Monday, January 4, 2016

Virginia Big Year 2016

I am doing a big year in Virginia and and will be keeping an updated version of my list here.  Once the year progresses a bit more I will be adding a targets list for birds I haven't seen yet.




1 Gadwall - Anas strepera 1-Jan-16
2 Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos 1-Jan-16
3 Surf Scoter - Melanitta perspicillata 1-Jan-16
4 Bufflehead - Bucephala albeola 1-Jan-16
5 Hooded Merganser - Lophodytes cucullatus 1-Jan-16
6 Red-breasted Merganser - Mergus serrator 1-Jan-16
7 Red-throated Loon - Gavia stellata 1-Jan-16
8 Common Loon - Gavia immer 1-Jan-16
9 Northern Gannet - Morus bassanus 1-Jan-16
10 Double-crested Cormorant - Phalacrocorax auritus 1-Jan-16
11 Brown Pelican - Pelecanus occidentalis 1-Jan-16
12 Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias 1-Jan-16
13 Bald Eagle - Haliaeetus leucocephalus 1-Jan-16
14 Black-bellied Plover - Pluvialis squatarola 1-Jan-16
15 Ruddy Turnstone - Arenaria interpres 1-Jan-16
16 Sanderling - Calidris alba 1-Jan-16
17 Dunlin - Calidris alpina 1-Jan-16
18 Western Sandpiper - Calidris mauri 1-Jan-16
19 Bonaparte's Gull - Chroicocephalus philadelphia 1-Jan-16
20 Ring-billed Gull - Larus delawarensis 1-Jan-16
21 Herring Gull - Larus argentatus 1-Jan-16
22 Great Black-backed Gull - Larus marinus 1-Jan-16
23 Forster's Tern - Sterna forsteri 1-Jan-16
24 Rock Pigeon - Columba livia 1-Jan-16
25 Mourning Dove - Zenaida macroura 1-Jan-16
26 Peregrine Falcon - Falco peregrinus 1-Jan-16
27 American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos 1-Jan-16
28 Fish Crow - Corvus ossifragus 1-Jan-16
29 Carolina Chickadee - Poecile carolinensis 1-Jan-16
30 Brown-headed Nuthatch - Sitta pusilla 1-Jan-16
31 Brown Creeper - Certhia americana 1-Jan-16
32 Northern Mockingbird - Mimus polyglottos 1-Jan-16
33 European Starling - Sturnus vulgaris 1-Jan-16
34 Yellow-rumped Warbler - Setophaga coronata 1-Jan-16
35 Savannah Sparrow - Passerculus sandwichensis 1-Jan-16
36 Song Sparrow - Melospiza melodia 1-Jan-16
37 Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus 1-Jan-16
38 Common Grackle - Quiscalus quiscula 1-Jan-16
39 House Finch - Haemorhous mexicanus 1-Jan-16
40 American Goldfinch - Spinus tristis 1-Jan-16
41 American Wigeon - Anas americana 1-Jan-16
42 Common Eider - Somateria mollissima 1-Jan-16
43 Horned Grebe - Podiceps auritus 1-Jan-16
44 Carolina Wren - Thryothorus ludovicianus 1-Jan-16
45 House Sparrow - Passer domesticus 1-Jan-16
46 Northern Harrier - Circus cyaneus 1-Jan-16
47 Glaucous Gull - Larus hyperboreus 1-Jan-16
48 Merlin - Falco columbarius 1-Jan-16
49 Tree Swallow - Tachycineta bicolor 1-Jan-16
50 Orange-crowned Warbler - Oreothlypis celata 1-Jan-16
51 White-throated Sparrow - Zonotrichia albicollis 1-Jan-16
52 Swamp Sparrow - Melospiza georgiana 1-Jan-16
53 Black Vulture - Coragyps atratus 1-Jan-16
54 Turkey Vulture - Cathartes aura 1-Jan-16
55 Eurasian Collared-Dove - Streptopelia decaocto 1-Jan-16
56 Brown-headed Cowbird - Molothrus ater 1-Jan-16
