'09 Birdathon & A Swainson's Warbler Quest

David Brinkman and I participated as a team in the '09 Birdathon last weekend. The Birdathon goes from 5pm Friday to 5pm Saturday, and just like clockwork, it started to rain right at 5 on Friday. We had a Ruffed Grouse drumming and a turkey gobbling before the start and then the rain came (we later got turkey, but no grouse). I got soaked as we continued to hike in the pouring rain and lightning. Dave jumped a Chuck-wills-widow up in the rain at Lynx Prairie in Adams Co. I did not see it. It rained all evening. The only owl we got was a nest rule Barn Owl (the hardest owl to get).

We tried to get a hotel, but they were all full for the East Fork Regatta. Camping in the mud and rain - no good (plus cost too much). We ended up sleeping in the car at the Miami Whitewater Wetlands parking lot. Our team total was 115 species, the winning team was in the 140's. I am way too much out of practice with my sounds and birding in general.



A Swainson's Warbler quest
On Tuesday, May 15th, David Brinkman and I went down to try for a Swainson's Warbler at the Red River Gorge in Daniel Boone National Forest in Kentucky. Swainson's Warbler would be a life bird for the both of us. Dave had old records of locations where they had been found in 1988.

As soon as we turned on the road that was marked on the old map as a potential SWWA spot, Dave heard one singing. We parked the car and walked down the road a bit to the spot the bird was singing from. We looked and looked, but I only caught a glimpse of the bird, Dave did not see it.

I decided to briefly play an audio lure to get a glimpse of the bird. Shortly after it started playing, the bird jumped up to exposed perches and started singing. It was very fast and agitated, flying around in circles around us. I got good looks, but all were brief - this bird wouldn't stop moving for nothing. I almost got a pic, but my camera was giving me all kinds of hell (it does weird things often). Even with a good camera, it would have been hard to get a shot in the dark woods. It almost seemed too easy for a life bird. It was the only SWWA we had for the day.

We had many good warblers, many spished to a few feet of us. They are not afraid of people down there. My camera was giving me hell all day, couldn't get any good shots. I need a new job so that I can get a new camera - job offers and camera donations accepted.




Black and white and Yellow-throated. My camera takes too long to focus!

Nesting Pine Siskins

Just talked to the coordinator of the Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas II. He said that my observation of Pine Siskins carrying nesting material would qualify for confirmed breeding. This would be a first Clermont Co., OH record. Pretty cool. Right in the backyard.

Just walking around the neighborhood, I noticed (heard and seen pairs) that there are Pine Siskins in the trees everywhere. I think there are more than 30 birds.

Pine Siskin breeding in Ohio OBBA II

Upcoming birding events

Many good birding events coming up.

Birdathon '09

and the

East Fork Christmas Bird Count

Jaime and I attended the East Fork CBC Saturday. This is always my favorite count to go on because it is near my home and covers places I am familiar with. It always proves that there are good birds all around us, but most go unnoticed by birders. All in all, got good birds, met new birders, very good day.

Went owling before the count and was able to get/call in 2 Great Horned Owls, 2 Barred Owls, and 1 Screech Owl, all of them from the park property, which is not always easy - off to good start.

The morning started out very slow (a little cold), but as the day got later, the birds got better.

There was no tally, so I do not know what others groups may have. I know ours had some good birds.

Some pictures from the day:

Sandhill Cranes in Salt Air (name of small town),



I spotted a distant raptor that looked different from the many kestrels we were seeing (both a good thing). We stopped, got closer looks and confirmed a Merlin (also later saw bird in flight). This was outside of Bethel on country roads. Not a good photo, but better than my other pic of a merlin that was right in front of me (my old crappy camera).



Many raptors. Some of our group's better birds were:

1 Rusty Blackbird
Sandhill Cranes
A Merlin
Harriers
A male Purple Finch
2 Fox Sparrows

May be missing something.

The 62nd Cincinnati Christmas Bird Count

Good day of bird counting. Had a good time, nice weather, nice birds and met a new birder. Held Dec. 28th '08

Here are the photos of 1 of the 2 Chipping Sparrows that our party had seen on the count. While not publishing quality, (I am no good at taking pictures!) good enough for documentation. The birds were at the edge of a future subdivision off of ST RT 131 in Milford.

Cincy Birders in the Enquirer!

We "bird nerds" have made today's Cincinnati Enquirer:

Happy to be bird nerds

Another Life Gull!

Many thanks to Bill Stanley for finding another great gull at East Fork State Park. The Glaucous Gull is a life bird. Even though the temp was in the teens, the bird would be a colder bird to be seen up on the lake ;-) I got to study the bird at flight and behavior.

Also got to meet another local nature blogger, Nina from Nature Remains. I always enjoy meeting new people who need nature for their souls.

Got some pictures, and a short movie of the gull in flight.






Short video: