A field (bird) day

Tweet Hearing reports of Dickcissels and Blue Grosbeaks at Armleder Park, I decided to spend my off day trying to photograph them.  I don't get out to this park much, even though I find good birds here just about every time I go.  I think it has to do with my need to "escape".  The park is in the city of Cincinnati proper.  It just feels odd to me to go to the city to see good birds.  One can hear sirens and traffic constantly.  I can see "big" business from many spots in the park.

The second bird that I saw when I arrived at the park was a male Blue Grosbeak foraging in one of the parking lots near the front of the park.  I tried to use the car as a blind, but the bird flew to the brush immediately.  I was only able to get two quick shots out the window.

 

The grosbeak flew off.  I was hoping for better pics, but I was just glad to see one.  I decided to go to the fields to try my luck at photographing the many Dickcissels I was hearing.

I can't recall ever hearing so many Dickcissels here.  I remember when I got my life Dickcissels at Voice of America Park (VOA) in West Chester, OH.  This is the same park that I got my lifer Bobolinks at.  VOA looks a lot different then it did back then and I fear for the future of Armleder, as I see the same "things" happening here.  The birds are still hanging on at VOA, but they definitely aren't a priority.

We as birders must make sure that the birds continue to have a voice.

The Dickcissels were more cooperative photo wise than the Blue Grosbeak.  I spent a couple of hours just watching and photographing them.

 

Such a nice looking bird!

The males were chasing each other and singing for this female.  She didn't seem too interested, as she just continued preening.

 

Dick-dick-cissel-cissel!

While watching the Dickcissels, I spotted a far off Green Heron perched on a dead tree.

At first, I didn't see the other bird.  I looked at the pic on my camera and noticed a Blue Grosbeak in the same shot!  I went back to see if I could get a better pic of the grosbeak.

As I went back to near the spot were I first saw the Blue Grosbeak, I found this odd letter on a mowed path.

It brought back memories of when I was in college.  I often heard "you should quit watching birds and dreaming and get a real job"

I tend to find the oddest things when I am birding...

As I stood there, I looked up to see many people going about their day.  Most were riding bikes and walking dogs.  As I was looking at the Dickcissels, I was startled by a bike rider that yelled out that I was walking on the "wrong side" of the bike path.  I wasn't on the paved part, as I was in the mowed grass off to the side.   It always strikes me that so many people go by and don't notice the nature around them.  The mindset that is portrayed in the odd letter above is the same kind of thinking that could evict the birds from their home. 

I decided to head towards the other end of the park to see what I could find.  I did run across another Blue Grosbeak.  This one was also being very skittish and sneaky, but allowed for a couple brief shots.

 

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A dragonfly, butterfly, and of course birds

Tweet I haven't been able to get out much due to work and other commitments.  I usually get off work at around the noon hour, so I don't have mornings much.  That being said, I still must get out in the out of doors!  It is the only true way that I can relax.

Now that the trees are in full leaf out and migration is winding down, birds are starting to get harder to see (especially warblers!).  I was however lucky to spot a Louisiana Waterthrush along a stream on a walk in the deep woods of East Fork.  I often hear them, but don't get to see them.

Another bird that I hardly EVER see and only hear is the Yellow-breasted Chat.  I was surprised to be able to briefly catch a glimpse of one while driving around in Indian Creek Wildlife Area in Brown, Co. Ohio.

 

Such a nice looking bird.  This one was singing a full song.  The chat makes some cool mechanical sounds.  One minute it would sound like a cat and the other an android bird.  In my opinion, this bird is no warbler!

With the warmer than usual weather and local events at the East Fork Beach, I haven't been able to look for much in the shorebird department.  There has been some "good" shorebirds seen at places that are private and on the side of a road, but that is not my kind of birding.  

Cool and gloomy days are my best days for finding shorebirds at the beach at East Fork.  Hasn't been much in the way of diversity this spring.  I was able to find some of the more common shorebirds.

The Least Sandpipers are fairly tame.  I have stood still and had one walk between my legs before.  Here is one I found preening in the rain.

When the rain stopped, I was able to get the blur out of the picture.  Nice looking bird in breeding plumage.

 

So tiny they are when seen up close.

Shorebirds always give me the stare down!

There were also some Semipalmated Sandpipers on down the beach.  They are a lot more skittish then the leasts.

Again, another stare down.

I have been out looking for field birds such as Dickcissels and other not so common allies.  Dickcissels have never been reported from these places, but they are closer to me, so only makes since to check them.  Nothing "too" exciting on the field bird level.  Lots of Eastern Meadowlarks however.  Always love to see and hear them.

A Red-tailed Hawk was screaming up above, and then flew right over my head.  I think it must have been nesting close by.  The sound of a red tail always makes me feel free, love it.

This past Saturday was the East Fork Butterfly Count.  This is my second year for participating (only in it's second year).  I had a wonderful time.  It was very slow butterfly wise.  The only shot of a butterfly I was able to get was this beautiful Zebra Swallowtail, my favorite of the swallowtails.

I was also able to see a lifer dragonfly, a Spangled Skimmer (female). 

Fall migration is right around the corner.  I need to get outside more.  Hope everyone is  able to find some time to go out and enjoy the beauty of the nature around them. 

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