Park |  Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge
Made a second stop there on my way to the airport, ran across an older couple that was struggling walking in the heat and could not remember how to get back in their car. Birded a bit while they rested, then loaded them up and easily found their car a short distance away. The man had grown up in the area and was full of great stories. What a gift having gotten to talk with them. : ) |
Some highlights from the last day of the trip, started with a long walk in the dense fog on a mostly empty beach, stopped by the western end of the border wall, then finished hopping around some different spots in the San Diego area. Three more life birds, 16 total for the trip, and my four hour flight delay is now down to 30 mins. Happy Monday. : )
 Common Ringer Plover
San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary
Life bird |  American Avocets con Long-billed Dowitchers
San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary |  Huntington Botanical Gardens |  Huntington Botanical Gardens |  Huntington Botanical Gardens |  Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Huntington Botanical Gardens
Life bird |  Allen’s Hummingbird
Huntington Botanical Gardens |  Band-tailed Pigeon
Huntington Botanical Gardens
Life bird |  Huntington Botanical Gardens |  Red-whiskered Bulbul
Huntington Botanical Gardens
Life bird |  Huntington Botanical Gardens |  Parked next to me at Huntington Botanical Gardens |  Indian Peafowl
Los Angeles Count Arboretum and Botanical Garden
How hot was it? Even these guys were not moving |  Los Angeles Count Arboretum and Botanical Garden
This was *really* cool |  Los Angeles Count Arboretum and Botanical Garden |  Los Angeles Count Arboretum and Botanical Garden |  Los Angeles Count Arboretum and Botanical Garden |  Los Angeles Count Arboretum and Botanical Garden |  Turtle Power LA Style!!!
Los Angeles Count Arboretum and Botanical Garden |  Canada Goose photobomb
Los Angeles Count Arboretum and Botanical Garden |  Bell’s Sparrow
Lake Skinner
Life bird |  Lake Skinner |  Lake Skinner |  Western Gull
La Jolla |  Heermann’s Gull
La Jolla |  La Jolla |  La Jolla |  La Jolla |  Brandt’s Cormorants con Double-created Cormorants
La Jolla |  La Jolla |  La Jolla |  La Jolla |  Brown Pelican
La Jolla |  La Jolla |  La Jolla |  La Jolla |  La Jolla |  La Jolla
Finally an ocean photo! : ) |
Some highlights of a very hot (109 degrees at one point) and very big day of birding. Started the day with a Common Ringed Plover that had shown up this weekend, only the second or third sighting ever in the area (I was not the initial reporter), ended up with eight life birds today to go with five life birds yesterday, and still most of a day to do tomorrow. Happy Sunday. : )
 The Los Angeles River near Willow Street
This place was incredible, there was a three quarter mile stretch with literally hundreds of peeps and also Avocets, Stilts, Terns, Dowitchers, and more. Of course being LA there was the Port of Long Beach with all its industry just downstream, and also tent homesteads and trash mixed in with all the birds. Surreal does not begin to cover it. |  Great Blue Heron
Los Angeles River near Willow Street |  Black-Crowned Night-heron con Black-necked Stilt
Los Angeles River near Willow Street |  Elegant Tern (life bird) con Caspian Terns, a Western Gull, peeps galore, and a Black-necked Stilt
Los Angeles River near Willow Street |  Black-necked Stilt con Dowitchers and Peeps
Los Angeles River near Willow Street |  Wandering Tattler
San Pedro Fishing Pier
Was *thrilled* to get to see one of these.
Life bird. |  Wandering Tattler
San Pedro Fishing Pier
This one rated two photos. : ) |  Song Sparrow
White Point Nature Preserve
These guys are interesting, found throughout most of the country but the coloration can be quite different depending on the part of the country you are in. |  Am assuming these are snails of some sort, there were hundreds of the attached to the nature center walls
White Point Nature Preserve |  Northern Mockingbird
White Point Nature Preserve |  South Coast Botanic Garden
No photos of the ocean, but did see some beautiful flowers. : ) |  South Coast Botanic Garden |  Allen’s Hummingbird
South Coast Botanic Garden
Life bird. |  South Coast Botanic Garden |  South Coast Botanic Garden |  It’s not a bird, it’s not a plane, whatever it is was cool to see. : )
South Coast Botanic Garden |  South Coast Botanic Garden |  South Coast Botanic Garden |  Scaly-breasted Munia
Entradero Park
Literally the reason why I am here, a bird I had never heard of and wanted to see. Almost missed it too, was heading back to the car, stopped to text with a friend, and viola! : ) |  Egyptian Goose
Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park - East Shore
Life bird. |
Some highlights of a productive day of birding around the greater Los Angeles area. Flew into San Diego last night, will be back down there tomorrow night, then home on Monday night. Whew! Happy Saturday. : )
 keota ghost town |  keota ghost town |  keota ghost town |  keota ghost town |  mountain plovers
near keota ghost town
lucked out and got to watch a flock of 15 for a good while.
life bird |  pawnee national grasslands |  pawnee national grasslands |  pawnee national grasslands |  pawnee national grasslands |  swainson's hawk
pawnee national grasslands |
some highlights of a super quick trip to northern colorado. the pawnee national grasslands were spectacular, had another day or two of places to go and bird but once back near civilization the traffic, the haze, and the heat had me clicking my heels and heading back to santa fe. only got one new bird, but a great one, the mountain plover. swear I looked at every horned lark, lark bunting, and lark sparrow in the great plains but found nary a larkspur. sometimes it bees like that. happy thursday : )
 wild turkeys
rattlesnake springs picnic area |  rattlesnake springs picnic area |  wild turkey
rattlesnake springs picnic area |  bell's vireo
rattlesnake springs picnic area
life bird |  vermillion flycatcher
rattlesnake springs picnic area
these guys were all over the place! |  barn swallow con cave swallow
rattlesnake springs picnic area |  painted bunting
rattlesnake springs picnic area |  painted bunting
rattlesnake springs picnic area |  turkey vultures
rattlesnake springs picnic area |  turkey vultures
rattlesnake springs picnic area |  turkey vulture
rattlesnake springs picnic area |  phainopepla
rattlesnake springs picnic area |
some highlights from a quickie trip down to rattlesnake springs (part of carlsbad caverns national park). had four birds on the wish list, lucked in to finding all four plus two more. happy saturday : )
 grasshopper sparrow
north of lamar, colorado
nothing like getting mooned by a life bird! |  grasshopper sparrow
north of lamar, colorado |  north of lamar, colorado |  great horned owl
northeast of lamar, colorado |  lark buntings
east of lamar colorado
the state bird of colorado |  east of lamar, colorado |  grasshopper sparrow
east of lamar, colorado
as often seems to be the case, once you find one of something..... |  my first choice for reincarnation
east of lamar, colorado |  east of lamar, colorado |  upland sandpiper
east of lamar, colorado |  burrowing owl
east of lamar, colorado |  maxwell national wildlife refuge
new mexico |  swainson's hawk
maxwell national wildlife refuge
new mexico |  swainson's hawk
maxwell national wildlife refuge
new mexico |  western grebes
maxwell national wildlife refuge
new mexico |  american white pelican
maxwell national wildlife refuge
new mexico |  maxwell national wildlife refuge
new mexico
a couple of minutes after this photo was taken the entire lake was covered in white caps |  american avocets
calley's lake
between las vegas and wagon mound new mexico
always see this from the highway but was the first time to stop, was rewarded with more than 80 avocets |  calley's lake |
two outta three ain't bad, no mountain plover but found plenty of upland sandpipers and, after looking in four states, finally found a grasshopper sparrow. some highlights of a fun lunch bucket day of birding. happy saturday : )
 Feeling rusty on these and will add the ID when I get home
Outside La Junta, Colorado |  Semipalmated Plover
Outside La Junta, Colorado |  Outside La Junta, Colorado |  Outside La Junta, Colorado |  Outside La Junta, Colorado |  Outside La Junta, Colorado |  Outside La Junta, Colorado |  Outside La Junta, Colorado |
On the plains of eastern Colorado tonight in a little cowtown called Lamar, getting ready to go to sleep with visions of Upland Sandpipers, Mountain Plovers, and Grasshopper Sparrows dancing in my head. Had time to make one stop before it got dark tonight, a flooded field just outside of La Junta, hard to believe it is already time for the shorebird migration to begin. Feels like I blinked, and my big year is almost done. Happy Friday. : )
 bighorn sheep
new mexico 90 south of silver city |  another one for the bad photos of great birds album
red-faced warbler
cherry creek campground outside of silver city |  santa rita copper mine
hanover, new mexico
apparently the overlook had recently re-opened after having been closed for some time. the scale of the mining in this area is beyond belief. |  santa rita copper mine
hanover, new mexico
am pretty sure my family visited this mine/overlook when i was a little girl |  santa rita copper mine
hanover, new mexico
regardless of how one feels about the mine and the mining, have to hand it to the workers, was the only one at the overlook and both the drivers who passed by saw me taking pictures and took the time to honk and wave. was very sweet. |  santa rita copper mine
hanover, new mexico
was a constant stream of trucks headed in both directions, both empty and full |  emory pass
gila national forest |  emory pass
gila national forest |  emory pass
love these old school, home made looking forest service signs : ) |
some highlights from a second day down south. ended up with two more life birds, and after another windy mountain road decided to call it a trip and head home. all in all was a fun adventure. happy sunday : )
 Sunset pulling into Lordsburg last night. My camera truly is point and shoot, stuck it out the window going 75mph and clicked the button, and viola! : ) |  Cave Creek Canyon, Arizona |  Thick-billed Kingbird
Portal, Arizona
Life bird |  Rufous-crowned Sparrow
Sunny Flat Campground
Cave Creek Canyon, Arizona
Life bird |  Rufous-crowned Sparrows
Sunny Flat Campground
Cave Creek Canyon, Arizona |  Bridled Titmouse
Sunny Flat Campground
Cave Creek Canyon, Arizona |  Pyrrhuloxia
Dave Jasper’s New Yard
Portal, Arizona
Dave has filled his yard with feeders, created a parking area, and welcomes whoever wants to stop by to have a seat and check out the birds. Was an ornotholgy class from Mississippi there when I stopped by today. Pretty darn cool. : ) |  Curve-billed Thrasher
Dave Jasper’s New Yard
Portal, Arizona |  Ladderback Woodpecker
Dave Jasper’s New Yard
Portal, Arizona |  Bullock’s Oriole
Dave Jasper’s New Yard
Portal, Arizona |  Cactus Wren
Dave Jasper’s New Yard
Portal, Arizona |  Black-headed Grosbeak
Cave Creek Ranch
Portal, Arizona |  Lesser Goldfinch
Cave Creek Ranch
Portal, Arizona |  Mexican Jay
Cave Creek Ranch
Portal, Arizona |  Broad-billed Hummingbird
Cave Creek Ranch
Portal, Arizona |  Blue-throated Hummingbird
Cave Creek Ranch
Portal, Arizona
Life bird |  Javelina
Dave Jasper’s Old Yard
The new owner has kept Dave’s set up for guests going, the most memorable thing that happened there was just as I was leaving, was about 25 yards from the gate and startled both myself and a large pack of Javelina that were on both sides of the path. They were snorting and flying all over the place, even though they are vegetarians is not much fun to be in close quarters when they are worked up, snapped this quick photo and beat feet for the gate. |  Botteri’s Sparrow
Portal Road east of Portal, Arizona
Life bird |  Botteri’s Sparrow
Portal Road east of Portal, Arizona |  Curve-billed Thrasher
Sky Island Grill And Grocery
Rodeo, New Mexico
Learned something new today by observation, when it’s super hot, birds like to hang around with their bills open. |  Curve-billed Thrasher
Sky Island Grill And Grocery
Rodeo, New Mexico
Even the baby was sitting still and quiet with its bill open while its parents were out hunting. |  Western Kingbird
Willow Tank
Rodeo, New Mexico
These guys were doing the open bill thing too |  Geronimo Surrender Monument
San Simon, Arizona |  Geronimo Surrender Monument
San Simon, Arizona |  Rodeo, New Mexico |  New Mexico 9
East of Animas |  County Road 001
South of Animas, New Mexico |  County Road 001
South of Animas, New Mexico
By this point was just me and the Border Patrol |  Upper Cottonwood Canyon, New Mexico looking towards Mexico
By this point even the Border Patrol had disappeared. |  Hooded Oriole
Clanton Canyon, New Mexico |  Was in some really remote country and literally went all day with no cell service, ironic that the only tower that seemed to connect was while I was looking from Clanton Canyon across the valley into Mexico. |
Some highlights from a very fun but super hot day of birding the southern part of the New Mexico-Arizona border. Between the heat and a super windy dirt road through Clanton Canyon ended up getting *really* car sick, but ended the day with four life birds, so I’ll take it. Tomorrow am heading up around Silver City and will be home tomorrow night. Happy Saturday. : )
 las vegas |  las vegas national wildlife refuge |  las vegas national wildlife refuge |  las vegas national wildlife refuge |  vesper sparrow
las vegas national wildlife refuge |  vesper sparrow
las vegas national wildlife refuge |
double rainbows and sparrows, what more could a person want? headed back out to the las vegas national wildlife refuge after work again today. happy thursday : )
 las vegas national wildlife refuge |  las vegas national wildlife refuge |  las vegas national wildlife refuge |  killdeer
las vegas national wildlife refuge |  las vegas national wildlife refuge |  las vegas national wildlife refuge |  las vegas national wildlife refuge |
