Getting back in the birding groove

Today I didn't want to push things too hard, but wanted to try and shake some of the bad karma from yesterday's Slaty-backed Gull search. So I stopped by Lake Nockamixon on my way to drop off my rental car in Quakertown. Nothing really unusual there, the usual four gull species. Some scaup. A nice Hermit Thrush hopping around on the ground in the open. Far out on the ice was a dark young Bald Eagle. The usual suspects.

At work, the regulars at the feeders welcomed me back from my roadtrip. Nothing unusual. No surprises. Just Nature seeping back slowly into the gaping hole in my heart where a Slaty-backed Gull should be!

I really need to get up early and take a nice long walk tomorrow morning before work!

Day List: 33 species (165% of Bird RDA)
2008 List: 221 species
BIGBY List: 46 species

Curse of the Slaty-backed Gull

When is it an unsatisfying day of birding even after seeing Common Redpolls and Little Gulls? When you are trying to find a Slaty-backed Gull (a rare vagrant to the Lower 48 from Siberia) that has been around for a week and you can't find it! Since I had meetings all day at the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, I thought it was a great chance to finally see this gull, which had been hanging around at the university compost heaps during the mornings, and roosting with other gulls at Stewart Park on Cayuga Lake in Ithaca in the evenings.

So on my way into the lab we stopped at the compost piles. One Lesser Black-backed Gull was with the more common species, but no Slaty-backed.

During lunch we made another run to the compost piles. This time a nice darkish Iceland Gull made an appearance. Unfortunately, a Bald Eagle flew over and a lot of the gulls never landed again, so we couldn't be sure the Slaty-back wasn't there. But meetings were waiting, so we had to leave.

Finally, we got out of our last meeting at 4pm and I raced down to the lake to see if the bird was there on the ice. Lots of gulls were on the ice, and there was a distant flock of Bonaparte's Gulls that had a few Little Gulls mixed in. Half a dozen or more birders were there looking at these lovelies, which were about half a mile out on the lake ("See those white specsk? Wait for one to raise its wings. See the ones with dark underwings? That's them. The white specks with dark wings. Right!)

Just as it was getting dark, I noticed some large gulls--mostly Great Black-backed Gulls out way out on a jetty. Why hadn't I noticed them before? The light was really bad, and the birds were far away. I could ID most of them, but in the crappy light, a few were in poses that made it impossible to make sure they weren't the Slaty-backed. Argh! Darkness fell and we had to make the long drive back to Pennsylvania empty handed.

Nobody else saw that gull that day either, and it hasn't been seen since. But it was a bad miss that put me a bit on edge. Nothing messes up your birding groove more than trying really hard to find a bird and missing it.

What was it that the Buddha said about desire?

This wasn't the first time I've missed this bird. It has suddenly shot to the top of my most wanted list, and become my greatest nemesis bird!

I love you Slaty-backed Gull! I really do! Come to Papa!

Sing with me now. You know the tune:

I want my Slaty-backed, Slaty-backed, Slaty-backed.
I want my Slaty-backed, Slaty-backed, Slaty-backed.
Slaty, Slaty-backed Gull. Want my Slaty-backed Gull!

Poe had his Raven. I have a white and gray rake from Siberia!

Day List: 27 species (135% of Bird RDA)
2008 List: 221 species
BIGBY List: 46 species

New Mormon Prophet is a Bird Guy

With the death of Gordon B. Hinckley, the apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will ordain a new church president this week. President Hinckley's successor will be Thomas S. Monson, who among other things is a long-time breeder of Birmingham Roller pigeons. According to this NY Times story, President Monson, was disappointed a few years ago when the Boy Scouts of America got rid of its pigeon raising merit badge.

Monson's son Clark is a biogeographer and conservation biologist who has studied Ospreys.

Eagle on the Ice

Yesterday I got to show my two youngest kids a young Bald Eagle out on the ice at Lake Nockamixon. We also saw Mute Swans, American Black Ducks, and Hooded Mergansers. Not a lot of variety, but nice to share the views with my kids. If nothing else, hopefully 2008 will see me spending more time birding with my kids.

Day List: 23 species (115% of Bird RDA)
2008 List: 217 species
BIGBY List: 46 species.

