Not surprisingly, spring migration is my favorite birding time of year though so often I don't get the chance to get out on the big days when weather elements converge to create surges of spring migrants passing through en masse on a particular day.  This year was no different with work days conflicting with big wave days.  However, I finally did get myself out on 3 different occasions.  Though I didn't see huge volume of birds, I brought my camera and captured some great shots of a few of my favorite.  PLUS I saw a new life lister, the blue-gray gnatcatcher.  I didn't have my field book with me but with the ample photos taken I was able to id the couple at home.  Take a look at my slide show and you will see why I refer to them as a "couple".  How exciting to witness the pair of birds taking turns bringing in worms to the young in the lichen-lined nest (excitement only a bird nerd can appreciate I suppose.)  I couldn't see the babies from my low vantage point but it was still WAY cool!

https://picasaweb.google.com/116153324670792808729/SpringBirds2013?authuser=0&feat=directlink

 Another way I do a lot of birding is by ear when I run or even as I drive.  I slow down in wooded areas driving with the windows down with ears keened.  Sadly, I hardly heard any thrushes this year, my favorite songsters.  I did hear a veery a few times while running at Borderland and just yesterday heard a Swainson's thrush while walking up a driveway to a graduation party.  But I haven't heard a wood thrush at all this spring which bothers me!  Where are they? 

Birds of Tanzania

While in Tanzania, I was able to identify 72  new species of birds for my life list, bringing my life total up to 404 species.  I'm sure the number would have been higher if I had had a birding guide or even just another interested birder on the trip.  Nobody wants to wait for a bird nerd while they are hiking and the nerd is trying to flush out a bird it hears chirping in a bramble.  So it was keep up or get left behind.  Several of the identifications were made after I got home.  I would take pictures on the go to look at later for identifying them.

https://picasaweb.google.com/116153324670792808729/BirdsOfTanzania?authuser=0&feat=directlink

here is a link to a slide show of just some of the many pictures I took...

Correction to My Home Bird Count :

When my sister Karen was visiting recently from the west coast, I was reading her my list of bird sightings for our home, feeling proud of having recorded 100 species.  Much to my chagrin, I found TWO birds which were recorded twice, bringing my number back.  Space cadette. Sorry Mr. Sapsucker. You were just 98.


So this weekend, we were treated to the appearance of our 99th species, a Common Raven.  Humongous bird with a very loud and deep croaking call.  It hung around for a while allowing a few viewings.

Now we will keep our eyes out for the next species to bring us back up to the 100 bird count.

Songbirds in Maine

Confusing fall warbler

I think it's a Magnolia Warbler


 

Red Eyed Vireo

Red Breasted Nuthatch

Northern Parula

young Yellow bellied Sapsucker

American Redstart

Loon families in Lily Bay

Last summer while camping in Lily Bay State Park on Moosehead Lake, there were a few resident loon families hanging around from time to time.  Such a wonderful treat to see the youngsters though my favorite part of all is the serenades at night echoing across the lake. Indescribable.

Crossing Guard

I frequently see a small flock of male turkeys hanging around, scratching for food along the Stoughton side of Bay Road on my way to work. Sometimes, one dude (alpha turkey?) is displaying his stuff, with wings dropped, body feathers puffed up, and tail fanned out in full regalia, all of which seems to double him in size.  This morning, I guess the turkeys decided there might be better scratchings across the street.  Alpha Turkey went into full display and marched out into the street.  His buddies timidly began crossing one by one.  Alpha strutted back in forth in the middle of the road until all his chums had crossed.  He then tucked in his wings, relaxed his tail, and joined the flock to scratch on the Sharon side of Bay Road.  All in a day's work for Alpha, the Crossing Guard Turkey.

Nice start to my day.

cold snap

The recent cold snap has finally caused increased activity at my bird feeders.  The titmice and chickadees are back and forth constantly. Juncos getting in on the action, too.  Overall though, there has been a significant drop in birds coming to my feeders this winter.  I am hoping this is just due to the mild weather we are having and not an indication of something graver affecting the bird population.  Even over the summer I noticed a dramatic decrease in gold finch who used to cost me big money by emptying my thistle seed feeder regularly.  Today I have had one goldfinch hanging around, the first one I've seen in a while.  Last winter I would have up to 9 gold finch at a time hanging around the feeder like workers around a water cooler. 

Other individuals paying visits today have been a Carolina wren, Jack- the red-bellied woodpecker, and a downy woodpecker.