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It’s an area beloved by photographers for all the Tundra Swans and BaldEagles that hang out in the area and the surrounding habitat makes for a beautiful backdrop. I was assigned BJ Matzen and he won me over when we nonchalantly leaned over and asked, “You have any interest in seeing a dilute plumage BaldEagle?”
Among the “First Four” games, the LIU-Brooklyn Blackbirds faced the squad from James Madison University. At least one local European Starling decided to cheer on the Blackbirds at University of Dayton Arena in Ohio, flying around the court and even touching down on the hardwood before perching in the rafters. Temple Owls.
My birding there in normal times tends to be in winter and early spring: I’m getting Common Mergansers and BaldEagle for my year list in January, scouting for the Christmas Bird Count in late November and early December, and making sure to find Wilson’s Snipe in the early spring.
A few Rusty Blackbirds made it through the winter but there are many more about now and they are far more vocal. Not the best shot but this BaldEagle was distantly digiscoped as it circled over Willow Lake. A very serendipitous shot. This one was imitating a rusty gate from a perch in Kissena Park. Keep those nyger socks out!
Dark-eyed Juncos and Ruby-crowned Kinglets made their way through low, hugging or traveling through the phragmites and a Brown Creeper called from a tree halfway up the dike.
A vast congregation of BaldEagles kept watch over a herd of cattle about to calve, up to seven in a single tree — no doubt awaiting delicious placentas. A second Prairie Falcon just up the road – this one a young male – gave even better, closer looks. It was truly a fantastic bird-of-prey day.
Yet, 79 checklists were submitted by 8 beats, accounting for 366 species in 5 countries. Yet, 79 checklists were submitted by 8 beats, accounting for 366 species in 5 countries. Yet, 79 checklists were submitted by 8 beats, accounting for 366 species in 5 countries.
Brewer’s Blackbirds and House Finches were carting nesting material to and fro. The spectacular views of the valley also offered me looks at a passing Common Raven , Red-tailed Hawk , and an adult BaldEagle. A few Northern Flickers were loud above the din, as were the omnipresent American Crows.
Most of them were pretty good in the Owl-Duck-Pigeon range, but they got bogged down when trying to make the leap from a study skin to a particular page of the field guide for, say, a blackbird or a sparrow. almost everyone knows a BaldEagle and a dove, a woodpecker and a Wild Turkey. And that frustration was epic. In the U.S.,
Several species, all more or less annual winter visitors from the western United States, also made an appearance: Western Tanager, Brown-crested Flycatcher, Western Kingbird, Yellow-headed Blackbird, and Rufous/Allen’s Hummingbird. BaldEagle: 6. Red-winged Blackbird: 962. Yellow-headed Blackbird: 1. Osprey: 26.
The year list remains low, at 1425 but the life list was bolstered this month by Donna’s Antillean Nighthawk and has reached 4069. The year list remains low, at 1425 but the life list was bolstered this month by Donna’s Antillean Nighthawk and has reached 4069.
The year list remains sluggish at 1489 , but the life list received a boost from the eBird taxonomy reshuffle and now includes 4076 species. The year list remains sluggish at 1489 , but the life list received a boost from the eBird taxonomy reshuffle and now includes 4076 species.
As an adult BaldEagle and a first of the season flock of Tree Swallows flew overhead, several birds were cleaning up underneath the feeders. Most of the birds feeding at the various feeders would occasionally take time to drink or bathe at the water feature. Here is a male Lesser Goldfinch taking his turn. Fun birding!
The sub-adult BaldEagle ( Haliaeetus leucocephalus ) below was photographed from the same blind. The snag at Delevan NWR not only attracts Peregrine Falcons but Red-winged Blackbirds ( Agelaius phoeniceus ) as well. I hope you enjoy it. Click on photos for full sized images.
People whoever they are (even the most experienced of hawkwatchers) love BaldEagles – it’s just a given. In my experience if you show a non or novice birder their first BaldEagle and they will be amazed, show someone their first Thayer’s Gull and they aren’t likely to gasp (sorry, larophiles)!
Dragan has caught up from his adventures in Colombia and the life list has reached 4103. Dragan has caught up from his adventures in Colombia and the life list has reached 4103.
As such, a parallel post will appear here simultaneously with the year list. As such, a parallel post will appear here simultaneously with the year list.
Checklists came in from 7 countries (USA, UK, Serbia, China, Mexico, Costa Rica and Australia) and brought the year list for 2021 so far to 1143. Checklists came in from 7 countries (USA, UK, Serbia, China, Mexico, Costa Rica and Australia) and brought the year list for 2021 so far to 1143.
However – and I am not saying this out of misplaced national pride – there is one bird in the Netherlands that proves Jefferson wrong and Buffon right: the White-tailed Eagle (or Sea Eagle ). It’s the only Dutch eagle. Our eagle makes Baldy look imparfait, even a bit manqué.
He knows his stuff and, with the exception of the occasional Red-winged Blackbird call, is rarely fooled by a bird. A stop at Hidden Valley netted us several species, including our only Scarlet Tanager of the day as well as a surprise fly-by adult BaldEagle.
Even though she’s not keen on commercial aviation, she travels for birding once or twice a year, she says, including, a couple of years ago, to the Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival, where she saw a number of life birds, including some that inspired songs, such as the Yellow-headed Blackbird: Yellow-headed Blackbird, how you stand out in a crowd.
Matthieu managed to photograph some blackbirds as they went past and we were surprised when he examined the photos that some were Rusty Blackbirds ! Sure enough, it was just to our north harrying a…wait, that’s a BaldEagle ! A new bird for the Big Sit and a clue that the day was going to be good.
The year list ends on a provisional (some beats will be birding ’til the final whistle to try and salvage a ravaged year) 1803 species from 1602 checklists submitted by 12 beats from 16 countries.
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