Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Cold Brook Birding (MWT)

1. HOME-kab Hooded Merganser in Cold Brook, Skowhegan, ME 5-13-11

I am always looking for new places to count birds and I do not let myself be deterred by grocery stores and parking lots. So it was that on a recent trip to Maine Gus and I drove into Skowhegan to pick up some pizza for the family at the local pizza hut in Route 201.

2. 0464 Pizza birds-kab While Gus went into the restaurant to pay for the pizza, I grabbed my bins and headed for the edge of the asphalt.

3. birds calling-kab I could hear all kinds of bird sound coming from the greenery beyond. down over the edge I looked and there found a small pond. above me the trees were full of movement as bird fluttered here and there among the leaves. I did not get to look for very long because we had to hurry home while the pizza was still hot, but as soon as we finished I grabbed my gear and drove back by myself to observe the birds. these are just some of the species I saw on my visit to Cold Brook.

4. 0457 WAVI-kab Warbling Vireo 5-13-11

 

5. EAKI-kab Eastern Kingbird 5-13-11

 

6. 0437 BAOR-kab Baltimore Oriole 5-13-11

 

7. 0428 YEWA-kab Yellow Warbler 5-13-11

 

8. 0431 AMRE-kab Can you find the American Redstart in these branches? 5-13-11

 

9. Cold Brook_0414-kab A pair of Hooded mergansers in the pond 5-13-11.

 

10. 0467 BAOR_kab Male Baltimore Oriole 5-13-11

 

11. Warbling vireo-kab Warbling Vireo 5-13-11

 

12. 0474 COYE-kab Common Yellowthroat 5-13-11

 

13. 0475 WTSP-kab White-throated sparrow 5-13-11

I did not know this would be my last white-throated sparrow of the year when I saw it. I have not seen one since.

14. 0465 Cold Brook-kab Many times I was looking down through brush like this. I could hear and see common grackles and red-winged blackbirds around the pond.

15. 0490 Edge-kab But I never had to get my feet wet or dirty. I just walked along the edge of the pond and parking lot for a short distance. The pond is just down through the trees. The birds were everywhere! Gus and I were back again on may 29th. We stopped on the way to my in-laws’ house to order pizza once again. and while Gus placed the order and waited for the pizza, I squeezed in about 10 minutes of birding at cold Brook. In that short amount of time I saw 13 species of birds, including tow juvenile European Starlings! Yes, I know they are invasive, but I can’t help myself. I thought these were cute!

16. DSC_0008 Juvenile Starling 5-29-11

 

17. DSC_0015 “Feed me!”

My World Tuesday 

 

CLICK THIS PICTURE!

 

Birds seen at Cold Brook in Skowhegan Maine:

Location: Cold Brook
Observation date: 5/13/11
Notes: What a place to watch birds! Discovered this when we went to pick up pizza. Gus went in, I stayed outside by edge of parking lot/pond. After we ate I came back alone to watch birds. What a treasure trove! sunny, warm evening. Photos.
Number of species: 18

Hooded Merganser 4
Herring Gull 1
Mourning Dove 3
Eastern Kingbird 3
Warbling Vireo 2
American Robin 3
Gray Catbird 2
European Starling 3
Yellow Warbler 4
American Redstart 2
Common Yellowthroat 1
Song Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 1
Red-winged Blackbird 2
Common Grackle 10
Baltimore Oriole 2
Purple Finch 1
American Goldfinch 4

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)


 



Location: Cold Brook
Observation date: 5/29/11
Notes: Watched birds while husband bought pizza. cloudy, gray, 74F.
Number of species: 12

Hooded Merganser 1
Mourning Dove 1
Chimney Swift 6
Eastern Kingbird 1
American Crow 1
swallow sp. 1
Black-capped Chickadee 1
American Robin 1
European Starling 3
Yellow Warbler 1
Red-winged Blackbird 3
American Goldfinch 4
House Sparrow 2

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)


Robert Mortenson of the Birding is Fun blog also knows how to find birds whenever and wherever he can. You can read his recent post on the subject by clicking the following link:


Exotic Parking Lot Birds

21 comments:

  1. You're a girl after my own heart! Awesome post! and thanks for the kind link! I'm sitting in my backyard while I type watching a Western Tanager eat the grape jelly. This is a first for my yard!

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  2. kathie, you had a great birding outing there. I am going to have to check out the areas around parking lots too. Loved the post and the photos.

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  3. Birding is fun, I can just imagine it. I think I need to take my laptop out on the back porch so I can blog and bird all at the same time!

    Eileen, you just never know what you are going to find! Thanks for stopping by!

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  4. Oh, well worth going back for these great pics. What a wonderful bit of birding.

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  5. Great post! As all the good birders know, you make your own luck. Gus must be amazed at what you capture in such a brief walk, I know I am! ;-)WBW

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  6. I love the Yellow Warblers and the Hoodies. Great captures.

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  7. You could find birds anywhere Kathie. I love that. I'd probably never think to look behind a pizza place for a sweet little bit of nature.

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  8. Beautiful and so many birds you got to see, I really like the red oriole!

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  9. Your photos prove that we can find birds anywhere if we look for them. The pond photos are especially beautiful.

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  10. Nice bird photos.

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  11. Beautiful scenic images Kathie and that Yellow Warbler is amazing.

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  12. Hi Kathie

    What a wondeerful spot. I am really jealous you saw such a variety of birds. And you got such wonderful photos of them. I agree the starlings are very cute.

    Regards
    Guy

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  13. Amazing the variety we can find in some places, if we just take the time to look.
    A great selection Kathie.

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  14. Love the Yellow warbler!!!! Great pic!

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  15. Parking lot birding, and you have the proof that it's not a waste of time. Wonderful captures Kathie!

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  16. A great birder finds opportunities everywhere. Great selection of birds! Love the Yellow Warbler, the Common Yellowthroat, the Warbling Vireo....

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  17. A lovely post to read...Great images and proof you can watch wildlife anytime anywhere.

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  18. That Oriole is so stunning my jaw dropped open and I gasped!! OMG-
    Excellent photos. Great Pizza run eh?

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  19. All those birds and pizza too! Great photo work!

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  20. Martha, thank you. It was fun!

    Springman, thanks, so was I! Don't know about Gus but my mother-in-law was impressed! She loved seeing the pictures!

    Bill s. thanks! I was so happy to see the warblers some of which were new for my Maine Life List.

    Gaelyn, it is so amazing what You can find if you are looking!

    fjillaripan thank you! I like the oriole also!

    Mick, thanks!

    Abe, nice to see you here!

    Roy, the yellow is so pretty in its breeding plumage. I always love the dark eyes too.

    Guy, I am so glad you like the baby starlings too.

    Holdingmoments, thanks!

    Kathryn, thanks!

    MaineBirder, I would not be surprised to find you checking this place out!

    Hilke, you make me smile! I know, I feel the same way! Which bird is your favorite? The one I am looking at!

    Andrew, so true and I do!

    Pat, yep! Thanks!

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  21. You are always ready and counting!

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Welcome to my nest! I hope you will enjoy spending time here with me and the birds. Thank you for your comments. I will try to get back to you as soon as I get back from counting more birds.