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Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Bare Naked Birding Hoffman Park

I birded without binoculars for about 20 minutes in Hoffman Park after dropping my kids off at school. Nice close looks at several Common Yellowthroats, a Wood Thrush, and Northern Parula. But best birds were locally uncommon Blue Grosbeak seen closely but briefly, and a male Orchard Oriole seen in a distant oak tree. While I would have preferred to have my binoculars with me, I was surprised how much I was able to see without them--and only had a few birds slip away without my being able to identify them. Bare naked birding makes you pay more attention to the birds close by, which was good, and helped me to slow down and not try to cover too much ground (I only walked a quarter mile at the most). What with the Baltimore Oriole seen from my hotel this morning, and several other birds seen driving around, I'm well over my minimum 20 species Bird RDA.

2 comments:

Patrick B. said...

Hi Rob - wow, I missed the "moving to NJ" announcement. Hunterdon is well covered by birders, especially Frank Sencher Jr. and Sr. Looking forward to seeing you and Rick Wright in the field, although I've barely left local Middlesex County birding! Nothing wrong with that though. Anyway, welcome! Hoffman Park holds a special place in my heart. I had just broken up with my girlfriend and, to make me happy, I went to Hoffman Park the next morning. I got life looks at Bobolink and Grasshopper Sparrow. Not sure if they're still breeding there these days. Congrats on the new home!

JM said...

I know it's beneficial, but I have to work up to birding without my binos. Hmmm... does a camera count? Maybe semi-naked birding?

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