Sunday Shots, Catch Up Edition, 09/05/21

Last weekend was a total bust for me. We had a sick cat which took up all my time (and money!) on Saturday, as I took my sick little girl to two different veterinarians. I spent Sunday staring at the cat, trying to will her back to health. A week later, the cat is doing better and my mind is no longer all consumed by the state of her health.

Meanwhile, this week the tail end of Hurricane Ida came through our area, leaving the black dirt flooded in many areas, creating great conditions for shorebirds. While storm did not bring in as many birds as I might have thought, afterwards and through the week and into the weekend, we accumulated quite a nice shorebird list in the black dirt:

  • BLACK-BILLIED PLOVER
  • AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER
  • Killdeer
  • BAIRD’S SANDPIPER
  • Least Sandpiper
  • WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER
  • BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER
  • Pectoral Sandpiper
  • Semipalmated Sandpiper
  • Wilson’s Snipe
  • Spotted Sandpiper
  • Solitary Sandpiper
  • Greater Yellowlegs
  • Lesser Yellowlegs
~A number of Lesser Yellowlegs gather in one of the large puddles found in the black dirt, 09/04/21.~

I also made a relatively quick but very productive stop at Mount Peter Hawkwatch on Saturday afternoon (yes, hawkwatch is starting already!). I joined official counter Ken Witkowski for just about an hour, and we were lucky enough to have nearly 50 migrating raptors – forty something Broadwinged Hawks, 2 Bald Eagles, and an Osprey.

~Backyard Ruby-throated Hummingbird earlier this week.~
~A young Peregrine Falcon in flight over Skinner’s Lane, 09/04/21.~
~Mixed flock of shorebirds. I can identify at least 3 species in this shot: Pectoral Sandpipers, Least Sandpiper, and White-rumped Sandpipers. Black Dirt Region 09/05/21.
~Savannah Sparrow in the black dirt, 09/02/21.~
~Red-tailed Hawk in the black dirt, 09/02/21.~
~There are loads of Brown-headed Cowbirds at Skinner right now. They are characters and have no fear, landing nearby, even on my car. ~

9 thoughts on “Sunday Shots, Catch Up Edition, 09/05/21”

  1. We saw a Mature Bald Eagle while we were on our Kayaks at Owen Crossing Lake Mount Vernon yesterday. He swooped down and caught a fish. Glad your Cat is doing alright.

    1. I can still remember my first good look at a Bald Eagle – I was in a kayak at the Bashakill and the bird caught a fish right in front of me. I’ll never forget that day, and your comment brought it back. And thanks about the cat : ) Matt

      1. The very first one i saw was in Narrowsburg. I was shaking so much with excitement, i couldn’t keep the Video Camera still

      2. Same here, Two adult Bald Eagles took a dive into the water just off the bow of my Kayak at the BK. The fish were so big they couldn’t fly off. But did manage. They we watched them eat it. Try oil my breath away. They always do.

          1. They still do for me too Renee. They’ve come back and we get to see them frequently these days, but it’s still a thrill, especially a close encounter like that. Matt

  2. Always a pleasure reading your blog and enjoying your photos-the lighting on your Savannah sparrow really highlights her pink legs … And , as a fellow kitty lover , I’m so glad to hear that your kitty is doing better 🙂

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