New GBBC Buttons

Feel free to steal these buttons and use them to help promote the Great Backyard Bird Count coming up Feb 15-18, 2008.

Check out the GBBC website at Birdcount.org.

Slow Sunday

After church today, we stopped by Peace Valley Park to see if I could show the kids a Bald Eagle out on the ice. As we pulled up, an adult eagle was soaring over the lake. We pulled into the parking area, and it soared right overhead after the kids and I jumped out of the car. The kids thought that was pretty cool.

Good thing we stopped there today, as I only got 15 birds on my afternoon walk, so I with the few naked eye birds seen at the lake, I barely managed my recommended daily allowance of birds!

Daily List: 22 species (110% of Bird RDA)
2008 List: 217 species
BIGBY List: 46 species

Glacous Gull and friends

Stopped by Peace Valley and Tullytown on my way into the office today. Peace Valley had lots of Canada Goose, including one that was temptingly small and boxy-headed, and may have been a Cackling Goose.

At Tullytown I saw a Glacous Gull, Great Cormorant, and Fish Crow for my year list. Also two and possibly three Iceland Gulls. One was pretty dark looking, especially on the primaries, making me wonder if it might be a Thayer's Gull, but I ended up thinking it was probably just a dark Kumlein's Iceland Gull. Tens of thousands of gulls were over the dump and on the river, making it a challenge to find the more unusual gulls mixed in.

At the office, a Purple Finch and Eastern Towhee were highlights at the feeders.

Daily List: 47 species (235% of Bird RDA)
2008 List: 217 species
BIGBY List: 46 species

Friday Quickie

Just a quick stop at Peace Valley Park after dropping the kids off at school on Friday. Managed 38 species in just under an hour. Very few ducks today, but Red-breasted Nuthatch at the Nature Center continues, and I got a Purple Finch in the trees above the bird blind there. A female Sharp-shinned Hawk came through and scattered everything at one point, so I left. An adult Bald Eagle on the frozen lake ice and a female Northern Harrier were the best birds down by the dam.

Daily List: 39 species (195% of Bird RDA)
2008 List: 212 species
BIGBY List: 46 species

If Birds Could Vote

Tired of the normal talking heads speculating about the 2008 presidential campaign? Here's an entirely new perspective--how various North American birds might vote in the upcoming elections, if they had a vote.

Northern Cardinal
Vote: Huckabee
This bird is red, red, red. And religion might be a factor.







Eastern Bluebird
Vote: McCain in primaries, Obama in general
The bird is red up front, but really mostly blue when you get down to it.






Great Blue Heron
Vote: Hillary
Huge, blue, and a bit dangerous, if it gets within two feet of you it can poke out your eye with that sharp dagger of a beak!







California Gull
Vote: Romney
Very white, little gray on the sides. But really, this is the state bird of Utah, 'nuff said?





Mexican Jay
Vote: Richardson
Living in the American southwest, this bird is a true blue democrat, and liberal on immigration.



Black-necked Stilt
Vote: Huckabee
Those goofy pink legs make it stand taller than it should, otherwise everything's pretty much black and white with this guy.






American Avocet
Vote: Paul
Stooping to enter the fray, this guy is mostly black and white, but check out that burnt orange head and neck--that's the official color of the University of Texas, so gotta support the native son.


Red-winged Blackbird
Vote: McCain
This bird is black, but carries a red-patch on its sleeve!




Common Grackle
Vote: Obama
This bird is black, but check out that blue gloss!





Song Sparrow
Vote: Edwards
Sings a pretty song, but kinda plain and doesn't get much attention when up against more gaudy birds.



Of course, maybe you shouldn't judge how folks'll vote based on where they live or what they look like.

And with over 700 species of birds in North America, this sampling is too small to predict who would win the overall bird vote anyway!

How would your favorite bird vote?

Ivory-billed Woodpecker Bust in NY Times

Check out the sad story here.

