Well, it's been a busy spring. The migration is well underway at this point with the waterfowl having already moved through and the first Warblers hitting the scene. About a week ago the trees in my area came alive with new voices. Where once was only Blackbirds, Robins and Cardinals now were Eastern Towhee, American Goldfinch, Field Sparrow and Chipping Sparrow. May is known as the greatest month in American birding. Just 2 days into it and I know why... new birds almost daily! So here's the data on the last two months (including year birds - lifers in bold):
March 16th - Township Rd. 363
* Hooded Merganser
March 9th - Beach City Dam
* Bufflehead
* Pied-billed Grebe
* Eastern Phoebe
- Rt. 93
* Northern Shoveler
March 20th - Wright Marsh
* Great Blue Heron
* Blue-winged Teal [#142]* American Coot
* American Wigeon [#143]March 26th - McQuaid Rd.
* Eurasian Wigeon [#144]
* Northern Pintail [#145]
* Redhead Duck [#146]April 3rd - Killbuck Marsh Wildlife Area
* Wild Trukey
* Tree Swallow
* Lesser Sandhill Crane
April 4th - Shreve Lake
* Double-crested Cormorant
* Red-breasted Merganser [#147]* Barn Swallow
April 11th - I took a trip home to New York. My backyard runs right up against the Binghamton University nature preserve. Saw thirty species on one hike. Highlights...
* Black-capped Chickadee (saw it sing so I know for sure!)
* Brown Creeper [#148]* Golden-crowned Kinglet
* Swamp Sparrow
* Ruby-crowned Kinglet [#149]This was an amazing, rewarding hike. It was my first time back home in the woods I grew up in... but this time as a birder! Brown Creeper was a target bird for the hike and I had one of those wonderful moments of rewarding discovery, following it's song through the woods for ten minutes before finding it in the treetops. This was also the best view I've ever had of a Golden-crowned Kinglet. Their acrobatic tumbling flight while hunting insects is truly amazing!
A drive downtown also gave us views of a local favorite:
* Peregrine Falcon [#150!!!!!!!]
My hundred and fiftieth bird with my bird watching mom. Really fun!
April 16th - Willow Rd.
* Yellow Warbler
April 18th - Funk Bottoms
* Greater Yellowlegs
* Lesser Yellowlegs
- Willow Rd.
* Yellow-rumped Warbler
* Great Egret
April 23rd - Stingy Lane Rd.
* Field Sparrow
* Broad-winged Hawk
- Beach City Wilderness Area
* Osprey
April 24th - Beach City Wilderness Area
* Gray Catbird
* Common Yellowthroat
* House Wren
* Purple Martin
April 25th - The Wilderness Center
* White-eyed Vireo
* Yellow-throated Vireo [#151]* Spotted Sandpiper
* Forster's Tern
* Blue-gray Gnatcatcher [#152] - Bear Hollow Rd.
* Pine Siskin [#152]
- County Highway 1
* Western Meadowlark [#153] (Thanks to Greg Miller for the guide!)
* Palm Warbler [#154] - Norma Johnson Center
* Green Heron
April 26th - Mohican State Park
* Yellow-throated Warbler [#155]April 28th - Beach City Wilderness Area
* Scarlet Tanager
April 30th - MY OWN BACKYARD!!!
* Orchard Oriole
May 2nd - Beach City Wilderness Area
* Wood Thrush (Best views I ever had. Fully visible and singing!)
* Carolina Chickadee (First time observed singing it's four note song)
* Hooded Warbler
* Kentucky Warbler [#156]* Red-eyed Vireo
* Baltimore Oriole [#157]Well there ya have it! Up-to-date and in the groove. Time to kick this Migration into full speed... I'll be in the lake Erie migrant traps in 3 weeks. Where will you be??
Photo Credit:
Baltimore Oriole - Joby Joseph
MY OH MY! What an amazing thing is Spring migration. I've just had the privilege of birding my first Spring, and in the Lake Erie migrant traps no less! Last weekend was my first time at Magee Marsh and it truly is a fantastic place. Birds that you'd normally spend hours tracking in the woods or marsh are just feet from you and in full view.