some highlights from a nice evening of after work birding out at the las vegas national wildlife refuge. no luck on the ever elusive grasshopper sparrow, but the refuge was birdier than i've ever seen it, and the "lakes" which are normally dry depressions in the grass this time of year, all had a good bit of water in them. pretty cool. happy wednesday : )
 valle caldera national preserve |  valle caldera national preserve |  valle caldera national preserve |  valle caldera national preserve |  jemez falls
not a bad view to get to enjoy for two hours waiting on the black swift : ) |
work-gym-birding, seems like 99% of my waking hours these days are spent doing one of the three. drove up into the jemez tonight after work on a successful search for a black swift, and along the way stopped to enjoy the beautiful views at the valle caldera national preserve overlook. is so expansive, takes four photos to capture it. happy tuesday : )
 Lesser Nighthawk
Thrasher Stakeout west of Phoenix
Life Bird |  Herons, Egrets, and an unexpected Brown Pelican
Hidden Lake |  American White Pelicans
Hidden Lake |  Tucson |  A long view of Madera Canyon |  Cassin’s Kingbird
Box Canyon |  Five-striped Sparrow
Box Canyon
Life Bird |  Madera Canyon |  Blue Grosbeck
Santa Rita Lodge-Madera Canyon |  Santa Rita Lodge-Madera Canyon |  Varied Bunting
Santa Rita Lodge-Madera Canyon
Life bird |  Black-headed Grosbeck
Santa Rita Lodge-Madera Canyon |  Broad-billed Hummingbird con raindrops
Santa Rita Lodge-Madera Canyon |  Elegant Trogon
Madera Picnic Area-Madera Canyon
Life bird |  Elegant Trogon
Madera Picnic Area-Madera Canyon |  Went in search of the Rose-throated Becard, a small treetop bird nesting north of Tubac, had gps coordinates but took two hours of searching to find the right trail to get to them (were a little to the left of the 2.0 on the sign, lots more trails than it shows).... |  ....in the process came within about six feet of stepping on this guy |  Rose-throated Becard
Anzo Trail bear Tubac
Life bird |  Nuff said |
Some highlights of a quick weekend trip to southern Arizona, two Indigo Girls shows and seven life birds, life is good. On an early morning flight back to Albuquerque, will do some birding on the way home hoping to add another life bird, the Black-chinned Sparrow. Happy Sunday. : ) something kinda fun i ran across on ebird this evening. happy wednesday : )
 randall davey audubon center
like everywhere else around here right now, the center is as lush and green as i can every remember it being |  randall davey audubon center |  black-chinned hummingbird
randall davey audubon center |  wild turkey
randall davey audubon center
had been seeing reports of them at the center this year, the first time i can remember that being the case, and sure enough, one went strolling through at the very start of the walk. |  red crossbill
randall davey audubon center
was quite a surprise, normally would have to go to the ski basin and look in the very, very tops of the trees to see one on our side of the canyon |  broad-tailed hummingbird
randall davey audubon center |  apache plume
randall davey audubon center |  randall davey audubon center |  randall davey audubon center
they are doing a lot of work on the center, new buildings, new paths, and this bird blind in progress near the garden part way up the hill |  randall davey audubon center |  cassin's finch (female)
randall davey audubon center |  cassin's finch (male)
randall davey audubon center |  randall davey house
randall davey audubon center |  upper canyon road |  santa fe canyon preserve
was a surprise to find this so low and full of algae, there is water everywhere this year, not sure why they are not letting more pass through here |  woodhouse's scrub jay
santa fe canyon preserve |  santa fe canyon preserve |  santuario de nuestra senora de guadalupe |  santuario de nuestra senora de guadalupe |  santuario de nuestra senora de guadalupe |  santuario de nuestra senora de guadalupe |  santuario de nuestra senora de guadalupe |  santuario de nuestra senora de guadalupe
my place is across the street from the trees in the lower right, can see the bell tower from my balcony and kitchen window |  santuario de nuestra senora de guadalupe
downtown and the plaza are just to the right of the tall building in the background |  santuario de nuestra senora de guadalupe |  santuario de nuestra senora de guadalupe |  santuario de nuestra senora de guadalupe |  santuario de nuestra senora de guadalupe |  santuario de nuestra senora de guadalupe |  santuario de nuestra senora de guadalupe |  santuario de nuestra senora de guadalupe |  santuario de nuestra senora de guadalupe |  santuario de nuestra senora de guadalupe |  santuario de nuestra senora de guadalupe |  santuario de nuestra senora de guadalupe |  santuario de nuestra senora de guadalupe
the statue has been in place ten or so years now, was a gift from a church in mexico, they were driving it to the santuario to present it in person but were stopped at the border, so a group of parishioners ended up traveling down to juarez to bring it the last part of the journey. |  santuario de nuestra senora de guadalupe |  santuario de nuestra senora de guadalupe |  santuario de nuestra senora de guadalupe |  santuario de nuestra senora de guadalupe |  santuario de nuestra senora de guadalupe |  white rock |
some highlights of a fun day yesterday, spent the morning doing the randall davey audubon center bird walk with some old birder friends, afterwards stopped and literally smelled the roses at the santuario just down the street, then had a nice visit and a delicious supper with an old friend and her daughter. life is good. happy father's day : )
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  western wood-pee-wee | | | | | | | | | | |  hepatic tanager | | | | | | |
some highlights from a week ago saturday, got to bandelier national monument early to do a little birding, soon realized i was the only person in the park, and spent a really nice morning doing the main loop trail and seeing some cool birds along the way, including a life bird, the gray flycatcher (no photos of it). like seemingly everywhere this year, the park was the greenest and lushest in memory. happy sunday : )
 diablo canyon |  diablo canyon |  diablo canyon |  blue grosbeak
diablo canyon |  buckman diversion |  buckman diversion |  buckman diversion |  yellow-breasted chat
buckman diversion |  before the intakes were created in the rio grande river (now known as the buckman diversion), in the early 2000s we had a terrible drought which drained our reservoirs, and the only thing that kept the city in water was the buckman well field. before it was all said and done some of the wells were pumped so dry they collapsed, never to be used again, but some of them are still viable and still being used to supplement the water from our two reservoirs and the rio grande river. was fun stumbling upon well #1.
buckman diversion |  buckman diversion |  buckman diversion |  buckman diversion |  los alamos nature center - pajarito environmental education center |  los alamos nature center - pajarito environmental education center |  los alamos nature center - pajarito environmental education center |  los alamos nature center - pajarito environmental education center |  los alamos nature center - pajarito environmental education center |  los alamos nature center - pajarito environmental education center |  los alamos nature center - pajarito environmental education center |  acorn woodpecker
los alamos nature center - pajarito environmental education center |  white-breasted nuthatch
los alamos nature center - pajarito environmental education center |  los alamos nature center - pajarito environmental education center |  red crossbill
los alamos nature center - pajarito environmental education center |  fuller lodge - los alamos |  cordilleran flycatcher
fuller lodge - los alamos |  house sparrow
santa fe river trail |  santa fe river trail
hard to believe it is the first of june and there is still snow in the mountains |
some highlights of a very fun day spent poking around west of santa fe, with a little birding mixed in. is amazing how green everything is, has been the wettest winter/spring combination i can remember in my twenty years here, and it clouded up and stormed some more this afternoon. good stuff. happy saturday : )
 snowy plover
quivira national wildlife refuge |  black terns
quivira national wildlife refuge |  yellow headed blackbird
quivira national wildlife refuge |  black-necked stilt
quivira national wildlife refuge |  white-rumped sandpiper
quivira national wildlife refuge
life bird |  black terns
quivira national wildlife refuge |  wilson's phalarope
quivira national wildlife refuge |  stilt sandpiper
quivira national wildlife refuge |  franklin's gulls con dunlin
quivira national wildlife refuge |  if trucks could only talk, this one would have some serious stories to tell. 159,000+ miles and still ticking.
quivira national wildlife refuge |  quivira national wildlife refuge |  dickcissel
quivira national wildlife refuge
life bird |  white-faced ibis
quivira national wildlife refuge |  least tern
quivira national wildlife refuge
life bird |  ruddy turnstone
quivira national wildlife refuge |  lots of cool small towns with neat buildings
ellinwood, kansas |  killdeer
kansas wetlands education center |  some sort of swimming snake
cheyenne bottoms wildlife area |  cheyenne bottoms wildlife area |  cheyenne bottoms wildlife area
the largest inland marsh in the united states |  american white pelicans
cheyenne bottoms wildlife area |  double-crested cormorants
cheyenne bottoms wildlife area |  great bend, kansas |  great bend, kansas |  great bend, kansas |  great bend, kansas |  took two trips through the car wash to get most but not all of the mud off my truck
great bend, kansas |  leaving great bend on sunday morning, had stormed like crazy all night |  leaving great bend on sunday morning
was some great driving on the whole trip, 7 hours each way and the roads were almost completely empty |  elkhart kansas water treatment plant
throughout kansas when the winds would die down the mosquitos would come out in droves. most water treatment plants are super secure now, even in the most remote areas, this one had an open gate and two homemade signs, "enjoy the birds", and "please stay on the roads". no photos, but got to see two mississippi kites actively hunting : ) |  tunnerville work center
elkhart, kansas
one of those neat places i only found because of ebird |  tunnerville work center
elkhart, kansas |  cimarron national grassland
tunnerville work center
elkhart, kansas |  tunnerville work center
elkhart, kansas |  point of rocks
santa fe trail outside of springer new mexico |  point of rocks
is open to the public but located on private land about ten miles off the nearest highway, was the only person there and as i was leaving a young girl came out of the home and handed me a pamphlet on the history of the point of rocks and the surrounding area, said her grandmother asked her to. was very cool, both the contents of the pamphlet and the kindness and generosity of the ranch owner. |  point of rocks |  point of rocks |  road to point of rocks |  highway marker for point of rocks
almost the entire trip followed along the cimarron branch of the santa fe trail, was neat to get to see it. |
some highlights from a fun, quick two and a half day trip to kansas this weekend hoping to see shorebirds. they have had an extraordinary amount of rain of late, lots of flooding and water where it normally would not be, at the refuge there was one spot where normally there are five different ways to get there, on saturday four of them were flooded. almost got my truck stuck, but made it in and back out, and had some great views of some very cool birds. drove home yesterday dodging heavy thunderstorms most of the way until that last hour between las vegas nm and santa fe, where the winds were blowing so hard and from so many different directions at one point they were preventing the windshield wipers from making contact with the windshield. crazy stuff. happy monday : )
 Gonna miss this place, walked the boardwalk every morning of the trip. : ) |  Grey Catbird
One of my favorite birds |  Grey Catbird
Went from seeing one a day starting the end of the first week of the trip to seeing 20+ a day at the end. |  Prothonotary Warbler |  Prothonotary Warbler |  Estuary Trail, looking at Lake Erie. |
Some day 23 highlights - sitting at the gate at Chicago Midway waiting on my flight home.
Today dawned warm and windy, the hope for a fresh batch of migrants at the Marsh came true, was pretty much a who’s who of warblers today, including a Mourning Warbler and even a Connecticut Warbler (did not get to see it today, or the other day when one appeared - it’s all good. : ). )
The winds had picked up consoliderably by the time I left for the airport, drove under some very dark clouds but thankfully seems to have cleared out here.
Saw 197 species over the three weeks, and the “big year” total now stands at 405.
The last official act at the Marsh was helping an upside down turtle in the middle of the road, was able to get him right side up and hopefully safely on his way towards the water. A fitting end to an awesome trip. Thanks for tagging along, hopefully something in all of this proved interesting and/or entertaining.
Happy Sunday. : )
 Bay-breasted Warbler
Magee Marsh Boardwalk |  Cape May Warbler
Magee Marsh Boardwalk |  Scarlet Tanager
Magee Marsh Boardwalk |  Great-Horned Owlet
Estuary Trail |  Song Sparrow
Estuary Trail |  King Rail
Howard Marsh Metropark |  Cedar Waxwing
Magee Marsh Boardwalk |  Indigo Bunting
Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge |  Trumpeter Swan
Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge |  Black-throated Green Warbler
Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge |  Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge |  Killdeer family
Barnside Creamery parking lot |  Killdeer family
Barnside Creamery parking lot
Mom will still sit on her young after they have fledged. First time getting to see it. |
Some day 22 highlights - north winds and rains right up until dawn put a damper on migration last night, the winds switched around to the south this afternoon and fingers are crossed for a good day tomorrow.
