Christmas Bird Counts: a pictorial summary (and some yard birds too!)

I participate on two Christmas Bird Counts every season, the Cincinnati, Ohio and East Fork Counts. Here is a quick pictorial summary of some of the best birds that was found by my party or by myself.

David Brinkman and I found a pair of Ring-necked Ducks on a small subdivision pond in Milford, OH (this is the male) on the Cincinnati Count.

Juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk (A.K.A. "The Palestine Buteo" for those who were at the Cincinnati tally)



Bob Foppe and I found this Barred Owl in Bethel, OH on the East Fork Count, 1st bird of the day!



I found this Merlin near Bethel, OH.

Below are some of the cool birds that I found in the yard recently!

Purple Finch on the left, House Finch on the right (both males).




Found this Golden-crowned Kinglet feeding on sap wells in the backyard.

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A gorgeous fall day spent birding

I spent a gorgeous fall day in the backyard watching the birds flit about the golden-yellow sugar maple leaves in the backyard.

The drought has had the birdbath super busy lately, as I had to fill it up three times today. The day started off cool, in the mid 40's. The trees were filled with shivering, puffed-up Chipping Sparrows this morning. They all seemed to hit the birdbath at about the same time!

I keep my lawn a little longer than usual in the fall. The sparrows seem to love the seeds on the grasses. The yard was filled with over 20 chippies this morning.

Chipping Sparrows (fall plumage)

The Chipping Sparrows were chasing each other through the trees constantly. Every time I would look at a bird, it was a chippie. Then, a yellowish bird caught my eyes behind the leaves. The bird was playing hide and seek.

"Hey you, what am I?"

"How about now?" ah, a Tennessee Warbler (Had it misidentified on my camera)

"Hey, you takin' my picture?"