Birder PapaRrazi
An Amateur Birdwatcher's tally
As the birds migrated in October 2019, I watched in awe. It happens every year. But every year is exciting. This month I spent a lot of time watching my own feeders. Four types of sparrows, 2 types of chickadees, starlings, juncos, finches, flickers, a towee, scrub jays, and hummingbirds all captivated me with their beauty and cuteness. For them it was business – empty the feeder, the suet, and the seed balls. Play in the fresh bird bath. Yell at the squirrels. Yell at each other. There is little better entertainment than watching a bird feeding station. Yet I did go to Nisqually, a federal wildlife refuge in Pierce County, WA. The beginning of my walk was birdless. I walked for about 2 miles. Along this side is a riparian path. I sometimes see deer. But not this time. Then the songbirds burst on the scene (with a few cute squirrels.) chickadees and sparrows, robins, wrens all sang for me. Then I got to watch a blue heron stepping cautiously forward, one slow step at a time. A sapsucker caught my eye but not my cameras’ eye as did about 10 golden crown kinglets. It was a surprise to me that there were no Canada geese about and only about 5 mallard ducks. I heard rumors of a pygmy owl but he or she wasn’t about during my visit. For October 19th I found a rural area with a marsh and watched wigeons, mallards, Canada geese, and crows mixed with starlings playing on a rainy morning. It was relaxing – I sat in the warmth of my car and enjoyed the scenery. My bird list only held those 5 species, but I didn’t mind. My favorite birding spot is also my favorite dog walking spot. Flaming Geyser state park regularly hosts kingfishers, stellar jays, and blue herons as well as ducks. In the last few weeks gulls have played in the Green River. I’ve enjoyed watching them. Robins were out in full force one weekend. I didn’t see one robin the next weekend. Also, I have missed the red winged blackbirds. The swallows are gone for the season. But as the foliage disappears for the winter, I hope to see more raptor birds. So, the year progresses. Migrations have been very entertaining. What will November bring? Check out my gallery for more pics!
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AuthorI love birdwatching. It's relaxing and fun. Even though I've been birding for over 10 years I classify myself as an amateur birder. I plan to write a blog each month about my experiences. Hope you enjoy them! Categories |
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