Ended up with two life birds today, a King Rail and a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, both very cool sightings. Also had three snakes (two swimming), a host of turtles, a leaping deer, a racoon, several marmots, and a ground hog. Also got to see my first ever Common Nighthawk in flight. All in all a great day to be outside. : )
Happy Saturday. : )
 Common Nighthawk
Magee Marsh Boardwalk |  Northern Cardinal (female)
Magee Marsh Boardwalk |  Northern Cardinal (male)
Magee Marsh Boardwalk |  Bald Eagle
Magee Marsh Boardwalk
This guy was perched right over the boardwalk as it was growing dark tonight. Last time I was here, in 2016, took a tour at Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge where they said outside of Alaska that Ohio has the highest concentration of Bald Eagles of any state. Not hard to believe, there are nests everywhere including two along the boardwalk, and no matter where you are you rarely go more than five minutes without seeing one in flight. Pretty cool. : ) |
Some day 21 highlights - winds were favorable for migration last night, helping the birds at the Marsh along their way, but a line of overnight storms to the south seems to have kept a new batch from arriving so the Boardwalk was pretty quiet today.
The day was cloudy and cool, threatening rain but none delivered, did a good, slow pass of the boardwalk, spent the afternoon at Howard Marsh and the gym, then did another slow pass of the boardwalk this evening. A nice solid day of birding yielded no new species for the year list, seems partly a function of concentrating so much on Magee and the surrounding areas, and partly from having spent so much time birding and having such good luck.
Met a woman in her 70s this evening on the boardwalk, she was birding with her daughter, and told me her mother passed away at 94 last year, and that her mom had been birding Magee most of her life, way before it had a boardwalk or was known outside the local area, and right up through her last year when they brought her in a wheelchair. They had gotten a plaque on one of the benches in her mom’s honor, said it was the only fitting tribute to her and just felt right. Was really moving getting to hear their story, and then having them enthusiastically ply me for tips on where they might be able to see certain birds. Good stuff.
Will get in a full day of birding tomorrow, then was invited over for dinner tomorrow night at their rental condo by my new friend from Cleveland and her boyfriend, then a few hours at Magee on Sunday morning and a five hour drive to Chicago to catch my flight home.
Happy Friday. : )
 Sunrise on the Magee Marsh causeway, am really going to miss that view, nuke plant and all. : ) |  Yellow Warbler
Magee Marsh Boardwalk
Was gathering nesting material. |  Philadelphia Vireo
Magee Marsh Boardwalk
First sighting this year, had been hoping for one for several days. |  Great Horned Owlet
Estuary Trail
There was a group snapping photos, went to another part of the trail to catch a different view, just in time to see him stick his backside out of the nest and deficate. Made me laugh pretty hard, was also interesting to know they do it outside their nesting place. |  Estuary Trail Beach
Appeared to have washed onshore, found it interesting on many levels. |  Estuary Trail |  Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Auto Tour |  Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Auto Tour
Never know what you are going to see on an auto tour route, in this case watched two workers climb the entire tower (is on land adjacent to the refuge). Was impressive to get to see. |  Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge |  Snapping Turtle
Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge |  Trumpeter Swans
Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge
Counted more than 80 of them, all in one small area. |  Unidentified snake
Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge
Was really interesting, he crossed over the road keeping his body straight the entire time. Had never seen that before. |  Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge
Was a day for road crossings, took him awhile, but this little guy made it successfully over. |  Short-billed Dowitchers
Howard Marsh Metropark
The little mixed in birds with black bellies are Dunlin. |  Howard Marsh Metropark
From back: Ring-billed Gull, Caspian Terns, Dunlin (short birds with brown backs and black bellies), Short-billed Dowitchers, Black-bellied Plovers (tall birds with heavy black), Ruddy Turnstone (just to the right of the Plovers, rusty back with black and white on face). |  American Golden-Plover
Howard Marsh Metropark
In between two of the Black-bellied Plovers towards the right hand side, same size, golden back, less black |
Some day 20 highlights - am pretty excited this evening, at my last stop of the day majorly lucked into an American Golden-Plover, a life bird, and one in breeding plumage to boot!
Was a beautiful day here, temps in the mid-70s, winds kicked up a little in the afternoon, but from the south, and that combined with overnight rains in the forecast should bode well for new birds tomorrow.
The Magee Marsh Boardwalk had received a fresh batch of birds overnight and was hopping this morning, had 21 species less than 40 yards in, almost all of them warblers. After finishing up the Boardwalk did the adjacent Estuary Trail and lucked into a Mourning Warbler, then did the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge auto tour and finally headed for Howard Marsh Metropark.
Not many people at Howard, myself and a group of three were looking at a group of Dunlin to see if anything else might be mixed in, found a Semipalmated Sandpiper (had been a life bird earlier in the week) but that was about it. Had turned away to pack up and head to the gym when one of the group said “You might want to turn back around”, did so to find a group of 20+ Short-billed Dowitchers had landed right near us, was very cool, had never seen them in breeding plumage before. One in the group had apparently been promised a bathroom break so they made quick work of the Dowitchers and were loading up when a group of 14 Black-bellied Plovers and three Ruddy Turnstones landed behind the Dowitchers, so they all piled out again and gave those birds a quick look and then headed on. Was the first time I had seen the Black-bellieds and the Turnstones in breeding plumage so took a longer look. Most of the Plovers flew off after a couple of minutes, just enough time to do a quick look and snap a couple of photos. One of the birds had looked different, when I got to look at my photos realized it was the American Golden-Plover. Feel amazingly lucky. : )
One other thing have been wanting to mention, at any given time in any given place, 10% to 20% of the birders are Amish. They usually come in groups in non-descript white vans and are of all ages, from young children to older adults. To a person they have binoculars and no other aides, no phones, no field guides, no paper and pens, and they *really* know their birds. Even the young children you can hear them quietly discussing the calls and the field marks. As a whole they have such reverence for nature and quiet respect and attention to it all, is neat to get to be in the presence of.
Happy Thursday. : )
 This migration chart for Magee Marsh is at least a few years old, but has proven to be fairly accurate (Ovenbirds are not Uncommon). Have see all the birds on it except the Philadelphia Vireo and the Connecticut Warbler (had a near miss on it today). |  Northern Waterthrush
Magee Marsh
Was a life bird on this trip and now usually see at least one a day, funny how once you learn a species your eye really adjusts to seeing them. |  Prothonotary Warbler
Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge |  Baltimore Oriole
Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge |  Common Goldeneye
Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge |  Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge
Took a long, solitary walk on the roads between the various water units, was neat to do some birding far away from other folks. |  Common Tern
Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge |  Great Horned Owlet
Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge |  Golden-winged Warbler
Magee Marsh Boardwalk
A very bad photo of a great bird, was the fourth sqeepie hunt for this one, a life bird, and species number 400 for the year. |  Golden-winged Warbler
Magee Marsh Boardwalk
This one rated two bad photos. : )
Earlier this year was on a birding field trip when a older gentleman told me about a biography he had read about a woman who was an heiress back in the day, and spent her entire inheritance researching scientific papers about birds in each country (this was way before many countries had field guides), and then would travel to that country and try to find all the birds. He could not remember her name but when I get home and going to try to find the book. Makes me calling what I am doing a “Big Year”, with so many advantages and info always at my finger tips, seem really silly. Perspective is a very good thing. : ) |  Eastern Screech-Owl
Black Swamp Observatory |  Canada Geese
Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge - Boss Unit |  Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Grimm Prairie Unit |  Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Grimm Prairie Unit
Took a long solitary walk there as well today, was beautiful and peaceful and interesting all in one. |
Some day 19 highlights - a beautiful day through and through, clear and calm with temps in the 70s. Some light southerly winds last night helped the temporary Magee Marsh residents across Lake Erie, and brought in a fresh batch which made for some really great viewing. Still not super high bird counts, but a really nice mix of species.
The Yellow Warblers, House Wrens, and Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers are setting up their nests.
Forecast is for possibly favorable conditions the next two nights, really adds to the anticipation of getting out on the boardwalk each morning.
Trip is starting to feel like it is winding down, should be home in Santa Fe by 9pm on Sunday. Has all gone by much too quickly.
Happy Wednesday. : )
 Sunrise on the Magee Marsh Causeway |  Merlin con Swallow
Magee Marsh Boardwalk
He was being swarmed by Swallows the entire time he was eating, and finally a Mourning Dove flew right past him and perched and the Merlin moved on. |  Henslow’s Sparrow
Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge
Bad photo of a life bird |  Canada Geese
Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge
My understanding is parents will adopt as many Goslings as come their way. |  Trumpeter Swan
Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge |  Trumpeter Swan
Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge |  Trumpeter Swans
Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge |  Muskrat den con Great Blue Heron
Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge |  Tree Swallows
Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge |  Yellow Warbler nest
Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge |  Eastern Kingbird
Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge |  Marblehead Lighthouse State Park |  Marblehead Lighthouse State Park |  Marblehead Lighthouse State Park |  Marblehead
This quarry has a constantly running conveyor belt that runs directly over the highway to the shore of Lake Erie |  Marblehead |  Marblehead
The moose is apparently a mascot for a local gas/convenience store chain. Each one seems to have its own incarnation of him. |  Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge |  Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge |
Some day 18 highlights - this morning dawned cool, clear, and relatively calm. Winds are supposed to turn around to the south tonight or tomorrow, bringing thunderstorms and with some luck the big batch of migrants currently stuck in southern Ohio.
Magee was good birding this morning, no new species and they had moved up to mid-canopy, but still great viewing. Also got to watch a Merlin consuming a freshly caught swallow. After the Marsh went on a successful sqeepie hunt for a Henslow’s Sparrow, then spent the rest of the day wandering around some different birding spots in the area.
Was flipping channels on the radio this afternoon and heard Ronnie Dunn covering “Against the Wind”. Nowhere near as good as Bob Seger’s original, but maybe a chance for a great song to touch a new audience.
Happy Tuesday. : )
 Scarlet Tanager
Magee Marsh Boardwalk |  Magnolia Warbler
Magee Marsh Boardwalk |  Magee Marsh Boardwalk
Took advantage of the lack of other birders and wanted to show a little of the place itself. Is really quite magical.... |  Magee Marsh Boardwalk
.....you can spend days and weeks walking the woods trying to find a variety of warblers, or you can come here and see than all close up, many just feet away. |  Magee Marsh Boardwalk
One recurring theme in talking with the older birders here is there used to be *a lot* more birds here, not just at the Marsh, but everywhere. Across the board they lament the loss of so many and express deep concerns about the future. |  Magee Marsh
Outside the Sportsman’s Club/Information Hub/Gift Shop |  Eastern Screech-Owl (Red Morph)
Maumee Bay State Park |  Maumee Bay State Park Boardwalk |  Red Knot (on the shore in the middle) con Dunlin
Howard Marsh Metropark |  Mas Dunlin
Howard Marsh Metropark |  The passage of time since my arrival is most notable in all the new leaves popping out on the trees, and in the size of the Gosslings.
Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge |  Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge |  Purple Martins
Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge |  Oak Harbor
The sign at the edge of town says they sent oak to ports all over the world |  Oak Harbor
Don’t know the significance of the keyhole other than to connect the two buildings, but looks really cool. |
Some day 17 highlights - some days you spend hours on an unsuccessful sqeepie hunt, some days great birds just fall in you lap. Today was the latter.
Started the day on the boardwalk at Magee, was cloudy, cold, and raining off and on, had rained all night so no migration in or out of the Marsh, but the birds were at eye level and big stretches of the boardwalk were empty, was a nice time.
Afterwards went on an unsuccessful sqeepie hunt for a Golden-winged Warbler, and ended up with a red morph Eastern Screech-Owl, and after that went to Howard Marsh to warm up and dry out doing some car birding and stumbled across a big group with their spotting scopes out who were looking at a Red Knot, a life bird for me and one that is not normally found here. Very, very cool. : )
Supposed to maybe dry out and warm up a bit tomorrow, and with the change maybe bring in some new migrants tomorrow night.
Happy Monday. : )
 Blackburnian Warbler
Magee Marsh Boardwalk |  Nashville Warbler
Magee Marsh Boardwalk |  Warbling Vireo
Magee Marsh Boardwalk |  Cape May Warbler
Magee Marsh Boardwalk |  American Redstart
Magee Marsh Boardwalk |  Station Road
Cuyahoga Valley National Park |  Station Road
Cuyahoga Valley National Park |  Station Road
Cuyahoga Valley National Park |  Station Road
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Heard this guy coming and got down off the tracks where we had been birding, the train is operated by the park and the conductor was super nice and smiled and waved as they rumbled by. |
Some day 16 highlights - cold and overcast and windy, but the rains and the crowds held off this morning, and ended up with a nice, peaceful birding of the boardwalk, several times not another human being in sight. Not overwhelming numbers of birds, but a really nice mix of species (including a female Hooded Warbler) and the winds had the insects, and thus the birds, down low.
