Crabtree County Park

Another good Meetup this past weekend at Crabtree.  Saw lots of Blue Herons, gulls (a Bonaparte's Gull positively identified by our guide), crows, many sparrows, male and female Kingfisher, a juvenile and adult male Bald Eagle in flight, Cardinal, Bluebirds, House Finches, a bunch of Redwinged Blackbirds, a Yellow Bellied Sapsucker, and finally got a picture of a Northern Flicker!

Thanksgiving Weekend at Yates Mill

Birding with Wake Audubon at Yates Mill today.  Can you believe I forgot to take my camera?  Uh-duh.  I tried to take some pictures with my phone, but the ones of birds came out AWFUL.
Spotted Buffleheads, Ruddy Ducks, and Ring Necked Ducks on the pond.  Saw a Kestrel for my life list!
Saw Meadowlark, Cooper's Hawk, White Throated Sparrows, Song Sparrows, Ruby Crowned Kinglet, a beautiful female Red Winged Blackbird, possibly Pippet and Blue Headed Vireo.

Beaver Dam

Yates Mill picture taken with my phone.

Meetup with Wake Audubon

What a lovely walk with John Connors and the Meetup group from Wake Audubon at Anderson Point Park.  He was really knowledgeable and was spotting birds before we even got out from under the picnic shelter.  We saw Golden Crowned Kinglet, Hawks, Vultures, Mockers, White Throated Sparrow, Field and Song Sparrows, Pileated and Red Bellied Woodpeckers, Towhees, Northern Flicker, Bluebirds, Robins, and Cedar Wax Wings.  It was great to be with someone who can identify birds so quickly.  Will definitely check out another walk with Wake Audubon.

This cedar tree was full of Robins and Cedar Wax Wings. 

White Throated Sparrow--one for my life list.

A Shrew one of the ladies on the hike found.  Apparently, their
metabolism is so high that they just kind of peter out after a while.
He was a perfect specimen.  Got to see it really close.

Sparrows

Yellow Rumped Warbler 

Birding @ Mason Farm Biological Reserve

The dynamic birding duo headed out to Chapel Hill to check out Mason Farm.  Very cool place.  Nice variety of bird habitats.  Will definitely try it out in the winter.  Birds will probably be easier to spot.

 Before we even got in the park, we spotted an old Blue Heron who looked as old as Yoda and a whole flock of Canada geese on the water.

In general, we were a little frustrated because we couldn't get a good look at anything and my pictures came out pretty poorly.  Makes it hard to identify the birds afterwards.

Looks a little like a Bachman's Sparrow, but I dunno.

Tree swallow--I had no idea these were so abundant.
I've seen a couple of these lately.

This may be the same bird as above.  Can't tell if it's a Pine Warbler.

My guess is a female or immature Oriole of some kind.  This picture shows a real lack of any distinguishing features.

Mystery bird--not a clue!

 

Fall birding at Falls Lake

After a slow start, my friend Genia and I settled in to the pier at the Hwy 50 Boat Launch to watch some herons on the shore.  We were surprised and delighted when a Belted Kingfisher landed on a railing sticking out of the water right in front of us.  She entertained us by singing and carrying on for a few minutes and sat there for quite a while before flying off.  What a little twerp!

We stalked what we thought was this gray catbird, but it looks more like a mockingbird.

Looks like a Tree Swallow--score!

Red Bellied Woodpecker

Some "chippies"

Great blue heron, I was hoping for a wood stork.

Falls Lake

Ruby crowned Kinglet?

Some sort of sparrow.  I really want it not to be a chipping sparrow.  I've seen plenty of those!

Downy woodpecker, not at Falls, in my backyard!

Tried out some of the Falls Lake Trails in the North Carolina Birding Trail guide.  Not one single bird at Sandy Point.  Some LBJ's (Little Brown Jobs, ie sparrows) and the regular suspects:  woodpeckers, titmice, chickadees.  I spotted this Ruby crowned kinglet and a sparrow of some kind.  I really want to find some warblers and sparrows (besides chipping sparrow) that I haven't seen yet.  Maybe better luck later on in the week.  I want to try out Woodpecker Ridge.  There are supposed to be lots of warblers and vireos there.

Pennsylvania Birds

Just a couple spotted on the mountain north of Williamsport, PA:  a yellow throated vireo and what appears to be a fox sparrow.

Birds in DC

Visited DC and spotted some pretty typical birds for an urban area.  The house sparrows, of course, are a DC institution as they are everywhere, but what fun photographing this flock right across the street from the White House in Lafayette Park.  Got some great shots since they are accustomed to people and will come right up to you.

These mallards and this cormorant were spotted in the Constitution Garden pond on the way to the Vietnam Memorial.

Have you ever seen a black squirrel?  I never had until I saw this one in Lafayette Park!  What a beautiful silky coat. Not afraid of people either.

Last but not least, a variation of a rock dove I haven't seen before. Near the Washington Monument.

Long Hot Summer

Not much new to see this summer.  We had a whole month of near 100 degree weather and the birdies were laying low like the rest of us.  Here is a nice shot of Pileated Woodpeckers through my kitchen window.  Of course, we got the typical birds we have throughout the year: chickadees, tufted titmouse, white breasted nuthatch, some cardinals.  This fellow visited the yard in May.  I think he's a pine warbler.

Duke Forest continued

Tried out the Kortian Division  of Duke Forest this week, but drizzley rain kept me from spotting any new birds.  All I saw were chipping sparrows and chickadees.  They were definitely out there, though.  The forest was alive with the sound of birds!  Will try again next week if the weather is better.  I did get a picture of a chipmunk!

Nature this week

Carolina Wren

Carolina Chickadee

 House finches

Eastern Phoebe

Red Winged Blackbird

Painted Lady

Red Spotted Purple

Red Admiral

Black Vulture

Tiger Swallowtail

Here are the other birds and butterflies spotted this week.  There's a lot of nature out there!