Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Birding with the BwBTC Group

1. Dawn n Mardi-kab Dawn Fine and Mardi Welch Dickenson

Last October I finally got to go out birding with the Birders who Blog, Tweet, and Chirp. I had missed several opportunities to go birding with this group over the past couple of years due to conflicts with other trips or even moving across the county, but finally it worked out for me. My first outing with them had been two weeks before at Plum Island in Massachusetts. Now, just two weeks later I found myself on my way to Wilton, CT to go birding once again. I knew I would have fun if I could just get there! Since I was already in Connecticut visiting my family it seemed like an easy choice to make until I discovered that Wilton was down by the New York border--the opposite direction from where I currently live! To drive down there would turn my 2 hour trip home into a 5 to 6 hour round trip! Oh, but I had so much fun two weeks ago and I would get to meet more birders and see more birds and…oh heck, why not! So, I got up before dark, got on the highway and drove southwest across the state.

2. Palm warbler-kab Palm Warbler hiding

Though I got there a bit late, it was not too late to see birds. However, the birds were not cooperating with me and my camera. Sorry, but there will not be any outstanding bird photos today, but there will be fun!

3. AMGO-kab American goldfinches on weeds

We met at Allen Meadows Park. The crisp autumn morning soon warmed up and birds flitted around everywhere. In tangles and hedgerows, in trees and brush they flew and perched and fed.

4. Having fun-kab Dawn Fine, Cynthia Cage and Mardi Dickenson

You can tell from this photo we were all having fun and I found it a bit hard to focus on the birds. I finally had to walk off by myself just to see some birds!

5. birders-kab Diana Frugulietti, Dan Huber, Jeff Fine and Chris Ciccone

I saw some of the same people I had met two weeks before, and I met some new ones. You can read about that adventure over at Birding is Fun today.

6. flowers-kab Since the birds weren’t cooperating I took pictures of flowers instead.

 

7. Vesper sparrow-kab I was able to capture this one fuzzy shot of a Vesper Sparrow, a first for my Connecticut Life List.

 

8. autumn leaves-kab Autumn Leaves

 

9. COHA-kab Cooper’s Hawk

All in all I saw 38 species of birds at Allen’s Meadow Park! After a brief stop for coffee and a restroom break we headed over to Schenk Island in search of more birds.

Schenk Island

10. sapsucker-kab Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

 

11. red-bellied WP-kab Red-bellied woodpecker in shade

 

12. in flight-kab Red-bellied woodpecker in flight with acorn

 

13. leaves-kab Autumn Leaves…

 

14. nuts-kab…and Nutty Birders!

What fun I had! What fun people I met. Though I only saw 16 species of birds on Schenk Island I saw my first ever Dickcissel and I was the one who spotted it first and noticed that it had a larger beak than a sparrow. I was so proud of myself! However, the photo I took of the bird is terrible, so, no pictures of that one either!

World Bird Wednesday 

Links:

Bird List for Allen’s Park Meadows

  1. Canada Goose
  2. Turkey Vulture
  3. Cooper’s Hawk
  4. Sharp-shinned hawk
  5. Red-shouldered hawk
  6. Red-tailed hawk
  7. Merlin
  8. Ring-billed gull
  9. Mourning Dove
  10. Belted Kingfisher
  11. Red-bellied Woodpecker
  12. Northern flicker
  13. Pileated Woodpecker
  14. Eastern Phoebe
  15. Blue jay
  16. American Crow
  17. Black-capped chickadee
  18. tufted titmouse
  19. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
  20. Eastern bluebird
  21. Gray Catbird
  22. Northern Mockingbird
  23. Blackpoll Warbler
  24. Palm Warbler
  25. Chipping Sparrow
  26. Vesper Sparrow
  27. Savannah sparrow
  28. Song sparrow
  29. Lincoln’s sparrow
  30. Swamp sparrow
  31. White-throated sparrow
  32. White-crowned sparrow
  33. Northern Cardinal
  34. Indigo bunting
  35. Common Grackle
  36. House finch
  37. American Goldfinch
  38. House sparrow

Schenk Island Birds

  1. Red-bellied Woodpecker
  2. Hairy Woodpecker
  3. Yellow-bellied sapsucker
  4. Northern Flicker
  5. Eastern Phoebe
  6. Tufted Titmouse
  7. American robin
  8. Cedar Waxwing
  9. Palm warbler
  10. Yellow-rumped warbler
  11. Song Sparrow
  12. Swamp Sparrow
  13. White-throated sparrow
  14. White-crowned sparrow
  15. Dickcissel*****Lifer!

20 comments:

  1. You can't get lucky ALL the time with your camera, particularly birds. And you got some great shots. Especially of the nutty birders. A long drive well worth it.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Kathie, looks like a great time with a great groups of birder friends. Congrats on your Dickessel. Wonderful post and photos.

    ReplyDelete
  3. It looks like a lovely outing in beautiful country. Even if the birds are extra shy or uncooperative, birding in good company makes it a great day. I like the Red-Bellied Woodpecker a lot, and I'm starting to recognize these other birder names too. Y'all make a pretty formidable birding gang!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wow, what fun for you! And what amazing pictures you took!

    ReplyDelete
  5. there ARE some outstanding bird shots there!!!!! the hawk!! the woodpecker! the cute littler ones! and the autumn leaves, the flowers! looks like a fun time. ALL your pictures are terrific!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Looks like a fun time!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

    ReplyDelete
  7. What a wonderful post to stumble upon... the first and last images outdo the birds..
    It's a fantastic advert for birding..
    Big hugs for Kathie (and friends) from Andrew..

    ReplyDelete
  8. It sounds like a fun day and great to get some bird photos as well.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Gaelyn, it certainly was and those Nutty birders made it all worth while!

    Eileen, thanks!

    Laurence, well, I hope you get to meet some of us one day and I hope I get to meet you! Oh, and welcome to the BwBTC group! It's always nice to have new birding buddies!

    KaHolly, thanks!

    Laura, you are too kind! Thank you! Schenk Island was more forested and you probably would have loved it!

    Gary, thanks!

    Andrew, well, I am glad you "stumbled" in here and thanks for the hug!

    Mick, thank you. It was a fun day but I did not get as many good photos as I wanted! However, I DID get to see the birds!

    ReplyDelete
  10. It sounds (and looks) like you all had a great time! I love the Cooper's Hawk and the Red-bellied Woodpecker!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Howdee Kathie!
    We did have a Fantastic time! I love these get togethers. We must do more!!! And who cares about the birds anyway! hee hee..Just joking! Happy Birding to all!

    I sure look silly in those photos ;)

    ReplyDelete
  12. That looks like a fun bunch there! No doubt it was hard to concentrate on the bird life.
    Take care Kathie!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hi Kathy! What a wonderful post from that day! So glad you found me, so I got to see this. Maybe we'll meet again sometime!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Looks like a really fun day! Great photos!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Was a wonderful time, and you got some fantastic photos Kathie.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Looks like you had fun - and you did get some nice shots.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Fun times! The last photo is a classic!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hey BJK, thanks!

    Dawn, what fun! and you look adorable!

    Springman, thanks!

    Texwisgirl, thanks! We did have fun!

    Cindy, I am so glad I found you...again! It was a pleasure to meet you! Hopefully we will do it again sometime!

    Holdingmoments, well said!

    Tammy, it was fun! If Dawn is ever in your neighborhood and holds one of these events, you should go!

    Dan, I am so glad you came to both events and that I finally got to meet you!

    Bailey road, Thank you!

    Larry, I am so glad I got to finally meet you also! I am glad you came this day!

    ReplyDelete

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.