Cooled down it has...

Tweet Haven't been able to get out much with all of the rain we have been getting here. This year is already the wettest on record for Cincinnati, Ohio, and all the local bodies of water are above their banks. Cool down it did, as last night that rain had changed to the season's first snowfall. It was only a dusting and melted before the sun even came up here.

I was able to get out and look for Saw-whet Owls on Thanksgiving Day at a relative's property. I wasn't able to find any saw-whets, but I did find this Eastern Screech-owl right before sunset.

The low pressure that had brought all the rain and snow had moved out by morning, so I headed down to East Fork to see what had come in. I noticed an increase in waterfowl and grebes. I was lucky enough to catch some Horned Grebes fishing in front of me. I hid behind a tree as the birds swam closer. I watched them for a while.

They seemed curious of me, and swam up to me. Love their red eyes!

As the sun set today, I heard and then saw Sandhill Cranes flying over. All the while, Common Loons were giving their soul soothing call. A nice end to the day.

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Cooling down or heating up?

Tweet The weather forecast calls for cooler temps and the chance of seeing the first snow flakes of the season. The birds have been locally "hot" this fall migration, and I hope that this trend continues through the winter season!

We have had some beautiful weather recently, and I have tried to get out birding as much as possible. The luck continues, as I have found some good birds too.

There has been word that a loon at East Fork could have been a Red-throated, but nobody got good enough views to confirm it (including me). Since a Red-throated Loon would be a life bird, I can't say with any certainty what I was looking at. Maybe one day I will have a Red-throated up close like this Common Loon from the other day at East Fork.

Common Loon winter plumage

I have never seen a Dunlin up close, only scope views. So I was happy to get to observe this Dunlin hanging out with a Least Sandpiper in the surf at East Fork beach.

The Dunlin was fun to watch. As a large wave would come in, the Dunlin would just stand there. One wave was big enough that the bird had to fly up through it!

And the good views of good birds continues. While walking along the beach, I saw some movement ahead of me and found three Snow Buntings lurking in the sand/grass. I usually only see them in the snow, so I forgot how camouflaged they are even in the sand and grass.

They seemed very curious of me, and followed me around for a little while. They would walk up to me and then appear to pose for the camera.

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The Franklin's Gull

Tweet The gulls have been fantastic at East Fork so far this season, with Sabine's, Laughing, Franklin's, and possibly Lesser and Greater Black-backed as well as the regular Ring-billeds, Herrings and Bonaparte's.

Here are a few pics of the Franklin's Gulls that have been hanging out at East Fork. I haven't seen two Franklin's at the same time in a while, so I think just one bird remains. If gulls can be "nice looking", this gull definitely is (even in winter plumage!)

2 Franklin's Gulls (RB in the middle)

What you lookin' at!

And again, birds always staring me down.

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Where did the time go?

Tweet It seems like just the other day that I was watching flocks of warblers moving through the yard. Actually, it has been about three to four weeks ago already. The warblers have been replaced by Juncoes, White-crowned and White-throated Sparrows. I saw a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker today. Of course, Yellow-rumped Warblers are still around and will be all winter.

I always enjoy seeing and watching mixed flocks around the change of the season. Birds that are thought of as warm weather birds like Cape May Warblers mingling with birds that are thought of as cold weather birds like Ruby-crowned Kinglets.

Black-throated Green Warbler

There is a reason why I don't have pics of warblers on here often! Black-throated Greens are one of my favs, I see them in my yard more during fall migration.

Also see more of another one of my favs, Cape May Warbler. Here is a still bright male photographed during the second week of October.

Cape May Warbler

And of course, Yellow-rumped Warblers are everywhere by the first week of October. Why can't all warblers be this cooperative!

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Here is a Ruby-crowned Kinglet that was hanging out with the warblers. I have only seen the red on their crown when I had one in the hand. Dang, they are harder to photograph then warblers!

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Here's to seeing some good birds this winter. Hoping to be able to participate in the Christmas Bird Counts this year!

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