After the boardwalk headed south of Cleveland on a successful sqeepie hunt for both the Cerulean Warbler and the Yellow-throated Warbler, both life birds. Right after getting to the park met and was joined by a local gentleman who has birded the area for years, and later we were joined by two of his friends that he enlisted as he was determined to help me get the Cerulean (the Yellow-throated had come pretty quickly). Took three hours but not only did we find the Cerulean, he dropped down to almost eye level and put on quite a show right in front of us. Was a neat experience all around.
By the time I got back to Port Clinton the promised rains had started, hit the gym and doing laundry and going to call it an early night.
Right now the forecast is to keep raining until early afternoon tomorrow, with the next big influx of migrants forecast for Wednesday. Should be the later Warblers and Vireos along with the Flycatchers.
Happy Sunday, and wishing the best of Mother’s Days to all. : )
 “The Big Sit”
For the 35th consecutive year this gentleman had spent an entire day on a platform by the entrance to the Marsh getting as many species as he can while raising money for charity. When I left at 9am he already had 61 species. |  Tree Swallow
Magee Marsh Boardwalk |  Common Nighthawk
Magee Marsh Boardwalk |  Northern Parula
Magee Marsh Boardwalk |  Chestnut-sided Warbler
Magee Marsh Boardwalk |  Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Magee Marsh Boardwalk |  Very cool BBQ truck
Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge |  Bald Eagle
Cedar Point National Wildlife Refuge |  Cedar Point National Wildlife Refuge |  Yellow-throated Vireo
Bacon Woods |  Bacon Woods |  Bacon Woods |  On top of a gas station
Sandusky |
Some day 15 highlights - Sunny, windy, and cold, no change in the variety of species at Magee Marsh from the day before. Tomorrow is the last day of the festival, and the forecast is for rain and wind/lake created flooding.
The Boardwalk did not seem too busy this morning but when I was leaving the Marsh at 9am the rangers had closed access to the main parking lot because it was full, and the east beach backup lot was more than half full with a steady stream of cars still coming in. By Monday things should start to settle down again.
After the Marsh went on a successful sqeepie hunt for the Black Terns at Howard Marsh Metro Park, then an Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge van trip to the normally off limits Cedar Point unit, and then a final unsuccessful sqeepie hunt for a Cerulian Warbler (the fourth try this trip). Always tomorrow. : )
Happy Saturday. : )
 Purple Finches (female)
Pearson Metro Park |  Purple Finch (male)
Pearson Metro Park |  Pearson Metro Park |  Tree Swallow
Pearson Metro Park |  Least Sandpiper
Pearson Metro Park |  Pearson Metro Park
Someone told me what these are but I don’t remember |  Pearson Metro Park
Don’t remember this one either |  Pearson Metro Park
0 for 3. : ( |  Pearson Metro Park
Can really see spring coming along, making progress day by day. |  Indigo Bunting (female)
Pearson Metro Park |  Pearson Metro Park |  Gray-cheeked Thrush (left) con Swainson’s Thrush (right)
Pearson Metro Park
Migration makes for some interesting pairings, in a single clearing around a pavilion there was a mixed flock of more than 20 Gray-cheeked Thrushes, Swainson’s Thrushes, and Veery. |  Wilson’s Warbler
Maumee Bay State Park |  Maumee Bay State Park |
Some day 14 highlights - was cold and windy and overcast this morning, some good birds on the Magee Marsh Boardwalk but nothing that was new so made quick work of the circuit and made room for someone else to enjoy it. There definitely seems to be a connection between the days there are massive numbers of Blue Jays on the move and an increase in new species at the Marsh. No Jays today.
Afterwards went on four sqeepie hunts, three of which were successful. Got a Rusty Blackbird (life bird), a Blackpoll Warbler, and a Semipalmated Sandpiper (life bird). Next thing I knew was time to hit the gym and do laundry, is amazing how quickly you lose your sense of time when you don’t have a list of things to do and places to be. Can’t wait to retire, only 3 3/4 more years. : )
Happy Friday. : )
 Mourning Warbler
Estuary Trail |  Great Horned Owlet
Estuary Trail |  Magnolia Warbler
Magee Marsh Boardwalk |  Northern Waterthrush
Magee Marsh Boardwalk |  Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Magee Marsh Boardwalk |  Green Heron
Magee Marsh Boardwalk |  Sora
Magee Marsh Boardwalk |  Magee Marsh Boardwalk |  Magee Marsh Boardwalk
Thankfully have been able to avoid the crowds, the one was for a Wilson’s Warbler |  Common Yellowthroat
Estuary Trail |  Great Horned Owlet
Estuary Trail |
Some day 13 highlights - What an incredible day of birding - spent twelve hours at Magee (two trips around the boardwalk and two trips around the estuary trail) and managed to see Black-billed Cuckoos, Yellow-billed Cuckoos, a Yellow Breasted Chat, four species of vireos, and twenty-two species of warblers, including Hooded and Mourning, and four Northern Waterthrushes. Wow!
The weather today was overcast and in the 60s with periods of heavy rain and high winds, found out after the fact that mixed in with the hundreds of Blue Jays flying overhead were groups of Broad-winged Hawks trying to get out ahead of the storms. Was sorry to have missed them.
The migrating species of the day was the Swainson’s Thrush, saw at least 30 of them over the course of the day.
Happy Thursday. : )
 Cape May Warbler
Magee Marsh Boardwalk |  Cape May Warbler
Magee Marsh Boardwalk |  Ovenbird
Magee Marsh Boardwalk |  Common Nighthawk
Magee Marsh Boardwalk |  Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station, Unit 1
AKA “The Nuke Plant”
The reactor on the left, the cooling tower on the right.
The whole area is super secure, Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge manages the land and waters surrounding the plant, and for the two weeks around the birding festival are allowed to give free van tours, which is how I got in. |  They seem to be doing a lot of work on the reactor building |  The base of the cooling tower, is a constant flow of water around the base, crazy to see. |  Some of the flooding on Highway 2 between Magee Marsh and Port Clinton (where I am staying) |
Some day 12 highlights - half way through the trip, had originally worried it would be too much time in one place, but the opposite has been true, has been really cool getting to note the migration changes from day to day, one day the Marsh is overrun with House Wrens, the next day hardly a one to be found.
Learned an interesting tidbit, in Cleveland there is a program during migration where volunteers walk the downtown area each morning collecting the bodies of birds that die by striking the high rises. The bodies are then given to the Natural History Museum for their collection. One unexpected thing they have found is a high percentage of the still migrating females are already pregnant.
Am starting to see some females of some of the migrating species at Magee Marsh, they generally lag a week or so behind the males.
Quite a few birds at Magee this morning, and reports from all over the area of some of the uncommon species moving through. Was overcast and cold and super windy today, so much so that the winds are pushing the water from Lake Erie (known as “she” to the locals) onto roadways and causing a good bit of flooding, including at the refugees and in the local towns. Spent the afternoon birding around the nuke plant, and when the extent of the flooding became apparent decided to pack it in early and do laundry this evening.
If those strong winds last long enough tonight most of the birds here now should stay through the day tomorrow, supposed to be in the 70s with heavy rains in the afternoon and evening so will try to be quick about looking for the uncommon migrants.
Happy Wednesday. : )
 Black-throated Green Warbler
Magee Marsh Boardwalk |  Northern Parula
Magee Marsh Boardwalk
A few minutes before seeing this bird a Red-winged Blackbird had landed on the boardwalk railing I was leaning on, calming closed the three feet between us, pecked my finger, then calmly walked the three feet back, and then flew down on the ground and resumed foraging. Then this little guy perched less than a foot in front of my face. Quite the day. : ) |  Sedge Wren
Magee Marsh Boardwalk
Is a rare bird for these parts, the second on seen in a handful of days. |  Green Heron
Magee Marsh Boardwalk |  Green Heron
Sheldon Marsh State Nature Preserve |  Red-headed Woodpecker
Sheldon Marsh State Nature Preserve |  Sheldon Marsh State Nature Preserve |  Carp
Sheldon Marsh State Nature Preserve
Everywhere you go right now there is constant loud churning and splashing in the water, all the rain here has the water levels at a 40 year high and many large Carp from Lake Erie came inland, now that the waters are receding many are trapped in bodies of water too small for them and are really struggling to survive. |  Blue-winged Warbler
Sheldon Marsh State Nature Preserve |  Red-bellied Woodpecker
Sheldon Marsh State Nature Preserve |
Some day 11 highlights - the rains never came last night but overcast skies, temps in the 40s, and a stiff north wind brought in a nice selection of birds last night, including my first ever Mourning Warbler.
Have fallen into a nice routine of birding the Boardwalk first thing in the morning for as long as it takes to thoroughly bird the whole thing, then freelancing after that, and ended the evening at the gym.
Have made some new friends along the way, including several I see in passing every day, and also a retired NASA satellite data analyst whose boyfriend could not make the trip, and with whom I often do the morning boardwalk loop with. She is a lifelong Resident of Cleveland and an awesome birder and our birding styles are quite similar, has made for some nice times.
This morning got 53 species on the boardwalk in a little over five hours, then took an Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge van tour and visited and birded some new properties they acquired over the last year.
And to circle back on the American Woodcock Walk, the second attempt the weather and ground conditions were perfect, had a Woodcock in plain view in the path directly in front of our group that went through his entire display two times before it got too dark to see. Was very cool to get to witness.
Happy Tuesday. : )
 Magee Marsh Boardwalk |  Blue Racer
Oak Openings Preserve |  Horned Lark
Howard Marsh Metropark |  Lake Erie |  Magee Marsh |
Some day 10 highlights - Magee Marsh was exceptionally quiet today, ended up spending most of the day doing a sqeepie hunt for some hard to find birds and came up empty on all counts, ended the day looking at a second rare Kirtland’s Warbler that was on the beach adjacent to Magee Marsh.
Was sunny and close to 80 degrees today, supposed to rain overnight and be back in the 40s and 50s tomorrow. Boardwalk Veterans felt it was 50-50 if we would see an influx of new birds overnight, depending on what time the winds and rain get here.
The Warblers that pass through here apparently do not sleep on their migration journey, they eat all day and fly all night navigating by the stars. They are able to rest half their brain while using the other, and then switch sides, which makes up for the lack of sleep. Pretty cool. : )
Happy Monday. : )
 Hermit Thrush
Magee Marsh Boardwalk |  Magee Marsh Boardwalk |  Magee Marsh Boardwalk
A great day for frogs. : ) |  Warbling Vireo
Magee Marsh Boardwalk |  Grey Catbird
Magee Marsh Boardwalk |  Green Heron
Magee Marsh Boardwalk |  Ovenbird
Magee Marsh Boardwalk |  Louisiana Waterthrush
Oak Openings Preserve
This one was a lifebird, knew there were a pair nesting in the preserve, and which trail to look on (is a huge preserve), lucked out in that it was right next to a Cerulean Warbler sighting the previous day, so there was a large group on a field trip looking for both birds, about three minutes after I got there the Waterthrush popped out right in front of me. No Cerulean, but it’s all good. : ) |  Eastern Bluebird
Oak Openings Preserve |  Lark Sparrow
Oak Openings Preserve |  Pretty sure this is a Pine Warbler
Oak Openings Preserve |  Red-headed Woodpecker
Oak Openings Preserve |  There are signs welcoming birders *everywhere* across the region and its businesses, is pretty cool. |  Pearson Metropark
All the metro parks (big public parks), have what they call Windows on Wildlife, a dedicated room where you can see and hear birds at their feeders, kinda like supersized versions of the viewing room up at the Los Alamos Nature Center. They have pictures of the likely birds in them along wit books for both kids and adults. |  Blue Jay
Maumee Bay State Park |  Female Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Maumee Bay State Park |  Rose-breasted Grosbeak con Baltimore Oriole
Maumee Bay State Park |
Some day nine highlights - by far the best sighting of the day was the sun, popped out about 10am and stayed out all day. The first day of the trip it did not rain.
Started the day on the Magee Marsh Boardwalk, was pretty quiet birdwise. Got there a little after 7 am and got a great parking space right by the entrance, by the time I left around 10am folks were trolling for parking like an old school shopping mall at Christmas time. And it is a big lot.
After the boardwalk headed southwest of Toledo, saw some good birds working my way back Maumee Bay State Park, where I’m hanging out waiting for the American Woodcock Walk to start at 8:30pm. Tried one Friday night by the Marsh and it was a bust, the trail was flooded so from a distance we could hear but not see the males display, hopefully better luck tonight.
Happy Sunday. : )
 Black-throated Blue Warbler
Magee Marsh Boardwalk |  Hooded Warbler
Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge |  Trumpeter Swans
Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge |  Near Cedar Point National Wildlife Refuge |  Graylag Geese (Domestic)
Near Cedar Point National Wildlife Refuge |  Muskrat?