Egyptian Goose Records in Pennsylvania

(photo:wikipedia)
A couple months ago on the PA Birds email list I asked for reports of Egyptian Goose from across the state. These exotic geese turn up from time to time, with individuals sometimes persisting at a location for lengthy periods of time or even returning in consecutive years. They have bred at least twice in the wild in Pennsylvania. So far, I have 36 reports of Egyptian Goose from 11 counties. High count is 10 at Nockamixon in 2003, where free-flying birds were breeding in 2003 and 2004.

Here's a quick summary of reports:

1994, Crosslands Pond, Chester Co
1997 (5 Mar),Green and Angelica Lake, Berks Co
1999, Angelica Lake, Berks Co
1999, New Brighton, Beaver Co
2000 (Oct), Sweet Arrow Lake, Schuylkill Co
2000 (Feb),Peace Valley , Bucks Co
2000 (25 Apr ) , Heller Rd, Richaland TWP , Bucks Co
2000 (Jan-Apr ) , Nockamixon SP , Bucks Co
2000, Shippensburg, Cumberland Co
2001 , Saltsburg , Westmoreland Co
2001 (Mar ) , Peace Valley , Bucks Co
2001 (Feb-May 02 ) , Nockamixon SP , Bucks Co
2001 (to Mar 03 ) , Peace Valley , Bucks Co
2002 (Dec ) , Nockamixon SP , Bucks Co
2002 (6 Mar ), Bedminster , Bucks Co
2003 (Apr-Nov ) , Lake Nockamixon , Bucks Co
2003 (14 Nov ) ,Peace Valley , Bucks Co
2003 , Stoyer's Dam , Schuylkill Co
2004 (Jun-Spe ) , Lake Nockamixon , Bucks Co
2004 (21 Mar ) , Doylestown , Bucks Co
2004 (17 Jan ) , Peace Valley , Bucks Co
2004 (3 Apr ) , Nockamixon SP , Bucks Co
2005 (5 May-Spe ) , Lake Nockamixon , Bucks Co
2005 (Winter ) , Belvediere Bridge , Northampton Co
2005 (27 Mar), Oakmont, Allegheny Co
2005 (22 Apr ) , Bender's Pond , Franklin Co
2006 (27 Mar ) , Gotwall's Pond , Berks Co
2006 , Hwy 611 N. of Doylestown , Bucks Co
2006 (winter ) , Belvediere Bridge , Northampton Co
2007 (fall ) , Schuylkill River , Philadelphia Co
2007 (fall ) , Pine Run/ Peace Valley , Bucks Co
2007 (8 Dec), Peace Valley, Bucks Co
2007 (29 Dec-12 Jan 08), Bedminster TWP, Bucks Co
2007 (18 Feb ) , Nockamixon SP , Bucks Co
2007 (Feb) , Peace Valley , Bucks Co

It looks like a small number of these birds are probably always flying around SE Pennsylvania, though without more reports it will be hard to know exactly how many and if they are regularly breeding anywhere. We really need people to keep bettter track of sightings of these birds, so we can get a better handle on how many there are and if they might be breeding regularly. Perhaps we can add them to the eBird filters for Pennsylvania.

Thanks to the following individuals who reported sightings (either to me or to PA birds): Chris Bohinski, Howard Eskin, Bill Etter, Mike Fialkovich, Pol Heiney, Len Hess, D. Husic, Thomas Ford-Hutchinson, Katrina Knight, Dennis Miller, August Mirabella, Ed Richards, Ruth Ann Smith, Adam Sabatine, Bill Stewart.

Turkeys Gone Wild

This morning I stopped by a couple places at Lake Nockamixon after dropping the kids off from school. The Wild Turkey flock on Three Mile Run Rd was easily visible along the road, adding another species to my 2008 year list. Lots of ice is forming on the lake, so waterfowl were concentrated and mostly visible from the Fishing Pier, Three Mile Run Boat Launch, and the Marina. 8 Mute Swans at the Fishing Pier were interesting, as I don't see them up there a lot. 7 Hooded Mergansers, including 5 males were great to see. A Hermit Thrush was a bird that is reported up there all the time, but one I saw today for the first time up there in winter. Otherwise mostly the usual local species--I saw 29 species in under an hour. Only added a couple more later in the day--a Great Blue Heron in town and House Sparrows behind my house.

