Warblers and Pipelines 6/20/15

This is a pretty late blog post, but not as late as the last one.

So we had heard about a place in Connecticut that had breeding Cerulean Warblers. Since this is a rapidly declining species we decided to head out there and see what we could find. It was Pumpkin Hill Road in Ashford, CT. One one part of the road there is and oil pipeline that runs under it. It is very easy to see the pipeline from the road. There is a parking lot by the pipelines and that is the area where Cerulean Warblers breed. We were told the warblers would be singing as soon as we got out of the car.

We got there at 7:00 A.M. and as soon as we got out of the car Ovenbirds and Red-eyed Vireos started singing, but no Ceruleans. A male Scarlet Tanager showed its very pretty red to us, but I only got a bad picture of it. At about that time Wood Thrushes, Veeries, and American Redstarts started singing, but still no Ceruleans. A Winter Wren also showed itself, a bird I did not expect to see.

At about 7:15 A.M. I heard the very distant ascending  zee zee ze ze zeeeeee of a Cerulean Warbler. Okay good, we know they are actually here. More started singing, but still very distant, so my dad and I decided we would drive down more of the road with the windows open to see if we could hear any more.

As we started driving a Cerulean song started getting closer and closer and when it was really loud and close we stopped to car and I got out to investigate. And of course right when I though I knew where he was in the tree he stopped singing and I didn't get to see him. I did see a beautiful male American Redstart though.

We continued driving and got to a pond while more very distant Ceruleans sang, and I heard a loud che-beck, che-beck, che-beck of a Least Flycatcher. Surprisingly this was actually a lifer for me and I got okay looks at the bird, but no pics, because he flew away before I could take one. After that my dad had to go to Dunkin Donuts so we drove into Ashford. We decided to check out the pipeline again just in case the Ceruleans were there. As we drove back up the road we didn't hear a single Cerulean Warbler.

We got into our little parking spot by the pipeline ,at 7:45 A.M, and as soon as we got out of the car very loud ascending zee zee ze ze zeeeeee. Probably about 4 males doing that all right close to me. I went over to where the song was coming out the loudest, pished, and like clockwork this little guy came down to meet me.

Cerulean Warbler

And the day ended with 2 lifers.

9/28/14 Plum Island (6 months late)

Hey everyone! Sorry I haven't been updating you guys for a while. I've been busy with birding and stuff. Yearbirds will be bolded and lifers will be **bolded and have quotes around them**.

On September 28, 2014 Neil Hayward, North American Big Year record holder was leading a walk at Parker River National Wild Refuge in Plum Island, Massachusetts. Somehow we got lost on the Island, but allowed 30 minutes just in case we did get lost (which we did) and arrived at 8:00 sharp just as the walk was starting. As we were going through the pay toll to go to PRNWR a male Northern Harrier flew by (Gray Ghost) we would end up seeing a lot of Harriers, but that was our only gray ghost for the day. Once we got there we started carpooling to the different stops at Parker River.

Our first stop at a pond where we saw Northern Pintails, American Wigeons, and American Black Ducks.

Pintails, Black Duck, and Wigeon 

Our next stop was a field with a couple of pine trees and we saw a Brown Thrasher, Yellow-rumped Warblers, American Robin, a giant flock of Double-crested Cormorants flying over, and finally 3 **Pine Siskins**. 

Brown Thrasher

Me Birding with Neil Hayward

Our next stop, which was another little pond had American Black Ducks, Gadwall, and

Green-winged Teal

Next we stopped at Hellcat trail system and birded along the trail. We found Peregrine Falcon, Marsh Wren, Eastern Towhee, Cedar Waxwing, Gray Catbird, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Yellow-rumped Warbler, American Woodcock, and other common birds.

American Woodcock

Northern Harrier

Next we went over to Pine Loop trail and overlook and found Northern Harrier, Great Egret, Greater Yellowlegs, Scarlet Tanagers, Black-and-White Warbler, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Tufted Titmouse, **Golden-crowned Kinglet**.

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Finally we stopped at the lookout where we could see shorebirds and we saw Black-bellied Plovers, Semipalmated Plovers, Semipalmated Sandpipers, Dunlins, Greater Yellowlegs, Great Egrets, and Snowy Egrets.

Stats

2 lifers

4 additional yearbirds

Here is the ebird checklist for that day

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S19969476

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