Little Egret

There is currently a Little Egret traveling up and down the eastern seaboard. It was first seen in Delaware back in May, then was relocated up in Maine at the end of June, and now has been found in Massachusetts. Is this the same individual or do we have three Little Egrets in the country. The Little Egret is an ABA Code 4 and comes from the Old World. It is very similar to our Snowy Egret. Some of the similar characteristics are the yellow slippers, and all white body. One thing I have recently learned about this bird, is its range has started to expand. Scientist believe that this bird will start to become more common in North America due to the expansion of its range in Europe. Currently the Bird migrates from Europe to Africa and India in the winter. Now when you are out in the marshes looking through Snowy Egrets, keep your eye out for this guy, you never know when you could find your own first ABA - 4 record!

Possibility of Including Hawaii into the ABA

Recently I came across some news about the possibility of including Hawaii into the ABA region. I find this terrific news, not only will I now be able to travel to Hawaii and count the birds for my ABA list I will also be able to help preserve the fragile ecosystem. Hawaii is an extremely fragile ecosystem which has seen multiple extinctions in the past few decades due to the introduction of non-native or invasive species. If Hawaii becomes accepted into the ABA region this will allow birders their first chance to really explore the islands, pumping much needed funds into the restorations and preservation of land.

When humans first arrived in Hawaii, there were more than 140 species of native birds. All 80 species of landbirds, 4 species of seabirds, and 29 species of waterbirds were endemic (found nowhere else in the world). Today, over half of these birds are extinct. Thirty of the remaining 66 native bird species are endangered - threatened with extinction. With the help of the fund received from bird watching tours and tourism the remaining birds will have a better chance of survival. I encourage all to support the possible chance of Hawaii being added to the ABA region. For more information on this subject read Ted Eubanks article on annexing Hawaii into the ABA

http://blog.aba.org/2010/11/annex-hawaii.html.

Margaret Peak Nature Preserve

Yesterday I woke up at 6:30 am to meet my grandmother at my parentshouse to embark on a quest to findmy very first Dickcissel. For the past month I have been receiving emails about how Dickcissels are now being found in every good suitable habitat. Now I have tried for this bird once thisyear with no luck, and once last year at this very location with no luck. But yesterday was a new day and I was able to find one female Dickcissel sitting up on a grassy weed right next to a song sparrow. The Dickcissel has now become my 510th ABA bird and my 428th ABA bird this year. Other notable birds for the day were throngs of Indigo Buntings, Cedar Waxwings, a calling Great Horned Owl, a pair of Willow Flycatchers, a pair of Pied-billed Grebes and one lone Grasshopper Sparrow calling from within the Soy Bean fields.

Magee Marsh and Surrounding Areas

I just got back this Sunday from a two day stay out in Lucas and Ottawa counties. The main attraction were all the warblers passing through on their way north to the breeding grounds. I was unable to leave real early in the morning on saturday like I would have liked to due to work. When work finally ended at 3 I hit the road and made it to Magee in just an hour and a half. Arriving at 4:30 the boardwalk was still teeming with birders. I found the fist parking spot and just parked the car. Getting out I could tell the woods were just swarmed with birds.

Walking to the bird walk I got my first couple of birds; Norther Flicker (Yellow Shafted), European Starlings (sadly), Red-Winged Blackbirds and Common Grackle. Flying overhead I had Herring Gull and Common Terns, further out in the distance two Double-Breasted Cormorants were flying east. My first few steps onto the boardwalk I was greeted by a group looking at a Canada's Warbler. Probably one of the cooler looking warblers with the black necklace around its yellow belly. Hopping around next to it were Wilson's Warblers, Yellow Warblers, Gray Catbirds, Warbling Vireos, Ruby-Crowned Kinglets, Black-throated Blue Warblers, Black-throated Green Warblers, and Prothonotary Warblers. I enjoyed great looks of both Black-billed Cuckoos and Yellow-billed Cuckoos.

Oak Openings, Toledo Ohio

Today I woke up early on my day off from work and drown the 2.5 hours to Oak Openings with my grandmother. Hoping to meet up with the Kirtland Bird Club that had left Cleveland much earlier this morning, unfortunately we never found them, but instead found a bird group from Detroit, Michigan.