57 Black Scoter - Melanitta americana 1-Jan-16
58 Pied-billed Grebe - Podilymbus podiceps 1-Jan-16
59 Laughing Gull - Leucophaeus atricilla 1-Jan-16
60 Lesser Black-backed Gull - Larus fuscus 1-Jan-16
61 Boat-tailed Grackle - Quiscalus major 1-Jan-16
62 Purple Sandpiper - Calidris maritima 1-Jan-16
63 Red-tailed Hawk - Buteo jamaicensis 1-Jan-16
64 Willet - Tringa semipalmata 1-Jan-16
65 Canada Goose - Branta canadensis 1-Jan-16
66 Ruddy Duck - Oxyura jamaicensis 1-Jan-16
67 Great Egret - Ardea alba 1-Jan-16
68 American Woodcock - Scolopax minor 1-Jan-16
69 American Robin - Turdus migratorius 1-Jan-16
70 Cedar Waxwing - Bombycilla cedrorum 1-Jan-16
71 Dark-eyed Junco - Junco hyemalis 1-Jan-16
72 Eastern Towhee - Pipilo erythrophthalmus 1-Jan-16
73 Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis 1-Jan-16
74 Great Horned Owl - Bubo virginianus 2-Jan-16
75 Red-bellied Woodpecker - Melanerpes carolinus 2-Jan-16
76 Pileated Woodpecker - Dryocopus pileatus 2-Jan-16
77 Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata 2-Jan-16
78 Western Tanager - Piranga ludoviciana 2-Jan-16
79 Ring-necked Duck - Aythya collaris 2-Jan-16
80 American Kestrel - Falco sparverius 2-Jan-16
81 Sharp-shinned Hawk - Accipiter striatus 2-Jan-16
82 Barn Owl - Tyto alba 2-Jan-16
83 Northern Bobwhite - Colinus virginianus 2-Jan-16
84 Red-shouldered Hawk - Buteo lineatus 2-Jan-16
85 Long-eared Owl - Asio otus 2-Jan-16
86 Red-headed Woodpecker - Melanerpes erythrocephalus 2-Jan-16
87 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - Sphyrapicus varius 2-Jan-16
88 White-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta carolinensis 2-Jan-16
89 Eastern Bluebird - Sialia sialis 2-Jan-16
90 Field Sparrow - Spizella pusilla 2-Jan-16
91 White-crowned Sparrow - Zonotrichia leucophrys 2-Jan-16
92 Purple Finch - Haemorhous purpureus 2-Jan-16
93 Pine Siskin - Spinus pinus 2-Jan-16
94 Loggerhead Shrike - Lanius ludovicianus 2-Jan-16
95 Downy Woodpecker - Picoides pubescens 3-Jan-16
96 Tufted Titmouse - Baeolophus bicolor 3-Jan-16
97 Golden-crowned Kinglet - Regulus satrapa 3-Jan-16
98 American Tree Sparrow - Spizelloides arborea 3-Jan-16
99 American Black Duck - Anas rubripes 3-Jan-16
100 Belted Kingfisher - Megaceryle alcyon 3-Jan-16
101 Mute Swan - Cygnus olor 3-Jan-16
102 Wild Turkey - Meleagris gallopavo 4-Jan-16
103 Eastern Screech-Owl - Megascops asio 5-Jan-16
104 Northern Flicker - Colaptes auratus 6-Jan-16
105 Northern Shoveler - Anas clypeata 6-Jan-16
106 Hairy Woodpecker - Picoides villosus 7-Jan-16
107 Common Merganser - Mergus merganser 9-Jan-16
108 Fox Sparrow - Passerella iliaca 10-Jan-16
109 Ruby-crowned Kinglet - Regulus calendula 10-Jan-16
110 Hermit Thrush - Catharus guttatus 10-Jan-16
111 Common Raven - Corvus corax 10-Jan-16
112 Cackling Goose - Branta hutchinsii 13-Jan-16
113 Ruffed Grouse - Bonasa umbellus 14-Jan-16
114 Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus 14-Jan-16
115 Killdeer - Charadrius vociferus 14-Jan-16
