Thursday, June 23, 2011

Female Canvasback at Armledder Park?

Today, I decided to spend some quality time exploring Armledder Park in Hamilton Co., OH to become better familiar with it.

I found a large flooded area that was just off the paved trail that I presumed to be the "bean field" that many birders are familiar with.

The first bird of note there was a Spotted Sandpiper feeding right in front of me. It was also calling. I slipped in the mud and fell into stinging nettles, which caused the bird to flush. I also noted an odd duck with mallards. I IDed this duck as a female Canvasback.

June 8th, 2008 is the latest record of this duck in the area, occurring at Miami Whitewater Park.

Here are the pictures I took, the bird was very far away and I did not have a scope.


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P6231129


And in the background is a Great Blue Heron for size reference.

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Comments welcome.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

From water everywhere to scorching heat

After a long while of having many of my birding spots under water, the waters have finally receded. This had left behind lots of mud, and some mud loving shorebirds.

I walked right up to this Least Sandpiper which was sleeping in the mud. I did not see it till it lifted its head. I was so close, I had a hard time focusing my camera!

Least Sandpiper

I startled it up, it walked around me till it was later spooked to flight by a person with a dog. Was able to get a good shot of it.

Least Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper

Also spotted these Semipalmated Plovers in the mud. They are so small when seen up close. They look and move like little wind up toys.

Semipalmated Plovers

Semipalmated Plover
Semipalmated Plover

One flew to the lake to take a bath, here it is taking off.

Semipalmated Plover


The swallows were also taking advantage of the abundant food available left by the receding waters. I was able to see Bank, Cliff, Barn, Northern Rough-winged, and Tree swallows at the same time.

Barn Swallow
Barn Swallow


This was the first time that I seen a Cliff Swallow close up. It just started to rain when I took this picture. They are a nice looking bird!

Cliff Swallow
Cliff Swallow



The receded waters must have left an abundance of food around. Here are some pics of birds seen in the remnants of the flooded woods.

Pileated Woodpecker - this bird was on the side of the road!

Pileated Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker



These birds were everywhere!

Baltimore Oriole
Baltimore Oriole


Red-eyed Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo


Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher


Eastern Kingbird
Eastern Kingbird


Then came the heat. Temps in the high 80's and then 90's quickly turned the good birding off. It left a lot of amphibians and reptiles high and dry. Here are a few that I had come across.

Found this Painted Turtle in the middle of the road while out birding. I had put him back in the pond. Love this turtle's colors.

Painted Turtle
Painted Turtle


My nephews had found this little Western Chorus Frog (at least I think it is) on the patio. It was small enough to fit on my thumbnail.

Western Chorus Frog
Western Chorus Frog?



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Tuesday, May 17, 2011

2011 Queen City Bird Festival


On Saturday, May 14th, my friend Ashley and I took two of my nephews to the Queen City Bird Festival held at Hueston Woods State Park. They had a good time!

They got to make origami birds...


Queen City Bird Fest '11

Queen City Bird Fest '11


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And see cool birds up close...

Queen City Bird Fest '11
Red-tailed Hawk

Queen City Bird Fest '11
Turkey Vulture


And got to chill out with Susan Gets Native's Storm, Lucy and other of Raptor Inc.'s birds...

Queen City Bird Fest '11

And see more up close birds at bird banding...

Queen City Bird Fest '11
Male Indigo Bunting

And then we went birding...

Queen City Bird Fest '11
Looking at a Yellow Warbler

Queen City Bird Fest '11
Jon from Oxbow Inc. showing James how to use a scope

And they got to make a pine cone bird feeder...

Queen City Bird Fest '11

Queen City Bird Fest '11


And make a bird mask (They chose an owl)...

Queen City Bird Fest '11


Queen City Bird Fest '11
Ralph showing off his owl mask that he made at the 2011 Queen City Bird Festival!


Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Yard Birds, Flood Birds

Haven't been able to get to some of my regular birding spots lately because the roads to get to them have been flooded. For this reason, I have been spending more time in my yard. So far this year, birding has been great in my yard. A lot of new yard birds!

I don't usually see many warblers in the spring in my yard, however this spring has been different...

Northern Waterthrush
Northern Waterthrush - new yard bird!

Wished I could get better views of the warblers in the yard, but this is the typical warbler view that I get -

Yellow Warbler
The underside of a Yellow Warbler


Here is a little better picture of a warbler -

Blue-winged Warbler
Blue-winged Warbler

While watching warblers in the yard, I found this female Red-breasted Nuthatch. I have never seen one in here in the spring.

Female Red-breasted Nuthatch
Female Red-breasted Nuthatch


Both Orioles have been plentiful and singing away in the yard.

Baltimore Oriole
Baltimore Oriole singing

It is interesting to listen to all the immature male Orchard Orioles singing. Each one has a different song.

Immature Orchard Oriole
Immature male Orchard Oriole

The adult males, which look quite different, chase the young males away.

Adult male Orchard Oriole
Adult male Orchard Oriole



Eastern Kingbirds have been flying high above the yard... (Love this expression)

Eastern Kingbird
Eastern Kingbird

A pair of House Wrens has moved into my swing set where a pair of Carolina Chickadees had been nesting. The wrens violently fought the chickadees off. The wrens are new nesters for the yard.

House Wren

House Wren
House Wren singing

Field Sparrows sing their ping-pong ball like song constantly from the field adjacent to my yard. Here, one tries to play hide and seek.

Field Sparrow
Field Sparrow


However, the flooded habitat has its advantages as well.

Such as these Willet that I found on the side of the road on the way home from work.

New Richmond Willet
Willet

It is odd to see shorebirds walking on roads that I used to drive on. There is a road behind the spotted sandpiper, under the water.

Spotted Sandpiper
Spotted Sandpiper



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Friday, April 22, 2011

Why Spring is my favorite season...

Because the Goldfinches turn yellow...

American Goldfinch molting
Molting American Goldfinch male


And some of my favorite species return...

Blue-winged Teal
Blue-winged Teal


Caspian Terns
Caspian Terns


Forster's Tern
Forster's Tern


Meadowlarks are everywhere proclaiming "It's the Spring of the year!"...

Eastern Meadowlark
Eastern Meadowlark

And Blue-gray Gnatcatchers are back...

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

And love is in the air...

Blue-winged Teal pair
Blue-winged Teal pair



Canada Goose with goslings
Canada Goose with goslings

And even the "Winter species" look cool...

Far away Common Loon
Common Loon


Bonaparte's Gull
Bonaparte's Gull

And butterflies and other insects add color to the dull landscape...

Black Swallowtail
Black Swallowtail Butterfly


Six-spotted Tiger Beetle
Six-spotted Tiger Beetle

And wildflowers are in bloom...

White Trout Lily
White Trout Lilly


Dutchman's Breeches
Dutchman's Breeches

And first of season birds abound...

Purple Martin
Purple Martin


Spotted Sandpiper
Spotted Sandpiper in the setting sun



Hope everyone get outside on this Earth Day to enjoy our beautiful planet!



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