Current Sightings (1 Viewer)

[VonMaunder]

Hello Von Maunder,

I have been told that fishing is like bird watching: you should have been here, ten minutes, ago.

Happy nature observation,
Arthur

In my case, fishing IS birdwatching, toss out the line, watch the birds! Once in a while, I'm interrupted by a fish.

 

[VonMaunder]

Crossed the border into Canadian Campabello yesterday, didn't see much in the way of birds but did find large expanses of coastal mudflat that will be choice during migration. Watched Common Loon down a lobster, Guillemots, Possible Common Goldeneye, positive ID just out of range. Ring-Billed Gulls, Common and Least Tern. About 20 Gray Seals hauled out on a ledge (middle left, 1st pic) and 4 who swam by just below the cliffs we were on. 2 Mink, one with an eel, clambering back to its lair under the lighthouse.

Today's perusal of a local tidal flat:
8, maybe 9 Great Blue Heron
6 Bonaparte's Gull
100s of Herring Gull
About 32 Mallard
Least Terns
Ring-Billed Gulls
No sighting of the reported Glossy Ibis.

Currently at the homestead:
Hermit Thrush
Barred Owl called Late afternoon
Common Nighthawk above
White-Throated Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Mosquitoes
And Coyotes.

Campabello:





Today's Venue:

 

[VonMaunder]

Homestead abuzz this am:
Pine Warbler clan
Black & White Warbler clan
Canada Warbler
Red & White Breasted Nuthatches, the Whites have been a bit scarce this year.
Brown Creeper
Common Yellowthroat
Gold and Purple Finches at the feeder that the bear re-re-mangled and emptied 2 nights ago.
Hermit Thrush
Ovenbird skulking in the Elderberry
Winter Wren
Tufted Titmouse
Black Capped Chickadee
Black Throated Green Warbler

 

[Rino99]

very nice photos, thanks for sharing

 

[VonMaunder]

Walking the homestead woods trail last Fri in the tapering rain (1.75" of the stuff in just over a day) I spent about 10 min planted, watching a duo of Tennessee Warblers, along with a Black & White get progressively closer to inspect the interloper, the TW 'chitting' the whole time. Stayed til the skunk appeared from under the ferns about 5' away, didn't tarry. Further along the trail I followed a juvenile Porcupine for 100' or so til it climbed a cedar. Nighthawks are regular evening visitors above, A clan of Black Throated Green Warblers are a common sight, can't tell who is who at this stage.

Yesterday, out to a nearby mountain, short hike up to a fissure cave and a good long watch of a Broad-Winged Hawk clan--an adult and 2 juveniles. I was perched on the side of the mountain, sloping granite and had great seating for the maneuvers, often at eye level. The juveniles were rolling, tucking in wings and diving on one another at speed, The adult, F I think, occasionally joining in. Next up were about 8 soaring Turkey Vultures, typically looking down on them as the rode the thermal uplift back and forth in front of me. Homestead Barred Owls have been vocal during the rainy days and early evenings. Hermit Thrush sounding off at dusk.

This am, had a Canada Warbler about collide with my head as it chased a White Admiral butterfly. I've had this happen with a Northern Flicker bolting out of the front woods to make a line straight for me, with a Barred Owl right on its tail, it didn't bank off til about 6' from my face. I wondered then as now with this White Admiral if they know to use the hairless biped thing in hopes of scaring off their predatory pursuers. The Canada Warbler perched in the nearby Poplar for a second, eyeing the scene, while the butterfly landed and walked around with an active proboscis on the marble table top I was seated at--getting its dose of minerals...IDK. Later, a 'murder' of Blue Jays, same clan I often disturb from their roosting Cedar when I do an mid-evening walkabout, corralled me through the woods and just watched a Pileated chipping away at a dead White Birch with the bright Hawke 8X42

And the fissure cave, too much granite here for 'real' caves. I've been in the state's deepest/longest at ~90' By those standards, this 40' run holds its own. I stumbled on this years ago by chance then lost it for almost a decade. I don't know how known it is, no signs of travel, ferns in the gully path to the entrance were fully intact.

 

[VonMaunder]

Lots of warblers moving through the treetops this am, most unidentified but did see:
American Redstart,
Nashville Warblers
Ovenbird
Brown Creeper and Winter Wren in same field of view through the Zeiss 10X40
Hairy Woodpecker
Blue Jay clan

Past weekend, camped up north, quiet bird, insect and amphibianwise but did get a few bad digiscope pics of a juvenile Northern Harrier, nice long, early morning view, over 45 min, it was perched on a rock for most of it, went out for a successful hunt, captured something within 100yds of low flight. I couldn't see what, but it spent about 20 min picking it apart and downing it. Loons were calling from dusk through the night. A Black Bear darted across the narrow woods rd I was exploring, looking for Mr Green Sandpiper no doubt.

 

[Pinewood]

Hello,

I see that your excursions are well equipped for a variety of environments.

Some of the warblers have already moved south! I was fortunate to see a northern harrier just once, but it was quite majestic rising from the reeds in a wetland.

Happy bird watching,
Arthur

 

[VonMaunder]

Hello,

I see that your excursions are well equipped for a variety of environments.

Some of the warblers have already moved south! I was fortunate to see a northern harrier just once, but it was quite majestic rising from the reeds in a wetland.

Happy bird watching,
Arthur

Was hoping to get into some water up there but it didn't happen. Good to be prepared! I gather The N Harrier is a bit of a rarity in Manhattan! I wonder if there are any that nest along the marshland the NJTP runs through.

 

[Pinewood]

Was hoping to get into some water up there but it didn't happen. Good to be prepared! I gather The N Harrier is a bit of a rarity in Manhattan! I wonder if there are any that nest along the marshland the NJTP runs through.

Hello,

Yes, a northern harrier would be rare in Manhattan, but they do turn up. I saw the harrier near JFK airport in the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge.

Happy bird watching,
Arthur

 

[VonMaunder]

Flurry of warbler activity at the homestead this am:
Black Throated Blue
Black Throated Green
Northern Parula
Pine
Nashville
Myrtle
Juvenile Common Yellowthroat
Black & White
American Redstart
Solitary Vireo (BH)
And:
Ruby Throated Hummingbirds
Black Capped Chickadee
Red and White Breasted Nuthatchs
Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers
Chipping Sparrow clan
Brown Creeper
Blue Jay
Northern Cardinal
Tufeted titmouse

 

[Pinewood]

Hello,

I hope that those nuthatches, black capped chickadees and tufted titmice visit New York. We had very few last year.

Stay safe,
Arthur

 

[VonMaunder]

Northern Parula
Ruby Crowned Kinglets
Black Throated Green Warbler
Red-Eyed Vireo
Solitary Vireo (BH)
Downy Woodpecker
Red and White Breasted Nuthatches
BC Chickadee
Blue Jay

 

[Pinewood]

Hello VonMaunder,

All but the solitary vireo have been turning up in New York, as well.

Happy bird watching,
Arthur

 

[VonMaunder]

Hello VonMaunder,

All but the solitary vireo have been turning up in New York, as well.

Happy bird watching,
Arthur

Glad to hear you're getting some sightings! Enjoy!