Day List: 31 species (155% of Bird RDA)
2008 List: 212 species
BIGBY List: 46 species

Birdchaser BIGBY

Along with all the other birding fun I'm having this year, I've decided to throw my hat in the Big Green Big Year (BIGBY) ring and see how many species of birds I can see in 2008 while on foot from either my home or office. Since as of the start of 2008 my office yard list is only 121 species, and my home yard list is only 57 species, this may not be the biggest list in the world--but it will be another excuse to get out and take those daily walks that are so important for my (mental) health. I'll keep my BIGBY list posted here and update as needed.

BIGBY List (Updated 5/28/2008): 105 species

Great Blue Heron
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Mallard
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Ring-billed Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Blue Jay
American Crow
Carolina Chickadee
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
Eastern Bluebird
American Robin
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Eastern Towhee
American Tree Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Purple Finch
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow
Brown-headed Cowbird
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (2 Feb)
Hooded Merganser (5 Feb)
American Black Duck (5 Feb)
Fish Crow (9 Feb)
Common Merganser (24 Feb)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (24 Feb)
Brown Creeper (24 Feb)
Ring-necked Pheasant (8 Mar)
Eastern Phoebe (8 Mar)
Killdeer (8 Mar)
Peregrine Falcon (Mar 10)
Wild Turkey (Mar 18)
60-Rusty Blackbird (Mar 21)
61-Fox Sparrow (Mar 23)
62-Wood Duck (Mar 25)
63-Pine Warbler (Apr 7)
64-Osprey (Apr 7)
65-Palm Warbler (Apr 12)
66-Broad-winged Hawk (Apr 15)
67-Swamp Sparrow (Apr 15)
68-Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Apr 15)
69-Hermit Thrush (Apr 18)
70-Chimney Swift (Apr 19)
71-Black-and-white Warbler (Apr 19)
72-Tree Swallow (Apr 22)
73-House Wren (Apr 25)
74-Ring-necked Duck (Apr 25)
75-Purple Martin (Apr 25)
76-Warbling Vireo (Apr 30)
77-Gray Catbird (May 1)
78-Northern Waterthrush (May 1)
79-Chestnut-sided Warbler (May 1)
80-Black-throated Green Warbler (May 1)
81-Solitary Sandpiper (May 2)
82-Blue-headed Vireo (May 2)
83-Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (May 2)
84-Blue-winged Warbler (May 2)
85-Northern Parula (May 2)
86-Yellow Warbler (May 2)
87-Chestnut-sided Warbler (May 2)
88-Magnolia Warbler (May 2)
89-Black-throated Blue Warbler (May 2)
90-Prairie Warbler (May 2)
91-Ovenbird (May 2)
92-Scarlet Tanager (May 2)
93-Baltimore Oriole (May 2)
94-Barn Swallow (May 2)
95-Loggerhead Shrike (May 5)
96-American Redstart (May 5)
97-Indigo Bunting (May 5)
98-Eastern Kingbird (May 5)
99-Veery (May 6)
100-Wood Thrush (May 6)
101-Great Crested Flycatcher (May7)
102-Red-eyed Vireo (May 7)
103-Eastern Wood-Pewee (May 19)
104-Willow Flycatcher (May 23)
105-American Kestrel (May 28)
106-Ruby-throated Hummingbird (July 18)
107-Eastern Screech-Owl (July 31)

Just another day

So today I didn't have time for a morning walk, or for really much of anything. So here's how to achieve a minimum recommended daily allowance of birds without trying to hard:

1) Stop at Peace Valley Park for a few minutes on the way to work. Scope out the Canada Goose flock and gulls, picking up a couple Hooded Mergansers and Mallards along the way. Substitute for your own local lake or pond if available.

2) Keep eyes on feeder intermittently during the day. That can almost be good for 20 species in and of itself at my work. If you don't have a window at work, or feeders, think hard about getting a new office...or job!

3) Keep eyes peeled on commute to and from work. On my half hour into work, I got Red-tailed Hawk. On my way home, Eastern Bluebird.

4) Take your kids/grandkids/neighbor kids owling. Reprising our Owl Moon adventure last night, I took all three of my kids out to see the Eastern Screech-Owls tonight. We heard three and saw one at the first place we tried, and got another one to land right next to the car at an additional place on the way home.