Near Cedar Point National Wildlife Refuge |  Bald Eagles
Near Cedar Point National Wildlife Refuge
Don’t recall ever having seen them perched with their wings out like that. |  Belted Kingfisher
Near Cedar Point National Wildlife Refuge |
Some day eight highlights-the first weekend of the Biggest Week festival, hit the Magee Marsh Boardwalk early to avoid the crowds, was pretty quiet birdwise, afterwards did the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge auto tour and stumbled across a bunch of warblers, including s Hooded, a Magnolia, a Tennessee, several Kentuckys , and a host of Yellow and Yellow-rumped. Ended up being quite a day, the sun even kinda shown for awhile this evening, nice to know it is still up there. Happy Saturday. : )
 Veery
Magee Marsh Boardwalk |  Sedge Wren
Magee Marsh Boardwalk |  Kirtland’s Warbler
Magee Marsh Boardwalk |  Sora
Magee Marsh Boardwalk |  Rose breasted Grosbeak
Magee Marsh Boardwalk |  Merlin
Magee Marsh Boardwalk |  Eastern Screech Owl
Magee Marsh Boardwalk |  Black-throated Blue Warbler
Magee Marsh Boardwalk
This one was part of an interesting grouping, seen right after the Merlin, including a Ruby Crowned Kinglet, a Yellow rumped Warbler, and a Red-breasted Nuthatch. All four are normally super active but in this case were completely frozen for several minutes until apparently the Merlin moved on. Very cool to get to see. |  Red-breasted Nuthatch
Magee Marsh Boardwalk |  Ovenbird
Magee Marsh Boardwalk |  Kentucky Warbler
Magee Marsh Boardwalk
Bad photo of a great bird. |  Kentucky Warbler
Magee Marsh Boardwalk
Another bad photo of a great bird. |  Trumpeter Swan
Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge |  Trumpeter Swans
Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge |
Some day seven highlights - was not a fallout day, but was still a phenomenal day of birding on the Magee Marsh Boardwalk. 64 species in 8.5 hours, including a Sedge Wren, a Kentucky Warbler, and a Kirtland’s Warbler, two of which were life birds, and none of which were supposed to be here. Got good long looks at all three. Wow. Happy Friday. : )
 Nashville Warbler
Magee Marsh Boardwalk
Was taken this morning, this afternoon the weather finally pushed the bugs and the birds down to eye level, which made doing IDs and photos much easier. |  Hermit Thrush
Magee Marsh Boardwalk |  Northern Waterthrush
Magee Marsh Boardwalk |  Green Heron
Magee Marsh Boardwalk
Between the high birds and the flat grey skies, have a lot of photos of really cool birds that look very similar to this. |  Trumpeter Swans
Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge |  Outside Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge |  Baltimore Orioles
Maumee Bay State Park |  Maumee Bay State Park |  Orchard Orioles
Maumee Bay State Park |  White-breasted Nuthatch
Maumee Bay State Park |  Maumee Bay State Park
He was quite adept at raiding the feeders |  Blue-winged Warbler
Magee Marsh Boardwalk |  Eastern Whip-poor-will
Magee Marsh Boardwalk
One of three today, all within 30 yards of each other |  Eastern Whip-poor-will
Magee Marsh Boardwalk
Another of the three, thought the differing views were cool. |  Black and White Warbler
Magee Marsh Boardwalk |  Black and White Warbler
Magee Marsh Boardwalk |  Grey Catbird
Magee Marsh Boardwalk |  Grey Catbird
Magee Marsh Boardwalk |  Nashville Warbler
Magee Marsh Boardwalk |  Yellow Warbler
Magee Marsh Boardwalk |  Wood Thrush
Magee Marsh Boardwalk |  Wood Thrush
Magee Marsh Boardwalk |
Some day six highlights -the predicted Warbler fallout did not come to pass, but nonetheless some cool new birds showed up. More rain has me back at the hotel early tonight, catching up on laundry and kicking back a little.
The Biggest Week In American Birding festival kicks off tomorrow, and the number of birders on the boardwalk is definitely on the upswing. Like going early and late to miss the crowds. Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge opens up their auto tour route tomorrow as well, covers a lot of cool habitats and they change the route a little each day, am really looking forward to it.
Right now the next predicted big Warbler fallout is Tuesday, is interesting learning all the little things that go into those predictions.
Happy Thursday. : )
 Black-throated Green Warbler
Magee Marsh boardwalk |  American Redstart
Magee Marsh boardwalk |  Eastern Screech Owl
Magee Marsh boardwalk |  Would not be a day in Ohio if I did not get soaked. The land is so waterlogged some of the roads have been getting closed
Magee Marsh boardwalk |  The little appearance the sun made today was pretty spectacular.
Magee Marsh |  This is pretty cool, learned about it on the Magee boardwalk. : ) |
Some day five highlights, today was a magic day, the weather conditions lined up just right to bring a really nice variety of warblers through the marsh, ended up seeing more than twenty species of them, and more than fifty species of birds overall.
Learned something really interesting, there were hundreds of Blue Jays flying west all day, and without even trying to see them saw more than twenty Sharp-shinned Hawks doing the same thing, turns out they don’t like to fly over Lake Erie, so when they come to the shore they turn left or right and fly around it.
The weather conditions tonight are supposed to be even more favorable than last night, can’t wait to get out there again in the morning.
Not many pics tonight, was too busy IDing the birds I saw. Happy Wednesday. : )
 Palm Warbler
Magee Marsh Wildlife Area |  Common Yellowthroat
Clear Creek Metro Park |  Grey Catbird
Clear Creek Metro Park |  Clear Creek Metro Park |  Clear Creek Metro Park |  Clear Creek Metro Park |  Clear Creek Metro Park |  Circa Civil War era log cabin
Clear Creek Metro Park |  Tree Swallows and Northern-rough winged Swallows
Clear Creek Metro Park |  Clear Creek Metro Park |  Clear Creek Metro Park |  Clear Creek Metro Park |
Some day four highlights - was windy and cold and threatening rain again today, birded Magee Marsh to start the day and then headed south in search of warmer temps and warblers that don’t usually make it this far north. Did great on the weather, good but not great on the warblers. Supposed to be a big change in the weather tomorrow, hope on the boardwalk is the migration activity will coinciding increase. Happy Tuesday. : )
 Great Blue Heron con fish
The beach at Magee Marsh Wildlife Area
He was really struggling with the size of the fish, did not help having a Herring Gull five bombing and trying to wrest it away. |  Great Blue Heron con fish
The beach at Magee Marsh Wildlife Area
Same bird, same fish, you can tell how windy it was by the size of the waves. Is Lake Erie. |  Great Blue Heron con fish
The beach at Magee Marsh Wildlife Area |  Great Blue Heron con fish
The beach at Magee Marsh Wildlife Area
He finally flew away with it still in his mouth. |  Magee Marsh Wildlife Area |  Downy Woodpecker
Boardwalk at Maumee Bay State Park |  Sora
The boardwalk at Maumee Bay State Park
Wouldn’t be a birding trip without tripping over some of these, one of three today |  Canada Geese
Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge |  Sandhill Crane
Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge |  Bald Eagle
Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge |  Red-bellied Woodpecker
Sheldon Marsh Wildlife Area
Learned something interesting recently, someone asked why this bird was not named after its red head, they were told that many birds were named after lab specimens, and when laying on its back the most prominent feature is its red belly, which is hard to see on the live version. |  Sheldon Marsh Wildlife Area
Passed some hikers who threw him a peanut, he followed me all the rest of the time I was there - almost two miles of walking in the wind and hard rain, every time I turned around he was back there eyeing me expectantly. Know it is wrong to feed them, but still felt bad for having nothing to reward him with. |  White-breasted Nuthatch
Sheldon Marsh Wildlife Area |  Mute Swans
Sheldon Marsh Wildlife Area |
Some day three highlights, continuing very windy and cold with rain off and on, managed to avoid getting soaked until the last stop of the day, but even then was worth it for some great birds. Happy Monday. : )
 Magee Marsh Wildlife Area |  Turtle Power!!!
Ohio style
Magee Marsh Wildlife Area |  Black-crowned Night Heron
Magee Marsh Wildlife Area |  Bald Eagle nest
Magee Marsh Wildlife Area |  Bald Eagle
Magee Marsh Wildlife Area |  Canada Geese
Magee Marsh Wildlife Area
There is a long straightaway on the road where the Canada Geese are constantly herding their kids back and forth across the road. Thankfully folks slow down and give them space. |  Canada Goslings
Magee Marsh Wildlife Area |  Pine Warbler
Magee Marsh Wildlife Area |  Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge |  Purple Martin
Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge |  Horned Grebes
Howard Marsh Metropark |  Trumpeter Swans
Boss Unit - Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge |  Field Sparrow
Stange Unit - Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge |  Stange Unit - Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge
The reactor is always in sight, no matter where you go. Will be birding there this coming weekend |  American Avocets
Stange Unit - Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge
Apparently a rare visitor here, folks were going ga-ga over them. |  Neotropic Cormorants
Metzger Marsh Wildlife Area |  Caspian Terns con Common Terns
Metzger Marsh Wildlife Area |  Bonaparte’s Gull con Herring Gulls con Ring-billed Gulls
Field near Magee Marsh Wildlife Area |  Gulls in flight
Field near Magee Marsh Wildlife Area |  Magee Marsh Wildlife Area |  Raccoon
Magee Marsh Wildlife Area |  Winter Wren
Magee Marsh Wildlife Area |  Eastern Screech Owl
Magee Marsh Wildlife Area |  Great Horned Owl
Magee Marsh Wildlife Area |  The self proclaimed “Walleye Capitol Of The World”! |
Day two highlights, was cold and windy all day but the rain stopped just before daybreak and the clouds cleared out by mid-morning. A very productive, lunch bucket style day of birding. Happy Sunday. : )
 Lake Michigan
Indiana Dunes State Park |  Brown Thrasher
Indiana Dunes State Park |  Pileated Woodpecker
Indiana Dunes State Park |  Pileated Woodpecker
Indiana Dunes State Park |  Pileated Woodpecker
Indiana Dunes State Park
He put on quite a show. : ) |  For once did not get a New York plate. : ) |  Port Clinton, Ohio |  The White Caps Motel and RV Park in Port Clinton, my new home away from home. This place is awesome, super clean, freshly remodeled, free use of a new washer and dryer, fridge, microwave, one story, right by the water, all for ~$60 a night |  Woo hoo!!!! |  Eastern Whip-poor-will
Magee Marsh Boardwalk |  Magee Marsh Boardwalk |  The ever present nuke plant east of Magee Marsh, west of my motel. Last time I was here Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge offered free van trips to bird the land around the plant, we got so close the water cascading down the outside seemed right above us. Hope they offer the tour again this year. |
A few highlights from a cool first day, flew into Chicago last night, started the day at Indiana Dunes State Park, and tonight am at my new home away from home in Port Clinton. Started the day in the 40s with the winds blowing hard, ended it in the 40s and the wind and the rain at McGee Marsh. They were talking in the grocery store that we might get snow tomorrow. Ack! For once brought a jacket, and man am I glad . Happy Saturday. : ) while not expecting to have anything near the luck of the folks with the checklist included below (the greatest recorded day in ebird history, is definitely worth a look, they saw 720,000 warblers in one day!), am heading out this friday evening to spend three weeks birding the heck out of the warbler migration at magee marsh in ohio, point pelee in canada, and anywhere else within driving distance that sounds like fun. will be staying for the duration at a small family run lakeside motel and rv park just outside of port clinton, ohio. first thought about doing the trip back in july of last year, and is hard to believe it is really almost time to go. will be the longest break i've had from work since christmas of 1983, was 21 years old? needless to say am getting pretty excited, and will be documenting the trip via checklists and photos on ebird, and with photos and stories here on facebook. happy monday : ) https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S46116491?__hstc=75100365.8ccf1cda80f26f192463ff4b52215a7d.1536770651448.1555524583902.1555970398203.56&__hssc=75100365.1.1555970398203&__hsfp=2663916294#_ga=2.188832684.681071601.1555970398-2005074220.1537377741Updated Apr 22, 2019, 4:32 PM
 black necked stilt
bitter lake national wildlife refuge |  american avocet con racoons
bitter lake national wildlife refuge |  long billed dowitchers, franklins gulls, ring billed gull, black necked stilt
bitter lake national wildlife refuge |  spotted sandpiper
bitter lake national wildlife refuge |  black crowned night heron
bitter lake national wildlife refuge |  killdeer
bitter lake national wildlife refuge |  savannah sparrow
bitter lake national wildlife refuge |  lark sparrow
bitter lake national wildlife refuge |  wilson's phalaropes
bitter lake national wildlife refuge |  american pelican - visitor center
bitter lake national wildlife refuge |  grace's warbler
cedar creek picnic area - ruidoso |  white faced ibis
bosque del apache national wildlife refuge |  bosque del apache national wildlife refuge |  osprey
bosque del apache national wildlife refuge |  greater roadrunner con supper
bosque del apache national wildlife refuge |  ring necked pheasant
bosque del apache national wildlife refuge |  crissal thrasher
bosque del apache national wildlife refuge |
some highlights of a really fun day of birding yesterday across southern new mexico. happy saturday : )
 In Roswell tonight, had planned on driving down tomorrow but got a wild hair and came down after work today, was very lucky and found a Hooded Warbler that was reported at a rest area earlier today (a lot of photos of where it just had been, but none of the bird itself), then just as it was getting dark, managed to find two of the three Broad-winged hawks that had been reported in town this last week. Tomorrow Bitter Lake and Bosque Del Apache refuges, and a rest area near Ruidoso to look for a Grace’s Warbler, then back in Santa Fe late tomorrow night. Happy Thursday. : ) |
In Roswell tonight, had planned on driving down tomorrow but got a wild hair and came down after work today, was very lucky and found a Hooded Warbler that was reported at a rest area earlier today (a lot of photos of where it just had been, but none of the bird itself), then just as it was getting dark, managed to find two of the three Broad-winged hawks that had been reported in town this last week. Tomorrow Bitter Lake and Bosque Del Apache refuges, and a rest area near Ruidoso to look for a Grace’s Warbler, then back in Santa Fe late tomorrow night. Happy Thursday. : )
 Ps-the treasure of the day, from the Bosque del Apache book store. : ) |
Ps-the treasure of the day, from the Bosque del Apache book store. : )
 Harris's Sparrow
Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge |  Lucy's Warbler
Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge
LIfe bird |  Golden-crowned Sparrow
Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge |  White-throated Sparrow
Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge |  Gambel's Quail
Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge |  Not another sparrow!!!
Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge |  Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge |  Yellow Warbler
Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge |  Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge |  Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge |  Brewer's Sparrow with White-crowned Sparrow
Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge
The Brewer's is a life bird |
some highlights from a lunch bucket day of birding down south of albuquerque. the wind blew, then it got hotter than hades, and literally looked at every sparrow around the visitors center at least ten times, but was rewarded with two life birds. happy sunday : )
 Top ten signs you might be doing a big year.....number nine.....you’re incredibly depressed all day Friday knowing the Franklin’s Gulls are migrating through and you are stuck at work. Then.....Saturday you are checking out a lake full of Gadwall, Canada Geese, and Ruddy Ducks when out of the blue in flys one lone Franklin’s and all is right with the world again.
Ohkay Owingheh Fishing Lakes. (The little white bird in the middle). Happy Saturday. : ) |
Top ten signs you might be doing a big year.....number nine.....you’re incredibly depressed all day Friday knowing the Franklin’s Gulls are migrating through and you are stuck at work. Then.....Saturday you are checking out a lake full of Gadwall, Canada Geese, and Ruddy Ducks when out of the blue in flys one lone Franklin’s and all is right with the world again.
Ohkay Owingheh Fishing Lakes. (The little white bird in the middle). Happy Saturday. : )
 bosque del apache national wildlife refuge |  bosque del apache national wildlife refuge |  bosque del apache national wildlife refuge |  javelina
bosque del apache national wildlife refuge
have never seen so many, the first of two herds, this one was about 25, the other about 10, all the little black dots down the road are more javelina. cars, pedestrians, did not phase them a bit. |  javelina
bosque del apache national wildlife refuge |  mallard
bosque del apache national wildlife refuge
need to look this one up as to why it looks the way it does |  bosque del apache national wildlife refuge |  great blue heron
bosque del apache national wildlife refuge |  great egret
bosque del apache national wildlife refuge |  ross's goose
bosque del apache national wildlife refuge |  clark's grebe (middle left)
bosque del apache national wildlife refuge |  long tailed duck
bosque del apache national wildlife refuge |  harris's sparrow
bosque del apache national wildlife refuge |  townsend's solitaire
bosque del apache national wildlife refuge |  brewer's sparrow
bosque del apache national wildlife refuge |  common black hawk
bosque del apache national wildlife refuge |  common black hawk
bosque del apache national wildlife refuge |  turtle power!!! new mexico style : )
bosque del apache national wildlife refuge |  bosque del apache national wildlife refuge |  wild turkeys
bosque del apache national wildlife refuge |  prescribed burn
bosque del apache national wildlife refuge |  prescribed burn
bosque del apache national wildlife refuge |  northern shovelers, cattle egret, green winged teal, killdeer
bosque del apache national wildlife refuge |  bewick's wren
bosque del apache national wildlife refuge |  black throated sparrow
sevietta national wildlife refuge |
some highlights from an awesome day of birding down south of albuquerque. happy saturday : )
 Papago Park
Phoenix |  Papago Park
Phoenix |  Rosy faced Lovebird
Papago Park
Phoenix |  Gilded Flicker
Papago Park
Phoenix |  Tres Rios Wetlands |  Pied billed Grebe family
Tres Rios Wetlands |  Sora
Gilbert Water Ranch
Can’t seem to go anywhere, not even the desert, without seeing a Sora these days. : ) |  Black necked Stilt
Gilbert Water Ranch |  Curve billed Thrasher
Gilbert Water Ranch |  American Avocet
Gilbert Water Ranch |  Long billed Dowitchers
Gilbert Water Ranch |  Gilbert Water Ranch |  Least Sandpipers
Gilbert Water Ranch
Was hoping to see a sandpiper or two.... |  Least Sandpipers
Gilbert Water Ranch
.....ended up seeing more than 200 |  Killdeer
Gilbert Water Ranch |  Anna’s Hummingbird
Gilbert Water Ranch |  Turtle Power!!!
Gilbert Water Ranch |
Some highlights from a very fun, lunch bucket style day of birding. Some days you get easy access to feeders full of birds, some days you walk 6+ miles looking at every bush and tree. Can honestly say both are equally fun. 104 species for the weekend, 305 species for the year. Happy Sunday. : )
 Coatimundis
Madera Canyon Picnic Area
They say one of these stops by the feeders at the Santa Rita Lodge, picks up a hummingbird feeder, drinks it dry, then sets it down and saunters off. |  Coatimundis
Madera Canyon Picnic Area |  Coatimundis
Madera Canyon Picnic Area |  Coatimundis
Madera Canyon Picnic Area |  Brown Creeper
Madera Canyon Picnic Area |  Donation Box
De Anza Trail
Tubac |  Cactus Wren
Tucson Audubon Mason Center |  Cactus Wren
Tucson Audubon Mason Center |  Cactus Wren with nesting material
Tucson Audubon Mason Center |  Tucson Audubon Mason Center |
Some highlights of another fun day of birding. Did not get to see the Elegant Trogon, but did get to see a Coatimundis up close and personal, and a Painted Redstart to boot. Happy Saturday. : )
 There is a book called the strange life of birds, could very well be a companion volume, the strange life of birders. After cold temps, super strong winds, snowflakes, rain, and a couple of dust storms yesterday, today is staring off chilly but beautiful. Where am I? Parked at a picnic area in Madera Canyon staking out a pyrocanthia (sp?) bush back in the trees hoping to catch a glimpse of an Elegant Trogon (aka the Star Trek Bird). So far have been here 20 mins and have not seen a single bird of any kind, but hopes remain high. After a week of being pretty sick, finally feeling more like myself this morning. Happy Saturday. : ) |
There is a book called the strange life of birds, could very well be a companion volume, the strange life of birders. After cold temps, super strong winds, snowflakes, rain, and a couple of dust storms yesterday, today is staring off chilly but beautiful. Where am I? Parked at a picnic area in Madera Canyon staking out a pyrocanthia (sp?) bush back in the trees hoping to catch a glimpse of an Elegant Trogon (aka the Star Trek Bird). So far have been here 20 mins and have not seen a single bird of any kind, but hopes remain high. After a week of being pretty sick, finally feeling more like myself this morning. Happy Saturday. : )
 Rivoli's Hummingbird
(formerly known as the Magnificant Hummingbird)
Santa Rita Lodge, Madera Canyon |  Santa Rita Lodge, Madera Canyon
This place is like a disneyland for birders, they have a ton of feeders of all types and invite the public to come by and enjoy the birds. |  Arizona Woodpecker
Santa Rita Lodge, Madera Canyon |  Bewick's Wren
Santa Rita Lodge, Madera Canyon |  Broad-billed Hummingbird
Santa Rita Lodge, Madera Canyon |  Mr Tom to you!
Santa Rita Lodge, Madera Canyon |  Acorn Woodpecker
Santa Rita Lodge, Madera Canyon |  Violet Crowned Hummingbird
Paton Hummingbird Center, Patagonia |  Lazuli Bunting
Paton Hummingbird Center, Patagonia |  Blue Grosbeak
Paton Hummingbird Center, Patagonia |  Ladderback Woodpecker
Paton Hummingbird Center, Patagonia |  Brown Creeper
Santa Rita Lodge, Madera Canyon
(Went back for a second session in the afternoon) |  Yellow-eyed Junco
Santa Rita Lodge, Madera Canyon |  Hepatic Tanager
Santa Rita Lodge, Madeira Canyon |  Gila Woodpecker con House Finch
San Pedro House |  House Finch con Pyrrhuloxia
San Pedro House |  San Pedro House trails |  Vermillion Flycatcher
San Pedro House trails |
Some highlights from a very big and very fun day of birding in Southern Arizona, can’t believe there are still two more days to go. Happy Friday. : )
 the lapland longspur is at the middle bottom of the photo
valle de oro national wildlife refuge |  closeup from the previous photo
valle de oro national wildlife refuge |  the lapland longspur is at the middle bottom of the photo too
valle de oro national wildlife refuge |  closeup from the previous photo
valle de oro national wildlife refuge |
crummy pictures of a really neat bird, a lapland longspur found its way to new mexico, valle de oro national wildlife refuge to be exact, and thanks to the good folks on ebird was able to locate it this afternoon. was almost hot down there, maybe spring really will eventually get here. happy friday : ) Top ten symptoms of a “big year”:
Number 10 - when you’re doing an eBird checklist in the parking lot waiting outside for the gates to open for the Amy Ray Band concert tonight in Santa Fe
Happy Wednesday. : )
 canyon wren
conchas state park |  common merganser as seen from the dam
conchas state park |  that little itty bitty spec is a long-tailed duck, not normally found here. it popped up on e-bird earlier this week, hence the primary destination for today : )
conchas state park |  cropped close up of the long tailed duck
conchas state park |  bald eagles
maxwell national wildlife refuge |  wild turkeys
maxwell national wildlife refuge |  ferruginous hawk - didn't figure this one out until I got home and looked at the photos
maxwell national wildlife refuge |  ferruginous hawk
maxwell national wildlife refuge |  Stubblefield Lake with the Rockies in the distance. |  A closer shot of the Rockies from Stubblefield lake. Last year, even in December and January, they were more than half brown. Encouraging to see the snowpack. |
the only outdoor activity yesterday was shoveling eight inches of snow, more than made up for it today birding around eastern new mexico, comfortably in a t-shirt to boot. took until late afternoon for all the snow in the bed of my truck to melt. crazy stuff. some highlights from the day. happy sunday : )
 wood ducks
rio grande botanic garden |  wood ducks
rio grande botanic garden |  curandero garden
rio grande botanic garden |  rio grande botanic garden |  great horned owl
albuquerque academy |  white crowned sparrow con white throated sparrow
rio grande nature center state park |  western screech-owl
columbus park |  ring-billed gulls
alameda bridge and open space |  canada geese, ring-billed gulls, mew gull (the darker gull in the middle)
alameda bridge and open space |
some highlights of a really fun day spent birding down in albuquerque, the morning with two good friends, one of whom went way out of her way to make sure we saw a great horned owl, and the afternoon freewheeling along the rio grande. good stuff. happy saturday : )
 itty bitty white lump? sleeping tundra swans : )
maxwell national wildlife refuge |  lake 12 where the swans were found
maxwell national wildlife refuge |  the lump was a little bigger from the side road
maxwell national wildlife refuge |  maxwell national wildlife refuge |  patio at sandia crest house
first time i've been there when they were trying to band the rosy finches, made for kind of a circus. they did not trap any birds while i was there. |  white breasted nuthatch
sandia crest house
(shot through the glass as the patio was closed) |  sandia crest |  sandia crest
that white pickup with the nose down into the parking space - doh! that's me. a rookie mistake, should have parked farther down and nose headed out or in the lower parking lot, which i did not notice at the time but was clear as it could be. shoveled a good while to break the ice away from the back tires, then two very nice gentlemen happened by and offered to push, and viola! was soon free. |
weather is looking a little iffy for next weekend, and our winter visitors are already starting to head north, so today's misson was to try to find some specialties that so far had proved elusive. started at maxwell national wildlife refuge where after checking each of the lakes yesterday with no luck, was able to find the tundra swans on the first try today. on the interstate back saw not one but two prairie falcons, about 20 minutes apart, both flying right along the highway, and in one case flying over it about two feet off the pavement. last but not least the rosy finches, had tried the kandahar condominiums up at the taos ski basin yesterday only to have to turn back .3 miles from their office/feeders, the last little bit of the road was marked as four wheel drive only, and was snow packed, icy, vertical, and switch-backed, even tried uber to see if someone might take me that last little bit but no cars were available. today managed to get all three species in less than fifteen minutes up at sandia crest, took another 45 and the help of two good samaritans to get my truck free of the ice in the parking lot (knew it was going to be an issue as soon as i parked). whew! taking a break from the big year this afternoon, kicking back at home, sure feels good. hope everyone is having an equally fun, and maybe less adventurous day. happy sunday : )
 chicosa lake state park
