Birder PapaRrazi
An Amateur Birdwatcher's tally
A Successful Birding day is not always measured by adventures. Sometimes the peace and relaxation makes it a good experience. The temps were in the 40s and the skies were a mix of clear and cloudy. We worried about the fog as we turned towards Flaming Geyser Park. But the fog remained distant. It’s usually going to be a good birding day when we count 5 birds before we leave the yard. Sparrows, juncos, chickadees, starlings, and scrub jays are excited about the food that I set out and flock to the feeders. As we pull out we quickly see crows, sea gulls, and pigeons. Soon we pull onto the highway. A red tail hawk rests on a light pole but I don’t have a chance to get a picture of him. We turn onto Green River road and the expedition really begins. A blue heron is in the river. Ducks- mallards are in a field. We cross the bridge and miss getting a picture of a kingfisher. Twelve birds already! Then I see the gulls flying over the field and get a beautiful picture. They are mysterious and elegant in the fog. Blackbirds line up on a wire. A stellar jay races across the street. A flock of robins’ land in a field. By the time we get to the park we have seen 15 birds. Katie and I march – that’s her joy. Katie is a walker and a brisk walker at that. We don’t get to see many birds. Red wing blackbirds are over the marsh. We can hear them before we see them. The females look like sparrows. It takes a while to sort them out. As we walk along, Katie sniffing to her hearts desire, my eyes scan the trees. Is there a woodpecker on one? Or an eagle at the top of one? Not today. Crows caw and little birds warble. I can't pick out their tunes. Mergansers and widgeons in the marsh add two ducks to the count. A blue heron stands nearby. This makes for eighteen birds. We wonder If we will make it to twenty as we pile into the car and travel toward home. A kestrel makes nineteen– an exciting nineteen at that. Kestrels aren’t hawks, as we thought. They are Falcons. What is the difference? Falcons are smaller and their beaks are different. I have often mixed up kestrels as a hawk. Now I know better. He doesn't photograph too well, at least not for me. His red stomach seems to play havoc with the camera. But I am interested that small birds are in the tree behind him. They do not seem concerned. A small wren in our own yard makes number twenty- quite a number for us. We are very jubilant as we end our birdwatching on week three of 2019! The list sparrows juncos chickadees scrub jays crows seagulls pigeons red tail hawk blue heron starlings brewers blackbirds kingfisher stellar jay red wing blackbirds mallards robins mergansers widgeons kestrel wren
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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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