Purple is for kings

Tweet The weather has been very winter like as of late, which usually means that good birds are going to show up.  The Franklin's Gulls that I wrote about in the previous post were just the beginning of what was to come bird wise.  Thanks to the gulls, they brought more birders to East Fork.  I always like to see birders from the west side of Cincinnati here on the east side.  As I was not going to go birding Wednesday, Oct. 23rd due to other commitments, I am glad that a west side birder friend of mine did.  He got lucky and hit the jackpot at East Fork!  The rest just seemed like a blur...

As I was checking the Cincinnati Birds website, I got a call from another birder friend who said that three Purple Sandpipers were currently being seen to the left of the south beach at East Fork.  As that would be a life bird, I dropped what I was doing and grabbed my camera and out the door I went headed to East Fork!

When I got there, there were about five or so birders watching them.  The weather was very cloudy and windy with spitting rain.  I knew they must still have them in view.  I raced down to where they were and was pointed to the birds.  WOW!  A Purple Sandpiper in SW Ohio is a big deal, but 3?  In October?  This would even be early up on Lake Erie.  Even though the lighting was tough, they were still just beautiful birds. They say that purple is for royalty, and this bird is definitely a royal shorebird!   Life bird!

Just awesome!

I went back Friday and could not find the birds.  Later that evening, a local birder friend refound one bird in the same spot.  I watched it with another birder until dark.  A stray cat came down and stalked the bird, and me and the other birder chased it far away.  

Saturday, the sun was shining, so I was hoping to get some better views and pictures of the Purple Sandpiper.  It is such a nice looking bird, plus I was wanting to see a hint of that purple sheen.  The one lone sandpiper was still there and very cooperative.  

It walked kind of funny sometimes.  I love shorebirds.

There were other birds around as well, including a couple of Dunlin.  

Sunday, I was back at East Fork.  The Purple Sandpipers could not be found.  A good number of birders were there.  I love seeing all the birder action down here.  I met a lot of new birders, always fun.  I was even asked by one for an autograph!  That was a first.  I love sharing my knowledge and love of birds with others on my blog and out in the field.

While talking to a newly made birder friend, a small bird popped up and back down in some vegetation very near the rocky beach edge.  

I had an idea as to what it is, but I couldn't see enough for a positive ID.  Then a couple with a dog came very near and the bird popped out for about 3 seconds.

Vesper Sparrow!

I see them in the spring, but not often during fall migration.  Pretty bird.

As the weather seems to be in a lull, another powerful cold front is slated to slam into here with wind and rain Friday.  I wonder what goodies this one might bring?  If you are a birder in Ohio or near Ohio, make sure you bird after these cold fronts, as you never know what might show up!  Good birding and have fun! 

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Cold air, good birds

Tweet The birding had been rather slow for early October, with SW winds and warmer temps dominating.  Not much change in the happenings of birds on the beach at East Fork.  Smaller birds such as Juncos and Sparrows have arrived locally per reports, but I have yet to come across any.  I did hear a Winter Wren a couple of weeks ago.  Also, I have been working mornings and haven't been able to get out to look for passerines much.

Back during the first week of October, another birder and I took a walk back to the man made wetlands/bike trail on the other side of East Fork Lake.  We thought we heard a Marsh Wren, but could not confirm.  We did see this immature Rose-breasted Grosbeak migrating through.

Flickers seem to be everywhere as of late, and they are always nice to see.  Love their colors.

Always take time to admire the common birds!  Like this immature Ring-billed Gull.

As it is now mid October, the cold has finally arrived.  We had our first frost this past morning here.  It looks like the cold is here to stay, with reinforcing cold fronts lined up.  This could only mean that the dam should break open for some good birds.

This afternoon/evening, I decided to check the beach at East Fork.  I find it as the best time to get the best idea of what is around the lake gull wise, as they all fly in to roost on the beach just before dark.  When I arrived, there were people with cameras and children chasing the gull flock back and forth.  I didn't expect much.  I took up a position on the beach that provided the best light.  After a while, the people faded away briefly and the gull flock positioned itself right in front of me.  

I noticed a dark winged type of hooded looking gull way out over the water, but it would not land with all the commotion on the beach.  I kept watching, and finally it came in to rest.  Oh, I know this gull!

The guy in the background was chasing the gulls when I first arrived, I don't know what he was photographing.  Kind of defines the birding at East Fork.  

With the Common Tern that has been hanging out on the beach. ^

As I was looking at the Franklin's in the BACKGROUND through my camera, I zoomed out to notice that there was another Franklin's right at my feet!

The light was fading fast, so the quality of photos degrades.

I took the camera away from my face and rescanned the flock.  I see 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 FRANKLIN'S GULLS!  

I couldn't get a shot of all of them, as they were scattered about the flock and people were still very close - so the birds kept shuffling.

The guy in the first picture got up, scattering the gulls off the beach.

Here is a photo of the SIX Franklin's Gulls flying off into the darkness.

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