Friday, December 28, 2012

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Decided to check the beach at East Fork State Park after work today to see what may have changed bird wise since the weather had changed dramatically. The gulls numbered in the thousands with Ring-billed being the most numerous with both Herring and Bonaparte's Gulls mixed in.

While scanning through the gulls, I came across a very dark-backed gull that stood out from the others.  I am not at all experienced in gull ID.

I usually just try to find one that doesn't look like the others and study it to see what it might or might not be.  I am slowly becoming more confident in my gull ID, but we don't get much in the way of practice here in SW Ohio.  The bird in question was not as large as a Herring Gull, but larger than the nearby Ring-billed.  When the bird flew, I could see the white border of the back of the wing contrasting with the dark mantle.  Once on the water and at quite a distance, I could pick the bird out among both Ring-billed and immature Herring Gulls.  That being said, here are some photos of a gull that I am fairly sure is a 3rd winter or winter adult Lesser Black-backed Gull.  The pics were taken in very poor light and at a great distance with no other gulls for comparison.


DSCN3710

DSCN3709


DSCN3706

Comments welcomed and encouraged!

Friday, December 21, 2012

Long spurs and Crossed bills

The first day of winter has brought with it our first noticeable snow of the season here, alas only a dusting.  The temperatures are now in the mid twenties here as I write this.  However, for most of the season so far, it has been very mild for this time of year.  Thunderstorms with hail had taken the place of snow and ice.  But this hasn't stopped the northern bird invasion.

While recently looking for any odd grebes and loons that are different from the "regular" species seen at East Fork State Park beach, I spooked up a small bird from the beach.  I recognized the call as a Lapland Longspur.  This would be cool to see one, as I have only seen them a few times.  The bird flew out over the open lake, only giving distant views.  

As I was walking back to my car to head for home, a small bird landed not far in front of me.  It quickly disappeared among the grasses that border the beach.  I carefully moved in the direction of the bird.  I then spied some movement and this is what I found.

Lapland Longspur

A Lapland Longspur!  And only about 5 ft. in front of me.  It seemed to calm down and started to feed on grass seeds along the edge of the beach.  This is the closest I have ever seen one.  I took time to watch and study the bird.  

Lapland Longspur

Notice that the bill looks identical in shape as the Snow Bunting's.  They both feed on grass seeds and are very similar in behavior.  

Lapland Longspur


Lapland Longspur

And just as fast as the bird appeared at my feet, the bird ran to the center of the sandy beach and looked at me one last time as to say "goodbye" and flew out over the lake.

Lapland Longspur

After seeing the longspur, I wanted to see some more northern birds that are usually not so easy to find in SW Ohio.  I have been seeing reports of both crossbills being seen at a cemeteries and parks on the west side of Cincinnati.  Both crossbills would be a life bird for me.  Since these places are a good drive for me since I live on the far east side of Cincy, I want to see them as close as I can.   The west side of Cincinnati has something that is very hard to find on the east side of Cincy:

Hemlock cone


Hemlocks!

Since this is the preferred food of the crossbills, I decided to head west on my next nice off day.  I have been told that the crossbills that are being seen at Spring Grove Cemetery are far up in the hemlocks and very active/flighty.  However, this is the only place where both species have been seen.   I have also seen reports from other birders that you could see White-winged Crossbills fairly close at the small county park named Mitchell Memorial Park.  I just read a report that 7 WW crossbills were there earlier in the day, so I decided to go chase them.  

Upon arriving at Mitchell, I could hear several Red-breasted Nuthatches calling.  As soon I got out of the car, I could hear and then saw Pine Siskins.  I said to my girlfriend who was with me, "I think we are in the right spot."

I found some hemlocks, but no crossbills.  Then another birder had pulled up in a car and recognized me and told me he had seen one female up on top the hill in a hemlock.  So, I decided to head that way.  

Just like that, he showed me the bird.  My lifer White-winged Crossbill!

White-winged Crossbill female

The bird was just chowing down on the hemlock cones.  It was kind of funny watching it stretch to get the cones.  

White-winged Crossbill female

White-winged Crossbill female

White-winged Crossbill female


White-winged Crossbill female

White-winged Crossbill female

White-winged Crossbill female


Very cool bird!  It is so adapted and specialized for feeding on cones.  I am hoping to be able to go back out west and see some more and hopefully a male White-winged or even a  Red Crossbill!

Friday, December 14, 2012

Pine siskin, pine siskin, REDPOLL!

Today was the first time that I have been able to get out birding in a while.  I checked out East Fork first.  There wasn't much of anything going on here at all.  I then decided to go the Washington Twp. Park to see if any more odd geese have shown up.  I found no geese other than Canada Geese.  I did find my first of the season Hermit Thrush on one of the trails though.

However, when I got out home and stepped out of the car, I thought I had seen some reddish hues on one of the many Pine Siskins that was on one of my thistle feeders.  The bird was on the backside of the feeder.  I figured it was just a trick of lighting and proceeded to go into my house.  The feeder than turned in the breeze and then I noticed that I was looking at a male Common Redpoll!  This particular feeder is right next to the porch.  I was very close to the bird, and since I just got back from birding, I had my camera around my neck.  I was able to get this very fast shot of the bird before I spooked it.

Common Redpoll male, 12/14/12 Backyard

This is only the second redpoll that I have ever seen here.  The last and only other time was a female in November of 1999.  It stayed off and on for about a month.  

Filled the feeders back up hoping that something else nice shows up (I'll accept more redpolls too!)

Keep them trickling down!