Monday, April 30, 2012

From Water to Woods...

My favorite time of the year for birding, Spring, is here.  This means that any time that I am not at work or sleeping, I am usually out looking for new bird arrivals.  After an above normal temperature winter, spring has started off cooler than usual.

It has also been fairly dry, especially when compared to this time last year.  Shorebird habitat is always very hard to find on the east side of town.  The farmers fields are always well drained.  There has been some good shorebirds found around the area, but too far for me to try for.  So, I'll take any shorebirds that I can get locally!  My only really reliable spot for shorebirds is ironically a shore rather than a flooded field, the beach at the local reservoir (East Fork).

My first non-killdeer shorebirds of the season were these two molting Dunlin on the beach at East Fork.

Dunlin

Always enjoy watching them navigate the incoming waves.  Looks as if they are dancing.

Dancing Dunlin

Here is one running from an incoming wave.

Dunlin

After running from the wave, the bird turned around and started to walk right up to me.

Dunlin

A couple of Lesser Yellowlegs have also been hanging out on the beach for a while.  They are funny birds to watch.

Lesser Yellowlegs

Cool back colors.

Lesser Yellowlegs

They were feeding on something in the sand.

Lesser Yellowlegs

This one thinks it is the BOMB!

Lesser Yellowlegs

Love the expressions of this bird.

I know I've got something stuck on my foot, so quit looking!

Lesser Yellowlegs

Tu-tu, tu-tu, tu-tu

Lesser Yellowlegs vocalizing

This nice looking breeding Bonaparte's Gull was near the yellowlegs.  A nice looking bird that I don't see much sporting its breeding plumage.

 It was also feeding on something in the sand.

Bonaparte's Gull

While driving down my road, something caught my eye, so I turned around.  Lo and behold, there were eight Wilson's Snipe in a corn stubble field right off the side of the road.  I had my camera, so I snapped a few pics out of the car window.  Very camouflaged birds.


Wilson's Snipe

Since most of the holes on my ragged life list are shorebirds/waterbirds, I have a tendency of just checking the lake.  With the woods radiating with the sounds of new arrival migrants at East Fork, I decided I should spend more time in the woods than just looking for rare water birds. 

Prairie Warblers are singing all over the south side of the park in the cedar fields.

Prairie Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warblers are everywhere at East Fork and in my yard.  This one found a yummy inchworm.

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Warbling Vireos are everywhere as well.

Warbling Vireo


Here is one of my favorite warblers.  While pishing a stream, this Wilson's Warbler very briefly popped up from the vegetation.  I was able to get this quick shot.  Beautiful bird!

Kentucky Warbler

Prothonotary Warblers are singing all over the park in the woods surrounding the lake.  I saw two at one time and heard another one calling in the distance across the cove.  Two Prothonotaries were chasing each other and calling.  I pished and the birds flew in to see what was going on.

Prothonotary Warbler

"Sweet, Sweet, Sweet"


Prothonotary Warbler

Prothonotary Warbler

Prothonotary Warbler


Looks like Pikachu!

Prothonotary Warbler



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6 comments:

  1. Great shots Donald! This was a great post. I was getting really exited by the Snipe and then you went into Warblers! It's almost too much!

    I have a question though. That Wilson's Warbler looks more like a Hooded Warbler to me, given the black on the face? Does their plumage vary a bit by area?

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  2. Definitely a Kentucky. It was singing a Kentucky song. However, I could hear Hooded Warblers singing farther back in the woods. As far as I know, they do not hybridize. Looks right for Kentucky to me, Hooded is different, as it has black above and beneath - black chin. Also the hooded has a all yellow forehead.

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  3. Kentucky! That's the one. I recognized it but couldn't place a face so defaulted to Hooded. Maybe I misread about the Wilson's Warbler or just crossed the picture with an earlier caption.

    I'm losing it man...

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  4. I am becoming a huge snipe fan... Fantastic plumage... And then you spring all those warblers out? That is a tough act to follow. The Wilson's catch is gorgeous!

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  5. Great birds and photos. The warblers are beautiful and I love the Snipes. Great shots.

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  6. Such a great post! I totally agree with Lawrence about getting psyched about the snipe pics and then blown away by the warblers! You guys are waaaay ahead of us here in Maine. Good stuff.

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