Tips for cold windy weather birding? (1 Viewer)

[lvn600]

I was wondering if anyone had some thoughts on types of areas to check on a day where the wind is gusting to 45mph and it is 20 degrees outside.(besides from inside the house)-thanks.

 

[Dave B Smith]

Those are the days I light the fire and get out a book! The cold doesn't hurt birding too much but the wind keeps a lot of them down and out of sight. The only thing that comes to mind to look for on days like that would be waterfowl on any open water. Or if you're near the coast, look for gulls etc. never knowing what might show up on a windy day (mind you, leave the scope at home). I'll be watching this tread with interest though for some better suggestions than mine.

 

[Jos Stratford]

Not sure what 20 degrees F equates to in 'our' currency ...but here the forecast is for for temps heading towards minus 20 C later this week. Where to go in such temps? Either a feeding station if any near you or anywhere that water remains unfrozen. Iin Lithuania, when it gets to minus 20 to minus 30, all the rivers tend to freeze too (lakes already frozen), but one small patch of a river near a hydro-electric dam remains ice-free ...it is in a city, but can be amazing - the entire country's population of Mute Swans winters there and duck numbers high. Also White-tailed Eagles, etc. Otherwise, head for coastal spots - though if it gets to minus 30 C (very rare for any periods of time), then the sea can freezr too and it is difficult to see the sea, let alone any seabirds!!!

 

[lvn600]

Sounds good-We have a large river nearby and I can watch from my car.-river not frozen yet.

 

[Otto McDiesel]

I was wondering if anyone had some thoughts on types of areas to check on a day where the wind is gusting to 45mph and it is 20 degrees outside.(besides from inside the house)-thanks.

Living room, by the fireplace, a good book maybe?

 

[lvn600]

I've been doing that but I am a person who has to get out some time during the day no matter what the weather. In fact I'm heading out right now.

 

[Runaround]

The weather today was a little harsh. It was 30F(-1C) with 20-30 MPH winds. I was able to find birds in areas of open water and on the back side of woodlots away from the wind. The species diversity wasn't great but a couple of Winter Wrens were nice on a cold day.

 

[Katy Penland]

I was wondering if anyone had some thoughts on types of areas to check on a day where the wind is gusting to 45mph and it is 20 degrees outside.(besides from inside the house)-thanks.

Even if I go out, I wouldn't try birding under these conditions for the reasons others have given above. However, a good hike is always nice, even moreso 'cause you never know what other kind of wildlife you'll find. Wind is a great masker of sound, and I've been able to get quite close to coyotes, fox, elk and deer (as long as I stay downwind of them, that is ).

 

[Surreybirder]

Not sure what 20 degrees F equates to in 'our' currency ...b

I think that's around -6.6 deg C. Not horrendously cold, apart from the wind-chill. Small birds have to feed somewhere, so I guess the interior of woods with lots of undergrowth would have birds... but whether you'd see them or not is another question.
Ken

 

[Jos Stratford]

I think that's around -6.6 deg C.

Almost toasty I would say ... -17 C here for mid-week. Wouldn't be a problem to see the birds - except one little minor thing, most birds migrated out long ago!

 

[Home Bird]

I was just out on a day like that last weekend and found some good ducks, gulls, and shorebirds at the beaches. If you can find a place to park next to the road (especially just before or after a bridge where you can look down), you can sometimes bird from the relative comfort of your car--or at least hop back in when you begin to freeze. The sight of gulls flying backwards trying to head into the wind is a bit disorienting, though.

 

[Jos Stratford]

temps hit the minus 32 C mark this weekend (even in the relative 'warmth' of the capital it has fallen to minus 28) ...lowest temps for decades, but birding was pretty good today

 

[Keith Dickinson]

God Jos you must have anti freeze for blood :t:
I get unhappy if there's frost on the car :bounce:

 

[Jos Stratford]

I get unhappy if there's frost on the car :bounce:

Wouldn't mind if it was on the car ...but it's damn hard to scrape when it's in the car - those scraper things not designed for the inside windscreen, steering wheel, etc :bounce:

 

[Keith Dickinson]

Jos I take my hat off to you, with frost inside the car, I don't go nowhere. At those temperatures don't you get problems with the fuel lines in your vehicles?

 

[Jos Stratford]

Jos I take my hat off to you, with frost inside the car, I don't go nowhere. At those temperatures don't you get problems with the fuel lines in your vehicles?

Went birding today at a hydro-electric station - major rivers now frozen, but the stretch below this hydro-electric remains ice-free ...close on 4000 birds crammed onto the water, the best birding spot in the country in conditions as this.

Temp does play havoc with cars - I towed one car to a garage whilst on the way there, passed several others broken down, one burnt out and two trucks that had turned over. On way back, towed another car about 80 km to get him back to the city.

Will start a thread elsewhere about the weekend's 'extreme' birding!

 

[lvn600]

That's a good idea-I'm going to check out a hydro-plant soon.

 

[N.Grant]

cold

Not sure what 20 degrees F equates to in 'our' currency ...but here the forecast is for for temps heading towards minus 20 C later this week. Where to go in such temps? Either a feeding station if any near you or anywhere that water remains unfrozen. Iin Lithuania, when it gets to minus 20 to minus 30, all the rivers tend to freeze too (lakes already frozen), but one small patch of a river near a hydro-electric dam remains ice-free ...it is in a city, but can be amazing - the entire country's population of Mute Swans winters there and duck numbers high. Also White-tailed Eagles, etc. Otherwise, head for coastal spots - though if it gets to minus 30 C (very rare for any periods of time), then the sea can freezr too and it is difficult to see the sea, let alone any seabirds!!!

-20 take away 32 devide by 9 and multiply by 5 Jos = Deg C so it is -28.9 Deg C ie COLD all the best

 

[samuel walker]

We have a very nice nature center that feeds the birds year round. They have a large window that overlooks the feeders. In that area a row of rocking chairs.Next to that a huge fire place. Get there early seating goes fast. We spend many Winter days there.
Sam

 

[snowyowl]

Wouldn't mind if it was on the car ...but it's damn hard to scrape when it's in the car - those scraper things not designed for the inside windscreen, steering wheel, etc :bounce:

Try leave your windows open a crack when you leave your car. That allows the moisture from your breath to escape and you won't get the frost build up inside your car. Obviously you can't do this in some places or you'll lose your car/contents.