the park is near roy and was shut down many years ago when the lake dried up |  american tree sparrow
maxwell national wildlife refuge
life bird |  bald eagles
lake 13 - maxwell national wildlife refuge
there were eight eagles sitting along the shoreline all at the same time, plus three in a tree on the other side of the dam |  juvenile bald eagle
maxwell national wildlife refuge |  another juvenile bald eagle
hanging out right by the road, shot from my truck
maxwell national wildlife refuge |  redhead con american coots
stubblefield lake |  redheads, canvasbacks, ring necked ducks, lesser scaups, ruddy ducks, common goldeneyes, american coots
stubblefield lake |  even the red-tailed hawk could not believe how many bald eagles there were (this eagle had just landed)
new mexico 505 west of stubblefield lake |  rough-legged hawk
u.s. 64 just south of eagle nest
life bird |  same rough-legged hawk
u.s. 64 just south of eagle nest |
started out this morning hoping to see some barn owls and tundra swans, instead saw more than 20 bald eagles and two life birds - american tree sparrows and a rough-legged hawk. happy saturday : )
|  pygmy nuthatch |  dark eyed junco |  hairy woodpecker | | | | | | | |
spent a really nice afternoon hanging out with a good friend and her young daughter up at the los alamos nature center. saw some cool birds (even a brown creeper!) and got to play in a log tree house - how cool is that? happy sunday : )
 bad blowup of a very cool bird - brant
bosque del apache national wildlife refuge |  unblownup brant con geese and pintails
bosque del apache national wildlife refuge |  mallards con wilson's snipe (lower right hand corner)
bosque del apache national wildlife refuge |
this birding thing can be quite fun, and its better to be lucky than good. this morning was going back through my photos from bosque del apache national wildlife refuge from a week ago friday, and realized there was a brant mixed in with the geese. is a rare bird for new mexico, there was one other sighting of what was likely the same bird on the south side of albuquerque a few days prior. found a wilson's snipe in with a mallards photo too. happy saturday : )
 las vegas national wildlife refuge |  ferruginous hawk lit by the setting sun
las vegas national wildlife refuge |  ferruginous hawk lit by the setting sun
las vegas national wildlife refuge |  las vegas national wildlife refuge |  las vegas national wildlife refuge |  las vegas national wildlife refuge |
sometimes you feel like a nut.....sometimes....well....on wednesday read a report about a northern goshawk in clovis and had been on a bender ever since wanting to go try to see it, left out of work today with the truck all packed and ready to go, along the way stopped at the las vegas national wildlife refuge to get in a little birding before it got dark, saw a beautiful sunset, decided i was good, and turned around and came back home. happy friday : ) The goal for this year is to spend at least a little time birding each day, to that end have been visiting a local park on my lunch break most days, lucked out today and found a Merlin. Happy Thursday. : )
 sandhill cranes, snow geese, and ross's geese
bosque del apache national wildlife refuge |  snow geese and ross's geese
bosque del apache national wildlife refuge |  great blue heron
bosque del apache national wildlife refuge
(that's ice in the lower part of the photo!) |  hooded mergansers
bosque del apache national wildlife refuge |  greater roadrunner
bosque del apache national wildlife refuge
this guy kept me company for awhile following alongside my truck : ) |  canvasback con muddy bill
bosque del apache national wildlife refuge |  common goldeneye
bosque del apache national wildlife refuge |  bosque del apache national wildlife refuge |  wild turkeys
bosque del apache national wildlife refuge |  wild turkey
bosque del apache national wildlife refuge |  northern harrier con goose
bosque del apache national wildlife refuge |  northern harrier con goose
bosque del apache national wildlife refuge |  northern harrier con goose
bosque del apache national wildlife refuge |  near bosque del apache national wildlife refuge |  the actual trinity site lies off in the distance behind the goal post like poles and near the mountains. toured it once, many years ago, as part of the festival of the cranes. |  larkspur tank
you never know where ebird is going to lead you.... |  ....view from larkspur tank looking back towards the trinity site
this location was way out there, no hoped for larkspur, but a huge flock of horned larks : ) |  sandhill cranes con canada goose
los poblanos open space
albquerque |  los poblanos open space
albquerque |  los poblanos open space
albquerque |
some highlights of a fun and full day spent....well....you know the rest. nice to have a home game. happy friday : )
 Moonset
Moss Landing |  Sea Otter
Moss Landing |  Marbled Godwits
Moss Landing |  Sea Lion
Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf |  Sea Lions
Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf |  Santa Cruz |  Common Loon
Santa Cruz Harbor |  Pacific Loon
Santa Cruz Harbor |  Santa Cruz |  Sunny Cove
Santa Cruz |  Surfbirds
Sunny Cove, Santa Cruz
Had looked high and low for these guys all weekend, finally found them on my very last coastal stop. : ) |  Surfbirds, Black Turnstones, Whimbrils, Willets
Sunny Cove
Santa Cruz |  Martin Luther King Jr Regional Shoreline
Oakland
A beautiful place to bird, and felt like the right place to end the weekend |
Sitting at the airport in Oakland, reflecting on a fun weekend of birding. Flight does not get in to Abq til 11:30pm, but it was worth it to have the full day here.
3 days
29 eBird checklists
87 species
229 species so far for 2019, about what I’ve had total for each of the last two years.
Not sure what is going to happen with the big year plans (interviewed for two separate jobs this past week), but it’s certainly been a big month, with Bosque Del Apache planned for next Saturday. Happy Monday : )
 Pacific Coast Highway, between Carmel and Big Sur |  McWay Falls
Pacific Coast Highway |  Pacific Coast Highway between Carmel and Big Sur |  California Towhee
Pinnacles National Park |  California Quail
Pinnacles National Park |  California Condors
Pinnacles National Park |  California Condors
Pinnacles National Park
Had almost given up looking when I spotted the two perched on the ridge, they were joined a few minutes later by eight more circling the same ridge, was incredible. : ) |  California Condors
Pinnacles National Park |  Pinnacles National Park |  Yellow billed Magpie
Highway 25 |  Willets
Del Monte Beach
There were hundreds of them, as far as the eye could see in either direction |  Sunset and Willets
Del Monte Beach |
Fog/drizzle/rain/wind/sunshine, you name it, had it today. Drove down the Pacific Coast Highway to Big Sur hoping to see a Condor, no birds, but man as pretty as that road is it was not made for folks like me who get car sick. Found those Condors this afternoon at Pinnacles National Park, is closed to the public unless you have a valid, online camping permit, which thanks to the good folks on eBird I knew to get before leaving home. Will be birding back up towards Oakland tomorrow before heading home late tomorrow night. Happy Sunday. : )
 Surf Scoters
Del Monte seawatch
Life birds |  Cannery Row
Monterey |  Harbor Seal
Hopkins Marine Station |  Elephant Seals con Harbor Seals
Hopkins Marine Station
The Elephant seals are not normally at this beach, when they started to get into it all the Harbor Seals and gulls immediately woke up and cleared the beach. |  Elephant Seals
Hopkins Marine Station
They kept at it for quite some time. |  Brant
Near Sea Palm Beach
Life bird |  Golden Crowned Sparrow
Near Sea Palm Beach
Life bird |  Whimbrel and Pelagic Cormorant
Near Sea Palm Beach |  Black Oystercatcher
Point Pinos - John Denver Beach |  Sea Anemones
Point Pinos |  Asilomar State Park |  Harbor Seal
Cypress Point Overlook
17 Mile Drive |  Harbor Seals
Cypress Point Overlook
17 Mile Drive |  Starfish, sea anemones, and mussels
Near Seal Rock
17 Mile Drive |  Western Gull
Near Seal Rock
17 Mile Drive |  Seal Rock and Bird Rock
17 Mile Drive |
Some highlights from the first day of a quick, long weekend trip to Monterey, California. Remedial retirement practice and more birds for the big year. Happy Saturday. : )
 Goose Island State Park
Hard to believe it’s snowing back home |  Goose Island State Park |  Pileated Woodpecker
Houston Arboretum and Nature Center
Had set aside the entire afternoon to try to find one of these, got this one 50 yards from the car at the first stop |  Red shouldered Hawk
Houston Arboretum and Nature Center |  Great Egret con Frog
Houston Arboretum and Nature Center
The circle of life and all that, still felt bad for the frog |  Edith L Moore Nature Sanctuary
The first stop on my first ever solo birding trip some eight or nine years ago |  Monk Parakeet
Sims Bayou Urban Nature Center
The lady life bird of the trip |
13 days
2,500 miles on the rent car
One warning, but no tickets
90 eBird checklists
181 species seen
Has been a great trip, can’t help but be sad it’s ending, at the airport in Houston waiting to fly home.
Thanks for tagging along, was fun getting to share some of it. Happy Sunday. : )
 sora
south padre island birding and nature center
these guys are usually pretty hard to get a good look at, this morning there were three out in the open in one area all at the same time. |  anhinga
south padre island birding and nature center |  spider web with dew
south padre island birding and nature center |  belted kingfishers
south padre island birding and nature center |  great egret
south padre island birding and nature center |  great egret
south padre island birding and nature center
you know the bird is close when this is what my point and shoot captures : ) |  green heron
south padre island birding and nature center |  white tailed hawk
roadside near los frescas
had been looking high and low for one of these, and on the road out today caught a glimpse of the white and doubled back, and sure enough, there were two of them on adjacent poles. life bird. |  brown pelican
bird island bay, padre island national seashore |  crested cara caras
padre island national seashore |  royal terns
padre island national seashore |  padre island national seashore |  padre island national seashore |  padre island national seashore |  padre island national seashore |  packery channel park
north padre island |  redheads
larry Jordan and Judith reader pond
near north padre island
was about ready to pack it in for the day and decided to try one more spot, have heard several stories about how redheads like to congregate in big flocks but had also heard it is too early in the winter. well..... |  mostly redheads
larry jordan and judith reader pond
every little bump out there is a duck of some sort, mostly redheads. this photo shows maybe a sixth of the pond, and all of it was covered with ducks. was extraordinary. |
on north padre island tonight, this time tomorrow night should be getting ready to take off from houston, supposed to be snowing in santa fe when i get home. gonna miss the 60 and 70 degree temps. a few highlights from another fun day. happy saturday : )
 big fish
south padre island birding and nature center |  south padre island birding and nature center |  green heron
south padre island birding and nature center |  american oystercatchers
bahia grande unit - laguna atascosa national wildlife refuge |  boca chica beach |  spacex launch site
boca chica
since i was through a few days ago they have put the two pieces of the rocket together |  the road to boca chica beach, spacex launch site on the left |  american oystercatcher
bahia grande unit - laguna atascosa national wildlife refuge |  american alligator
south padre island birding and nature center |  reddish egret
south padre island birding and nature center |  anhinga
laguna madre nature trail |  great kiskadee
laguna madre nature trail |
today was the last full day on south padre, tomorrow will bird up to corpus christi, then sunday will bird the rest of the way up to houston before catching a flight home sunday evening. gonna put the happy friday up here as it does not feel right after the rest. happy friday : )
read something recently that said that dinosaurs had essentially ruled the earth for more than 150 million years. looked it up online this evening and it said that our ancestors have been on earth about 6 million years, with us in our mostly present form for around 200,000 years. there are accounts from the early days in america that describe bird migrations blacking out the entire sky for more than a day at a time. according to scientific american, shorebird populations worldwide have decreased 70% since 1973. birds are the decedents of dinosaurs, and in less that 50 years we have managed to do what 200 million years of evolution and an asteroid or whatever it was could not. is mind-boggling.
