Sunday Shots 01/23/22

I have to say that I am really enjoying winter birding these days. I love the cold, crisp weather, and the birds have been pretty darn cooperative. I also think that because I can’t bird during the week at this time of the year, I really get into it on the weekends.

I split both mornings between the black dirt and Campbell Hall, where two times I caught up with the LARK SPARROW that was found by Jeanne Cimorelli earlier this week. I was pretty happy that bird stuck around til the weekend. The black dirt was productive both mornings; I had loads of Horned Larks, good sized flock of Snow Buntings, (8) American Pipits, and at least (3) LAPLAND LONGSPURS. Also notable were large flocks of both Red-winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles (at two different locations).

~A flock of Red-winged Blackbirds in flight in the black dirt, 01/23/22.~
~Horned Lark in the black dirt on Saturday morning, 01/22/22.~

On Saturday afternoon I went to the Newburgh Waterfront for gulls, where I ended up birding with Bruce Nott, Joe Chernak, and Jeanne Cimorelli. Bruce located one, maybe two Iceland Gulls (the gulls picked up before we could confirm), and I was able to locate a Glaucous Gull. With the expected gulls, that made for a (5) gull day.

~After struggling with photos Saturday morning, I spent some time shooting Ring-billed Gulls when I first arrived at the Newburgh Waterfront. I like this sharp image of a clean sharp Ring-billed Gull in flight, 01/22/23.~

I am also pretty jazzed about the weekend of birding because I feel like this week’s photos are pretty interesting. I struggled mightily to get good shots on Saturday morning; in spite of the beautiful light, I think the cold temperatures were creating a little havoc in the air, leaving most pics with a shimmer effect.

~Lark Sparrow on Station Road West in Campbell Hall, 01/22/22. I waited positively ages for this bird to finally fly to a positition where it wasn’t totally backlit. Then, on Sunday…~
~…I was in the same area trying for Purple Finches (no luck), when the Lark Sparrow landed right next to my car. The light was terrible, but still a pretty good look at this snazzy bird. LASP in Campbell Hall, 01/23/22.~

One final note – I am also really enjoying my yard birding this year. Moving forward I will be putting a note on the bottom of each post with my yard list total for the year. This week I moved up to 21 species, adding three birds: Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Cardinal, and a beautiful adult Bald Eagle flyover.

~Snow Bunting in the black dirt first thing this morning, 01/23/22.~
~American Pipits in the black dirt, 01/23/22.~
~I thought this was a pretty cool look at the topside of a Red-tailed Hawk in the black dirt, 01/23/22. This bird was being totally harassed by American Crows.~
~LAPLAND LONGSPUR photo bombed by a Horned Lark. Black dirt, 01/23/22.~
~White-crowned Sparrow on Missionland Road, 01/22/22.~
~I threw this one in just because I thought it was pretty good that my camera held the focus on this Northern Harrier as it passed behind the vegetation. Black dirt 01/22/22.~

4 thoughts on “Sunday Shots 01/23/22”

  1. Great write up Matt!!
    I too am jazzed on my backyard birding…confirmed visually two Great Horned Owls at around 6:30 am (silhouette’s) and audibly the Eastern Screech Owl. Plus Wisner has been killing it with the Harriers the last few days. Hope to see you out there soon!
    Kyle

    1. Thanks Kyle. Those are two really good yard birds! I haven’t had an owl from my yard… yet. Maybe I’ll run into you out at Wisner next weekend. Matt

  2. Matt where in the black dirt area did you find the horned larks, snow buntings, pipits & longspur? Thanks.

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