As soon as I got out of the car I snapped some shots of this Northern Mockingbird in the early morning light. Wallkill River NWR 9/22/13.
Here’s a quick post from my outing on Sunday morning. I arrived at Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge just after sunrise; the sunlight was beautiful and the birds were plentiful. Here’s my list for the day:
One of ten Great Egrets I counted out at the Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge, 9/22/13.
Canada Goose 45
Mallard 30
Northern Shoveler 5
Green-winged Teal 10
Great Blue Heron 5
Great Egret 10
Green Heron 5
Turkey Vulture 2
Northern Harrier 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Bald Eagle 1
Broad-winged Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Black-bellied Plover 1
Killdeer 6
Greater Yellowlegs 5
Lesser Yellowlegs 12
Pectoral Sandpiper 3
Wilson’s Snipe 2
Mourning Dove 2
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
American Kestrel 1
Eastern Phoebe 3
Red-eyed Vireo 1
Blue Jay 4
American Crow 10
Black-capped Chickadee 2
Tufted Titmouse 2
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 40
Common Yellowthroat 4
Northern Parula 1
Black-throated Green Warbler 3
Song Sparrow X
Northern Cardinal 1
Bobolink X
American Goldfinch 2
I think the Northern Shoveler is a beautiful bird. Wallkill River NWR 9/22/13.This Black-throated Green Warbler had some sort of growth on the top of its bill. Wallkill River NWR 9/22/13.Red-eyed Vireo in the shade at Wallkill River NWR 9/22/13.I stumbled onto a nice mixed species flock that included Black-capped Chickadees, Titmice, Black-throated Green Warblers, a Philadelphia Vireo, and this Northern Parula. Wallkill River NWR 9/22/13.
Chestnut-sided Warbler at the Stop Sign Trail at the Basha Kill, 5/18/13.
In a brave move, I went out to the Basha Kill solo this morning. As you probably know, I do plenty of birding alone, but in this case I say it is brave because it is warbler season, and this being only my second year of looking for warblers, it still does not come very easily to me. I find both aspects of looking for warblers a challenge: 1. birding by ear, and 2. finding these littlest of birds in the vastness of the rapidly growing foliage. I felt pretty good about it when I was out, I was really enjoying myself. But by the end of the morning, I had only totaled 6 species of warblers, which is not exactly spectacular. Even though I did not get many warblers, I was seeing, hearing and identifying many birds. I ended the morning with 41 species, which a very nice total for me. Here’s my list for the day:
This was one of the highlights of the morning for me, one of two White-crowned Sparrows at the Deli Fields, 5/18/13.
Canada Goose X
Wood Duck 4
Mallard 5
American Bittern 1
Great Blue Heron 10
Green Heron 1
Osprey 1
Bald Eagle 2
Rock Pigeon 10
Mourning Dove 7
Black-billed Cuckoo 1
Chimney Swift 2
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2
Eastern Phoebe 3
Eastern Kingbird 4
Yellow-throated Vireo 2
Warbling Vireo X
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 1
These little Yellow Warblers are everywhere right now, and I think they take nice photos. This one was at the Nature Trail, 5/18/13.
Barn Swallow 8
Veery 1
Wood Thrush 4
American Robin X
Gray Catbird X
Brown Thrasher 1
Black-and-white Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat X
American Redstart 6
Magnolia Warbler 1
Yellow Warbler X
Chestnut-sided Warbler 1
Field Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow X
Swamp Sparrow 2
White-crowned Sparrow 2
Northern Cardinal 1
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1
Red-winged Blackbird X
Common Grackle X
Baltimore Oriole X
American Goldfinch 6
This was my first opportunity to photograph a Wood Thrush. This is a bit noisy and also a little soft because of the low light. Nature Trail, Basha Kill 5/18/13.I had my first of season AMERICAN BITTERN shortly after arriving at Haven Road this morning. For a change, the bird was pretty easy to pick out in the sea of green.Always photogenic, Eastern Phoebe at Haven Road, 5/18/13.
Today was the day after Winter Storm Nemo. Approximately 14 inches of snow fell here in Goshen, so I donned my snow shoes and hit the Heritage Trail that leads to 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary. It was a tough walk, but very enjoyable. I did not find any out of the ordinary birds, but many of the usual suspects made a good showing.
The most interesting aspect of the day for me was noticing how the snow lit the underside of the birds as they flew over. The amount of detail I could see on this Red-tailed Hawk was fascinating to me. And as the crows flew over I was seeing colors and highlights I never really noticed before. For both of these birds, what I was seeing came through in my photos. I also had several Black Vultures that looked SO different to me, it was amazing – unfortunately it did not come through in my photos. I also had several Ring-billed Gulls fly over that were the brightest, cleanest white I’ve ever seen; none were very close so I was unable to get any photos.
A young Red-tailed Hawk with plenty of details showing. 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 2-9-13.One more of the same Red-tail, 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary 2-9-13.An American Crow flies over, well lit from the fresh snow fall. 6 1/2 Station Rd Sanctuary, 2-9-13.
I was interested in getting some photos of birds in the snow, but it never really panned out. Here are a couple decent shots from the day.
This is one of my best shots of a Downy Woodpecker. For some reason I just haven’t gotten a good one yet…Song Sparrow in the snow on the Heritage Trail near 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 2-9-13.
Update: I was thinking today that I have not included many species lists in my posts lately. I think it’s probably because my lists have been pretty sparse. On this day I did pretty well, totaling 15 species for the day. I also used the app Birdlog on my iPhone for the first time. It is actually pretty cool and it allows you to easily keep track the species and their numbers while in the field. I enjoyed using it on this day, but I am interested to see if I start to use it all the time. Here’s my list for the day:
Black Vulture 5
Turkey Vulture 7
Red-tailed Hawk 2
Ring-billed Gull 4
Belted Kingfisher 1
Downy Woodpecker 3
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 38
Black-capped Chickadee 4
Tufted Titmouse 1
European Starling 12
American Tree Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 3
Dark-eyed Junco 1
Red-tailed Hawk at Wallkill River NWR 11-4-12.A close-up of the same hawk – this bird was perched on a wire and was extremely accommodating.My first Dark-eyed Junco of the season. Shawangunk Grasslands 10-27-12.I played a hunch and stopped at the parking lot of a cafe on route 207 north of Goshen. It payed off with this adult Bald Eagle in the field across the street.This might be my favorite photo of the year. Ruddy Duck at Kiamesha Lake 10-27-12.This Golden-crowned Kinglet was very cooperative on my first visit to the Wood Duck Trail at the Wallkill River NWR 11-4-12.
I spent some time yesterday at the Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve in Bergen County, New Jersey (see link). The Tufted Titmice put on a show for me. Many thanks to Ken McDermott for helping me figure out who is who in these photos:
An immature Tufted Titmouse watches an adult fly off.
I was pleasantly surprised by this photo. It was taken in low light with a shutter speed of only 1/125th of a second and no monopod.An immature Tufted Titmouse, looking to be fed, performs the wing-quiver.Immature Tufted Titmouse.Food exchange.