Day List: 25 species (125% of Bird RDA)
2008 List: 211 species

End of Ruff Times

I'd been nervous for the past week after having seen a Ruff west of Phoenix. I was the only member of my birding party to see it, and it was a quick view before the bird flew off with a bunch of Greater Yellowlegs. Fortunately, the bird was relocated again yesterday. Whew! It's bad form to see too many rare birds that others can't see.

Owl Moon

I really like the children's book Owl Moon, about a father taking his daughter out to look for owls at night. I've really enjoyed taking my kids owling, and last night after a church activity, I took my oldest daughter out to look for the Eastern Screech-Owl I called up last week. We pulled up to the spot, rolled down the windows, and played an owl tape. Within a couple minutes the small owl flew over the car. It played peek-a-boo with us for several minutes on each side of the car. Finally it landed on a branch were we could get a pretty good look at it silhouetted against the night sky. It called softly after we turned off the tape. A great daddy-daughter moment, even if a bit late on a school night.

Daily List: 35 species (175% of Bird RDA)
2008 List: 211 species

New Year Birds

While I was happy to get my Bird RDA each day over the weekend, I was aching to see something new for the year. Fortunately, a female Purple Finch showed up at the feeders at the office today, and a walk down along the edge of the woods netted me a couple Field Sparrows with the flock of Song Sparrows, White-throated Sparrows, and a couple American Tree Sparrows.

After seeing lots of Cassin's Finches in Utah a couple weeks ago, it was nice to see this female Purple Finch. These two species can be quite similar looking, and while the facial pattern on the female Purple Finch is more distinct, Cassin's can also have a strong facial pattern that is pretty similar.

Monday Morning Walk

Monday I spent most of the day working on my dissertation, and only had my morning walk to really give me my minimum recommended daily allowance of birds. It wasn't quite as cold as Sunday, and the birds were very active. Most unusual bird was a Mute Swan seen flying with a flock of 35 Canada Goose. Usually I see a pair of feral Mute Swans in Sellersville a mile or so away, and they don't move much, so not sure if this was one of those birds or another roaming individual.

Daily List: 28 species (140% of Bird RDA)
Year List: 209 species

Day of Rest

Yesterday I went a little crazy trying to find one more bird for the year. I did manage to hear a few Swamp Sparrows at sundown at Quakertown Swamp, but only after driving around for over an hour in what can only be considered a mania. So I wasn't sure it was really worth it.

Saturday Day List: 32 species (160% of Bird RDA)
2008 List: 209 species

So today I took it easy and consciously decided to end the quest to see a new year bird every day. I put it to rest, so to speak. For me, Sunday is a day mostly for church and family. So I did take a walk after church, and ended up meeting my Bird RDA in the cold blustery wind. But it was mostly just a walk. No more mania. A chance to catch my breath. Sundays are awesome!

Day List: 27 species (135% of Bird RDA)
2008 List: 209 species

Bird fortified morning

I was easily able to reach my recommended daily allowance of birds on my snowy, icy, slushy morning walk this morning. I identified most birds by their calls through the crunchy sound of snowy footfalls. American Robins were very conspicuous, and Eastern Bluebirds and Yellow-rumped Warblers were foraging on the ice in a flooded field. A Hairy Woodpecker, first heard then seen, was a new bird for the year.

Here's the report from eBird:

Location: Perkasie, Bucks County, PA, US
Observation date: 1/18/08
Number of species: 24

Canada Goose 15
Mallard 2
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 3
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 1
Blue Jay 5
Carolina Chickadee 8
Tufted Titmouse 7
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
Carolina Wren 7
Eastern Bluebird 12
American Robin 25
Northern Mockingbird 3
European Starling 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler 7
Eastern Towhee 1
White-throated Sparrow 5
Dark-eyed Junco 2
Northern Cardinal 6
House Finch 4
American Goldfinch 2
House Sparrow 3

Thanks to eBird I don't even have to keep a running count of the species I see. I just enter them when I get home and it counts them up for me!

Daily List: 28 species (140% of Bird RDA)
2008 List: 208 species