116 Golden Eagle - Aquila chrysaetos 14-Jan-16
117 Eastern Meadowlark - Sturnella magna 14-Jan-16
118 Barred Owl - Strix varia 14-Jan-16
119 Northern Saw-whet Owl - Aegolius acadicus 14-Jan-16
120 American Oystercatcher - Haematopus palliatus 16-Jan-16
121 Snow Goose - Chen caerulescens 16-Jan-16
122 Tundra Swan - Cygnus columbianus 16-Jan-16
123 Northern Pintail - Anas acuta 16-Jan-16
124 Long-tailed Duck - Clangula hyemalis 16-Jan-16
125 Black-crowned Night-Heron - Nycticorax nycticorax 16-Jan-16
126 Cooper's Hawk - Accipiter cooperii 16-Jan-16
127 Greater Yellowlegs - Tringa melanoleuca 16-Jan-16
128 Red Knot - Calidris canutus 16-Jan-16
129 Gray Catbird - Dumetella carolinensis 16-Jan-16
130 Brant - Branta bernicla 16-Jan-16
131 Virginia Rail - Rallus limicola 16-Jan-16
132 Sora - Porzana carolina 16-Jan-16
133 Snowy Egret - Egretta thula 17-Jan-16
134 Little Blue Heron - Egretta caerulea 17-Jan-16
135 Osprey - Pandion haliaetus 17-Jan-16
136 Clapper Rail - Rallus crepitans 17-Jan-16
137 Nelson's Sparrow - Ammodramus nelsoni 17-Jan-16
138 Pine Warbler - Setophaga pinus 17-Jan-16
139 Chipping Sparrow - Spizella passerina 17-Jan-16
140 White Ibis - Eudocimus albus 17-Jan-16
141 Baltimore Oriole - Icterus galbula 18-Jan-16
142 Painted Bunting - Passerina ciris 18-Jan-16
143 Lesser Scaup - Aythya affinis 19-Jan-16
144 Short-eared Owl - Asio flammeus 19-Jan-16
145 Common Goldeneye - Bucephala clangula 20-Jan-16
146 American Coot - Fulica americana 21-Jan-16
147 Redhead - Aythya americana 22-Jan-16
148 Trumpeter Swan - Cygnus buccinator 1-Feb-16
149 Horned Lark - Eremophila alpestris 4-Feb-16
150 Ring-necked Pheasant - Phasianus colchicus 5-Feb-16
151 Iceland Gull - Larus glaucoides 6-Feb-16
152 Black Skimmer - Rynchops niger 6-Feb-16
153 Greater Scaup - Aythya marila 6-Feb-16
154 Great Cormorant - Phalacrocorax carbo 6-Feb-16
155 Harlequin Duck - Histrionicus histrionicus 6-Feb-16
156 Black-legged Kittiwake - Rissa tridactyla 6-Feb-16
157 Razorbill - Alca torda 6-Feb-16
158 Wilson's Snipe - Gallinago delicata 13-Feb-16
159 Lark Sparrow - Chondestes grammacus 13-Feb-16
160 Wood Duck - Aix sponsa 13-Feb-16
161 Blue-headed Vireo - Vireo solitarius 13-Feb-16
162 Red-cockaded Woodpecker - Picoides borealis 13-Feb-16
163 Green-winged Teal - Anas crecca 14-Feb-16
164 Red Crossbill - Loxia curvirostra 14-Feb-16
165 Rusty Blackbird - Euphagus carolinus 15-Feb-16
166 Winter Wren - Troglodytes hiemalis 20-Feb-16
167 Greater White-fronted Goose - Anser albifrons 27-Feb-16
168 Brown Thrasher - Toxostoma rufum 27-Feb-16
169 Rough-legged Hawk - Buteo lagopus 27-Feb-16
170 Palm Warbler - Setophaga palmarum 28-Feb-16
171 Marbled Godwit - Limosa fedoa 28-Feb-16
172 Short-billed Dowitcher - Limnodromus griseus 28-Feb-16
173 Long-billed Curlew - Numenius americanus 28-Feb-16
174 Western Grebe - Aechmophorus occidentalis 28-Feb-16
175 Tricolored Heron - Egretta tricolor 28-Feb-16
176 Long-billed Dowitcher - Limnodromus scolopaceus 28-Feb-16
177 Ross's Goose - Chen rossii 1-Mar-16



Monday, July 29, 2013

300 for Michigan!

Seeing 300 species of birds in Michigan has long been a goal of mine and one that finally seemed within reach at the beginning of this summer.  When I returned from school this May my Michigan list stood at 293 and I was able to see this male Eurasian Wigeon on the drive home to bring my list to 294.

Over the next few weeks I was able to add Lark Sparrow, Piping Plover, and Tricolored Heron, bringing my total to 297 at the end of May.
Once June hit, the birding predictably slowed down and the Black-necked Stilt at Shiawassee NWR was my only state bird during the month.

A heard only Western Meadowlark in Berrien county while I was on my way to Indiana finally brought me within one of three hundred.  My chance to get to 300 came just four days later when a Glossy Ibis was reported at Pointe Mouillee.  Unlike many Ibis there, this one stayed in the same small area for several days, making for an easy chase.  Photos proved more difficult, however, since views were usually obstructed by vegetation.  Once it flew to a slightly different spot and I was able to get an ok flight shot.
Although there was little else of note at Mouillee on that hot muggy July day I was thrilled to finally reach 300 after 6 years of birding this great state.


Friday, May 17, 2013

Birding the Point Pelee Area

This morning Karl Overman and I crossed the border into Ontario to bird Point Pelee National Park and the surrounding area.  Today was not one of the best days for Pelee but we still managed 20 species of warblers including these three.


The biggest surprise at the park was a flyby Surf Scoter Karl spotted coming in near West Beach.
Black-billed Cuckoo and Mourning Warbler were the other highlights but were heard only.

We moved on to Hillman Marsh where we found a large flock of Black-bellied Plovers and this Whimbrel along with a few hundred Dunlin.

A visit to the Blenheim Sewage Lagoons capped off our day.  There were hundreds of swallows, and a good variety of ducks, but the Wilson's Phalaropes stole the show.  We counted at least five including a few brightly colored females.



The Dunlins were extremely cooperative as well.
All of a sudden nearly all the shorebirds spooked and took off.  We soon discovered the reason, this sharp adult Peregrine Falcon.
Although our species total was a little on the low side for mid-May with 105 species it was a fun day to be out birding in an area I don't visit that often.

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Black-tailed Godwit

My brother has been complaining about my neglect of my blog lately so I figured I should post something.  In Late March the Black-tailed Godwit which had showed up at Chincoteague NWR last fall reappeared and was showing much more reliably.  One Saturday morning I was able to drive out and see it along with many other shorebirds.

This sharp American Oystercatcher was hanging out with the Willets and Godwits for most of the time I was there.

The Black-tailed Godwit is the bird on the left in this photo.  The white underwings are the key field mark that separates it from the similar Hudsonian Godwit.

The next two photos show how it was slightly smaller and paler overall than the Marbled Godwits in addition to the black tail.


This trip was a nice way to start off the spring with a Code 4 Eurasian vagrant.  Seeing a few Piping Plovers and a wild pony were really nice highlights as well.  Chincoteague is always a fun place to visit.

Sunday, November 18, 2012

The Finches have Arrived!

Over the last few weeks just about all of the northern finches have started to push south and they have already reached northern Virginia.  Last weekend I saw a flyover Evening Grosbeak and White-winged Crossbill at Kiptopeke State Park at the southern tip of the Delmarva peninsula and this weekend the finches have moved into northern VA in full force.  On friday I found a male and female White-winged Crossbill feeding in the Hemlocks at Blandy to go with the flock of Siskins that has been there for a month or so already.
  
The birders who have come out to look for them this weekend have continued to turn up more finches with several Redpolls and a Red Crossbill reported today.  I was able to see one of the Redpolls thanks to Josh Taylor but I haven't been able to find any Red Crossbills yet. 
Hopefully this is a sign of many more winter finches to come.

Thursday, March 29, 2012

March Butterflies

This morning I decided to head out to Shenandoah River State Park in the hopes of finding a drumming Ruffed Grouse. While this search was unsuccessful I still had a very good morning. There was a flock of Golden-crowned and singing Ruby-crowned Kinglets at the picnic area and I saw this Louisiana Waterthrush along a nearby creek.

As I was walking along the Cottonwood Trail I was surprised to see this Black Rat Snake coming out of a hole in a juniper!
The real highlights of the day, however, were the butterflies. Zebra Swallowtails were everywhere, along with one Spicebush Swallowtail, a Falcate Orangetip, a Question Mark, and several duskywings which I think were Juvenal's.
As I was walking down by the river, I was stunned to see several Little Brown Myotis in between the plastic panel protecting a sign! I have never seen a bat perched before so I was pretty excited.
I finished off a great morning with my first Northern Rough-winged Swallows of the year near the RV Campground.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Indiana Monk Parakeets

I've been busy with midterms and other stuff lately so I haven't been able to update the blog much lately. During spring break in early March I had to be in Gary Indiana so I worked in a side trip to a nearby Monk Parakeet colony. Monk Parakeets have been established in the Chicago area for many years now and they are now expanding into Indiana. Like many Monk Parakeet colonies in the Chicago area, this one was at a power station, where the wires help keep the birds' bulky stick nest warm so they can survive the winter. As I was walking around the power station I noticed a group of sticks on the structure and soon I saw two Monk Parakeets looking back at me! They got excited and started calling and soon 8 birds flew off and landed in a tree across the street. I ran back to my car to go after them but then four more birds flew in from the opposite direction! I was able to get a few good shots of them here.
After this, I decided to see if I could relocate the birds that had flown across the street to photograph them in a more natural setting. I was able to find all eight birds perched in a small tree where I was able to get several photos I was very happy with.


This was definitely a very worthwhile detour and raised my life list up to 393.