8/16/14 White Ibis!

Today we were going to Hawk's nest marsh to try to find a continuing juvenile White Ibis. We got there and all that was there were Ospreys. After searching for a while a flock of Glossy Ibises flew in.

Then a couple minutes after a flock of Snowy Egrets flew in.

There was also a Willow Flycatcher over there.

Finally after a while a brownish wading bird with a white belly flew in. I ID'ed it as the WHITE IBIS we were looking for.

 
After that, to celebrate, we went to get a bacon burger. It was awesome!

Comments/Thoughts -- 

Appreciated 

Owling 8/9/14

Today I went Owling at a forest in Rhode Island (not saying where so the owl doesn't get harassed). We eventually found it. It was not the most cooperative owl, but did sometimes give good looks. Here are some pictures of the Barred Owl. While on the trip I also saw my nemesis Red-eyed Vireo.

Comments and thoughts 

Appreciated 

Charlestown Breachway 8/6/14

Today (8/6/14) I went to Charlestown Breachway, Charlestown, Rhode Island to look for shorebirds and terns. The breachway has mud flats on them that attract shorebirds and terns during low tide.

Here's a picture of what it looks like.

SPECIES SEEN:
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Osprey
Black-bellied Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Piping Plover
Greater Yellowlegs
Willet
Least Sandpiper
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Short-billed Dowitcher
Laughing Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Least Tern
Common Tern
Fish Crow
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Gray Catbird
Cedar Waxwing
Saltmarsh Sparrow
Song Sparrow

When we first started out we saw a Willet, a Cedar Waxwing, a Double-crested Cormorant, and Great and Snowy Egret. When we crossed the canal entering the tidal flats we saw a Piping Plover

 Right after that in the same area I saw two Least Sandpipers.

After a little bit the activity started to pick up and lots of Semipalmated Plovers were seen.

Soon after, the Semipalmated Sandpipers came along.

I also looked at the flock of terns. There were mainly Common Terns, but there were a few Least Terns too.

Here is a Common Tern.

Here is a Least Tern.

There were also some Willets.

Nearby the Willet, there was a Greater Yellowlegs.

Also close by were two Black-bellied Plovers.

This Herring Gull nearby was making fun of me. "Shut up gull".

Later on the flats another Piping Plover appeared.

Here is a better Least Sandpiper shot.

I also got a better Semipalmated Plover shot.

And that ended a great day of birding.

Comments and thoughts

Appreciated 

6/28/14 Shore Birding Today!

Today I went to Napatree Point in Watch Hill, Rhode Island. Right now it is good for shorebirds and terns.

SPECIES SEEN:
Double-crested Cormorant
Osprey
American Oystercatcher (NEMESIS!!!!!!)
Black-bellied Plover (yearbird)
Semipalmated Plover (yearbird)
Piping Plover
Spotted Sandpiper (yearbird)
Willet
Semipalmated Sandpiper (yearbird)
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Least Tern
Roseate Tern (lifer)
Common Tern
BLACK SKIMMER (rarity and yearbird)
Tree Swallow
Bank Swallow (yearbird)
Barn Swallow
European Starling
Song Sparrow
House Finch
House Sparow


So we are driving through Watch Hill and there is no parking so we have to pay $25.00 for parking....nevermind you don't have to hear about that crap. Let's get to the birds. When we start walking on the beach all there are is Herring Gulls. When we finally have the Lagoon, which is good for the birds, in view we see our first Common Tern. Right at the start of the lagoon we see two American Oystercatchers digging for clams and shellfish.

American Oystercatcher

Once we get closer we start seeing a lot of Common Terns, and even one Least Tern.

Common Terns

As we got closer we noticed a BLACK SKIMMER, a continuing rarity.

Black Skimmer

As I was watching some shorebirds flew in and I saw Semipalmated Plovers and Sandpipers, and a Black-bellied Plover.

Semipalmated Plover (left) Semipalmated Sandpiper (right)

Black-bellied Plover

And of course a teenage couple just had to scare away the skimmer.

Black Skimmer (flying)

I was walking some more and saw more oystercatchers and a couple Willets.

Willets

Walking back to the lagoon a Black-bellied Plover showed itself.