 magnolia warber
laguna vista nature trail |  laguna vista nature trail |  pier 19
south padre island |  the first day i actually stopped to sit on a bench and eat a proper lunch, within a minute the tables were turned, some of the laughing gulls and great tailed grackles i have been enjoying watching returned the favor : )
port isabel lighthouse park |  laughing gull and black skimmers
south padre island birding and nature center |  reddish egret getting messed with by a breeze
south padre island birding and nature center |  still not sure why he had his mouth open, he would close it briefly every few minutes, then open it back up again
american alligator
south padre island birding and nature center |  american alligator
south padre island birding and nature center |  south padre island birding and nature center |  this crab was huge, while i was watching him a great egret was watching both him and me, he finally scuttled under the boardwark
south padre island birding and nature center |  south padre island birding and nature center |  clapper rail
south padre island birding and nature center |  green heron
south padre island birding and nature center |  orange-crowned warbler
south padre island birding and nature center |  wilson's warbler
south padre island birding and nature center |  view from the top of the tower
south padre island birding and nature center |
another laid back day, weather was absolutely beautiful, sunny and in the 60s, did a dolphin cruise in the morning and saw some cool critters, but no photos as by the end was longing to be back on dry land again. still out birding all day every day, but the birds have been a lot harder to find the last couple of days, sometimes it bes like that. happy thursday : )
 wilson's snipe
south padre island birding and nature center
found him a second time : )
is a lot of what all of this is about, taking the time to learn the birds and then they are easier to find the next time. |  magnolia warbler
south padre island birding and nature center
got to see this rarity again this morning and this evening, nice bookends to the day : ) |  sea turtle inc
south padre island
these guys do turtle rescue, and do a great job of it, last time i was down here got to watch the release of two batches of cold shocked turtles that without rescue would have perished. there facility has grown considerably in the time since, nice to see them thriving. |  sea turtle inc
south padre island
they have a handful of permanent residents who are unable to be released for various reasons. this one was as busy watching everyone as they were watching it. |  laguna madre trail
south padre island |  black skimmers and a couple of laughing gulls
laguna madre trail
south padre island |  redheads
laguna madre trail
south padre island |  statue to fallen seamen
isla blanca park
south padre island |  statue to fallen seamen
isla blanca park
south padre island |  isla blanca park
south padre island |  isla blanca park
south padre island |  think these are gull footprints
isla blanca park
south padre island |  no descriptive information is provided on site, just two identical huge propellers in a beautiful park
jim's pier
south padre island |  brown pelican
jim's pier
south padre island |  ruddy turnstones
jim's pier
south padre island |  brown pelicans
jim's pier
south padre island |  osprey
south padre island |  rock dove
south padre island birding and nature center |  roseatte spoonbills
south padre island birding and nature center |  roseatte spoonbill
south padre island birding and nature center |  roseatte spoonbill
south padre island birding and nature center |  yellow-rumped warbler (myrtle's)
south padre island birding and nature center |  white ibis
south padre island birding and nature center |  anhinga
south padre island birding and nature center |  loggerhead shrike
south padre island birding and nature center |  herbie!!!!
south padre island |
had originally planned to take a couple of different dolphin watch boat trips today, but ended up being pretty windy, so instead spent the day poking around south padre island. after putting 1500 miles on the rent car so far, think today came in under 30. happy wednesday : )
 hook-billed kite
border patrol corral area near mission
got to see two of the three birds : ) |  wilson's warbler
frontera audubon center |  black throated green warbler
frontera audubon center |  white tailed kite
la feria nature center |  fire in the distance down in mexico
la feria nature center
had wondered about these, was told they burn the sugar cane fields before they harvest the cane |  sunset
south padre island birding and nature center |  great blue heron
south padre island birding and nature center |  roseatte spoonbill
south padre island birding and nature center |
kind of the overarching theme of the day was community, actually for the trip and for life in general right now. communities of birds - where they choose to live, how they interact, and communities of people, always of less interest to me but so prevalent these days can't help but notice them. the sweet ones, like the older woman who likes to sit in the lobby and watch tv and talk with the desk clerk at night, a small group of older people who gather in the lobby and play games and cards at night, and the mixed bag, birders you run into at various places you visit, and staff at the birding sites and motel and such. today went in search of two rare bird sightings that have the birding community down here all aflutter, a group of three hook-billed kites that have been somewhat regular right on the border, and a golden-crowned warbler that had popped up the last few days at a valley audubon center. in both cases became of member of two pop-up communities looking for the birds, and in both cases after about an hour and a half of searching was fortunate and got to see the birds. then there are the ghosts of communities, you see them in the cities and towns all over the country, and passed through several in the valley today, where a clearly once vibrant downtown full of neat old buildings with interesting architecture lies vacant and in disrepair. not sure when and why they became that way, but seems like an incredible waste, and can't help but make you sad. anyway, on to the highlights of the day (no golden-crowned warbler photo, but still got to see the bird), and happy tuesday : )
 sunrise
south padre island birding and nature center |  two laughing gulls and a ring-billed gull
south padre island birding and nature center |  anhinga
south padre island birding and nature center |  wilson's snipe
life bird
south padre island birding and nature center |  american alligator
south padre island birding and nature center |  black-bellied whistling duck
south padre island birding and nature center |  south padre island birding and nature center |  crested caracara
aplomado falcon viewing area on texas 100 |  aplomado falcon
aplomado falcon viewing area on texas 100 |  american alligator
laguna atascosa national wildlife refuge |  american alligator
laguna atascosa national wildlife refuge |  american oystercatcher
bahia grande unit - laguna atascosa national wildlife refuge |  near boca chica beach, a nearby sign referenced space-x |  laughing gull
boca chica beach |  near boca chica beach |  great blue heron
south padre island birding and nature center |  great egret con fish
south padre island birding and nature center |  great egret swallowing fish
south padre island birding and nature center |  great blue heron con fish
south padre island birding and nature center |  great blue heron con fish
south padre island birding and nature center |  great blue heron swallowing fish
south padre island birding and nature center |  great blue heron con another fish
was really surprised how many were eaten in a few minutes, at least four
south padre island birding and nature center |  great blue heron swallowing fish
south padre island birding and nature center |  brown pelican
south padre island birding and nature center |  common yellowthroat
south padre island birding and nature center |  osprey
south padre island birding and nature center |
an interesting day down here, managed to see my first ever wilson's snipe, got low level buzzed twice by an aplomado falcon pursuing a bird, and got extended views of a great blue heron and a great egret catching fish and swallowing them whole. happy monday : )
 altamira oriole
santa ana national wildlife refuge |  national butterfly center
this place was really awesome, had a lot of good birds too, they are currently fighting the plan for the border fence/wall/whatever, which is supposed to cut the center in two. |  tropical kingbird
national butterfly center |  plain chachalaca
national butterfly center |  eastern screech owl
national butterfly center |  red-tailed hawk
national butterfly center |  bentsen-rio grande valley state park
not many birds here either, ended up being in the 80s with some winds today |  ferral pig
bentsen-rio grande valley state park |  hidalgo memorial park
hidalgo
plaque explaining the statue is on the next slide |  from a different era
hidalgo memorial park
hidalgo |  part of the festival of lights, they had everything from jesus to patriotic stuff to bull fighers to dinosaurs here
hidalgo memorial park
hidalgo |  hidalgo memorial park
hidalgo |  hidalgo memorial park
hidalgo |  hidalgo memorial park
hidalgo |  hidalgo memorial park
hidalgo |  hidalgo memorial park
hidalgo |  hidalgo memorial park
hidalgo |  hidalgo memorial park
hidalgo |  hidalgo pump house
hidalgo
used to pump all the water for the town until a hurricane rerouted the rio grande away from the pumphouse. was closed in the early 1980s. |  border fence
hidalgo pump house |  festival of lights
city hall plaza
hidalgo
apparently is the largest christmas display in texas, which is saying something. was really, really cool : ) |  festival of lights
city hall plaza
hidalgo |  festival of lights
city hall plaza
hidalgo |  festival of lights
city hall plaza
hidalgo |  festival of lights
city hall plaza
hidalgo |  festival of lights
city hall plaza
hidalgo |  festival of lights
city hall plaza
hidalgo |  festival of lights
city hall plaza
hidalgo |  festival of lights
city hall plaza
hidalgo |  green parakeets
mcallen |  green parakeets
mcallen |  green parakeets
mcallen |
kind of an odd little day today, started out in a national wildlife refuge devoid of anything but mosquitoes and border patrol trucks, ended it surrounded by more than 200 green parakeets, in between spent a lot of time along the border, and stumbled across the remains of a really awesome festival of lights in hidalgo. happy sunday : )
 olive sparrow
estero llano grande state park |  virginia rail
(poor photo of a great bird)
estero llano grande state park |  white tailed kite
estero llano grande state park |  yellow crowned night herons
estero llano grande state park |  estero llano grande state park |  harris hawk
estero llano grande state park |  least grebe
estero llano grande state park |  estero llano grande state park |  groove billed ani
estero llano grande state park |  groove billed ani
estero llano grande state park |  eastern screech owl
estero llano grande state park |  green jay
estero llano grande state park |  buff bellied hummingbird
estero llano grande state park |  common pauraque
estero llano grande state park |  south padre island birding and nature center |  clapper rail
south padre island birding and nature center |  green heron con fish
south padre island birding and nature center |  american alligator, ~10 foot
south padre island birding and nature center |  american alligator, ~10 foot
south padre island birding and nature center |
started the day inland looking for some of the valley specialties, ran across a bird walk at estero llano and reluctantly tagged along with a big group, the leader could not have been more knowledgeable or helpful, and ended up getting a ton of new birds - an owl, rails, soras, a hooded oriole, a tropical parula, a least grebe, and the ones that even had the guide super excited, three groove billed ani's. happy saturday : )
 the first indication this might not be a normal day, was the first person on the boardwalk by a good 30 minutes, and this was an unbelievable sight
south padre island birding and nature center |  clapper rail
life bird
south padre island birding and nature center |  cooper's hawk
south padre island birding and nature center |  mottled duck
life bird
south padre island birding and nature center |  green heron
south padre island birding and nature center |  blue-winged teal
south padre island birding and nature center |  roseatte spoonbills
south padre island birding and nature center |  black-necked stilt
south padre island birding and nature center |  black bellied plover
south padre island birding and nature center |  magnolia warbler
very rare down here
south padre island birding and nature center |  yellow warbler, mangrove subspecies
very rare down here
south padre island birding and nature center |  : )
south padre island birding and nature center |  wilson's warbler
south padre island convention center nature trail |  south padre island convention center nature trail |  roseatte spoonbills
south padre island convention center nature trail |  redheads
south padre island convention center nature trail |  south padre island convention center nature trail |  ovenbird
hugh ramsey nature park |  great kiskadee
hugh ramsey nature park |  altamira oriole
hugh ramsey nature park |  red-crowned parrot
oliveras park, brownsville |  red-crowned parrot
oliveras park, brownsville
these guys fly in most evenings, a large group of maybe 200 mixed species parrots, they land at one end of the park, then take off again and land in another area, then take off again and land in another area. got lucky tonight, when they finally settled they were in a tree right above my head. |
a few highlights from a magical day of birding. shorebirds, warblers, raptors, woodland birds, exotics, you name it. happy friday : )
 roseatte spoonbills in the rain
brazoria national wildlife refuge |  reddish egret in the rain
brazoria national wildlife refuge |  american bittern in the rain
brazoria national wildlife refuge |  say what??? |  very scruffy red-tailed hawk
san bernard national wildlife refuge |  belted kingfisher con crustation
san bernard national wildlife refuge |  white-fronted geese in the grass
san bernard national wildlife refuge
almost missed these guys, one of them stretched out a wing and there were all their little faces : ) |  south texas nuclear generating station
wadsworth |  vermillion flycatcher
aransas national wildlife refuge |  american alligator
aransas national wildlife refuge
first gator of the trip : ) |  deer
aransas national wildlife refuge
am a softy for taking pictures of deer : ) |  black vulture
aransas national wildlife refuge |  aransas national wildlife refuge |  feral pigs
aransas national wildlife refuge |  whooping cranes
(endangered species)
hanging out in someone's pasture near goose island state park |  my bomb hotel room! : ) |
some day three highlights, was cold and windy and pouring rain in the morning, but still got some good birding in, weather improved steadily all day as i moved south. on south padre island for the next nine nights, supposed to be in the 70s every day. even sprung for a newly remodeled best western, got a microwave, a fridge, an exercise bike, may never go back to motel 6 again! ; )
happy thursday : )
 white ibis
anahuac national wildlife refuge |  white faced ibis
anahuac national wildlife refuge |  high island |  pelicans seem to eat well around here!
17th street jetty, bolivar peninsula |  Greater Yellowlegs with Willets
17th street jetty, bolivar peninsula |  American White Pelican with Snowy Egrets
17th street jetty, bolivar peninsula |  this was the one place where i got soaked today, was out in the cold wind and rain for a good while walking out to the end of the jetty and back, was more than worth it to get to see all the birds so well, and low and behold, there were even Marbled Godwits mixed in (brown bird in the center with the two toned bill)
17th street jetty, bolivar peninsula |  laughing gulls who were not living up to their name when they realized i had no food for them
off the back of the bolivar to galveston ferry |  galveston island historic pleasure pier |
some highlights from today, it rained a good bit all day (they were expecting two to three inches), but was lucky and it stopped at all the perfect times. grateful to the folks that run fish and game for keeping the wildlife refuges open. happy wednesday : )
 sunrise
lakeside park
woodlands, texas |  red-cockaded woodpecker
(endangered species)
w.g. jones state forest outside conroe |  long-billed curlew
sea rim state park outside port arthur |  sea rim state park |  snowy egret
sea rim state park |  port arthur |  american white pelicans feasting on fish
southside jetty
paradise island, port arthur |
a few highlights from a fun day spent tooling around looking at birds. happy first day of 2019 : ) My work computer and I are of the same mind, leaving on a jet plane this afternoon at 3:45, just ahead of a big winter storm, and will spend the next two weeks birding the entire length of the Texas coast, with a good chunk of time down in South Padre. Am very excited, you never know how a year will turn out, but the plan for 2019 is to have a “big year”, and to spend as much time as possible outside and birding, aka, retirement practice. : )
Wishing everyone the very best of 2019s, full of peace, love, adventures, and whatever else makes you happy. : ) |
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