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:

1st Pine Siskin of the season

Apparently, from reports from farther north, it is going to be a good bumper crop year for Pine Siskins. Below is one of many to come. Only 1 so far...

Under feeders in backyard.

Update: as of Saturday, the 25th of Oct., 11 Pine Siskins are the high. Interesting to keep track of them by checking Ethan Kistler's map of Pine Siskin movement in Ohio.

Sparrow banding Sunday at Miami Whitewater

Last Sunday, Jaime and I went to the annual sparrow banding event put on by the Avian Research and Education Institute at Miami Whitewater Park. Good birds were seen, however no "good" (i.e. LeConte's, Henslow's, or Nelson's Sharptails) sparrows were caught except for Lincoln's.

Sister Marty Dermody was also conducting a Big Sit at the wetlands. There were some good birds on the list when I left.

Susan will love this post ;-)

Lincoln's Sparrow (above as well)

And, a quiz bird:

Answer at bottom of post.

And, here is a bad photo of a Nelson's Sharptailed Sparrow I found on my comp from years past at MW (my old crappy camera). Look at the pointy tail for which it is named.




And, just for a break from sparrows, here is a female Hairy Woodpecker that was caught out in the fields (?) Love the nictitating membrane!



There were also good butterflies flying around. Here is a Common Buckeye, they were everywhere!




Answer to quiz bird: Alternate form Savannah Sparrow