Black-bellied Plover

Black-bellied Plover

A Piping Plover also showed itself.

Piping Plover

The Black Skimmer also came back.

Black Skimmer

He also got a little tired.

Black Skimmer

When I went to look at the recently landed tern flock I found two Roseate Terns in it.

Roseate Tern (left)

After that we walked back to the car, but on the way a Spotted Sandpiper flew up and landed on a sign.

Spotted Sandpiper

And that ended a good day of birding.

Any comments or thoughts wanted

6/22/14 Summer Birding

Sorry I haven't been blogging for a while. I was really busy with school, but my bird list has gone up a ton.

Today I went to Succotash Marsh, Moonstone Beach, and Trustom Pond NWR.

Map of today's birding

SPECIES SEEN/HEARD TODAY:

Great Black-backed Gull

Least Tern

Canada Goose

Wood Duck

Piping Plover

Herring Gull

American Crow

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Tree Swallow

Marsh Wren

American Robin

Gray Catbird

Cedar Waxwing

Common Yellowthroat

Yellow Warbler

Red-winged Blackbird

Common Grackle

Mute Swan

GADWALL

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Egret

Turkey Vulture

Osprey

Mourning Dove

Downy Woodpecker

Great Crested Flycatcher

Eastern Kingbird

Black-capped Chickadee

White-breasted Nuthatch

House Wren

American Redstart

Eastern Towhee

Song Sparrow

Northern Cardinal

House Finch

American Goldfinch

House Sparrow

First we went to Succotash Marsh. There was a continuing Wilson's Phalarope there, but we did not see it. All we saw were Least Terns, Great Black-backed Gulls, and an unidentified shorebird.

Next we went to Moonstone Beach. On the beach I saw Least Terns, a Piping Plover, gulls, and Canada Geese. At the marsh by the beach I got Marsh Wren, Gray Catbird, Yellow Warblers, Common Yellowthroat, blackbirds and grackles, and a deer tick (safely removed, no Lyme Disease). There were two birders who said they saw a Least Bittern fly in and they pointed to where it flew in. I did not find it in the reeds.

Next we went to Trustom Pond NWR. This was the big part of the day. First we looked at the feeders and found the usual suspects. Cardinals, Song and House sparrows, nuthatches, etc...... Next on the trail we went to the field where we saw sparrows (probably song) flying away. After that there was this very small marsh where there were blackbirds and grackles, Yellow Warblers, Common Yellowthroat. On Otter Point Trail we went through a more forest part of Trustom there were Yellow Warblers, and a couple of American Redstarts calling. At Otter Point there was NOTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!! Only two Mute Swans. After that we went on Red Maple Swamp Trail. On there we saw and heard lots of catbirds, Yellow Warblers, American Redstarts, Cedar Waxwings, and a fledgling cardinal. Here is a lousy attempt at trying to photograph a redstart. Those things are really fast.

American Redstart

    We got to the intersection with Osprey Point Trail. The intersection itself was very active with redstarts and Yellow Warblers singing everywhere along with an abundance of Cedar Waxwings and catbirds. Along Osprey Point Trail at a small cove in Trustom Pond there was the continuing pair of GADWALL. Not really a goal bird, but it was a rarity for the time of year. Also along the trail along with the chorus of Yellow Warblers, redstarts, catbirds, and Cedar Waxwings. A House Wren also made a quick appearance.

House Wren

Finally at Osprey Point we took a little break and so did this Least Tern we observed from the point.

Least Tern

We also saw an Osprey go fishing from the point. After that we headed back on Osprey Point Trail. In the same cove as the Gadwall were there was a family of Wood Ducks and 2 Eastern Kingbirds.

Wood Ducks

We passed the intersection to Red Maple Swamp Trail, but decided to keep going on Osprey point trail after that it started to get quiet except for a couple distant Eastern Towhees calling. After the period of quietness a Great-crested Flycatcher started calling, but didn't show itself. After that more quietness we were back at the feeders where we started and a very tame Song Sparrow posed for me.

Song Sparrow

After that we were done and went to Moonstone to see if the bittern had shown itself, but did not. 

That's the end of this birding trip.