The first birds seen were a pair of Brown-headed Cowbirds, Eastern Kingbird, Eastern Bluebirds and an Indigo Bunting. After catching up with the Michigan group the pointed the direction of a Red-headed Woodpecker and where they were seeing the Lark Sparrows a lifer for me. While watching the Lark Sparrows and Chipping Sparrows defending territories, one of the birders spotted a Grasshopper Sparrow on a reed in the field. They put the Grasshopper Sparrow into their field scope giving everybody great looks.

Further down the trail we spotted our first Mourning Dove and one Turkey Vulture, then came the call that one of the birders had found the Summer Tanager a lifer for me. The bird was far off from where we were located but I was able to see the bird and then watched it fly away.

Other notable species seen were Wood Thrush, Ovenbird, Brown Thrasher, Wild Turkeys, Cedar Waxwings nesting, and Baltimore Oriole.

Along the trail one of the birders was able to identify the butterflies as we went along, these included; Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Black Swallowtail, Viceroy and Silver-Spotted Skipper.

The Rookery

Went out to the rookery park in Geauga county today to do some late day birdwatching with my dad. He brought along his camera and snapped photos as we went birding.

Our first few birds were spotted at the nest boxes in the middle of the field, and Eastern Bluebirds and Tree Swallows rested on top of their houses. Once we started the trail I saw American Robins, Song Sparrows, and a Warbling Viero calling from the top of a tree. Further down the path my dad spotted a Green Heron flying into the swamp along the path. In the swamp calling were multiple Red-winged Blackbird and Red-bellied Woodpecker.

At the covered bridge, I was able to psh in to Great-crested Flycatchers (Lifer), a Eastern Kingbird, a Common Yellowthroat, and a Yellow Warbler. A Grey Catbird was calling from a bush along the side of the creek, while two Tufted Titmouses were fluttering around in the bushes.

Closer to the rookery, I was able to see the Great Blue Herons flying to and from their nests, I was also able to hear the squawking of the Blue Herons as they got close to their nests. While pshing the Carolina Wren stuck its head out of its nest and then began to call. A Downy Woodpecker flew to its nest high in a dead tree. In the distance I watched a Wood Duck fly further away while Canadian Geese squawked from the other side of the swamp hidden from view. I watched a Baltimore Oriole fly to the top of a tree on the opposite side of the swamp, while a Blue Jay flew to the other side of the swamp.

We walked further down the path towards Folwers Mill Golf Course, here I could hear a Wood Thrush calling from deeper in the woods, while trying to psh it in, I was able to get a Red-eyed Viero and a Black-capped Chickadee. Further down the path I was able to spot a Veery along the path. Once we reached the end we turned around and started back the same way we had come.

Back at the main swamp I head the familiar calling of the Red-headed Woodpecker (Lifer), the bird was beautiful. It was then joined by a second one and they flew away together. My dad spotted two Cedar Waxwings perched in a dead tree. While pshing I found a male Baltimore Oriole above us giving us great looks at its under side. We walked a little farther down the trail and I spotted a Scarlet Tanager in a tree, the sun lit up its red body giving us great looks. Further down the trail on our way back, we were able to find two Blue-grey Gnatcatchers perched in the trees. Along the side of the path my dad was able to spot a Northern Water Snake and then I spotted a Gardner Snake.

Overall we had 40 species of birds and 2 species of reptiles.

The Rookery

This Memorial Weekend I was lucky to get away from all the festivities to go birdwatching out at The Rookery in Geauga County. The Rookery is named after the are where Great Blue Heron's nest. These are not the only birds seen nesting in the area. While bird watching, I followed a path to a coverage bridge where I was told by a birdwatcher there were sightings of the Red-headed Woodpecker, a bird that I have been trying to get, but have not seen yet.

While waiting I hadmany other birds present themselves to me, first was a pair of Rough-winged Swallows building a nest underneath the bridge, then a pair of Eastern Phoebes landed on the opposite side of the bridge giving me great looks. While pshhing I could hear a Blue-winged Warbler calling from the trees. He finally came closer giving me quick looks before being chased away by a Yellow Warbler. Then I spotted another Warbler in the tree directly above me, the size of the bird looked larger then the typical warblers I was use to seeing, it had a long tail, yellow breast and a white eye ring with a large bill. My guess was a Yellow-breasted Chat (Life Specie), which would be a life for me, later in the car I confirmed that it is what I saw.
Other birds seen were Carolina Wren nesting, Downy Woodpecker nesting, heard the Red-headed Woodpecker, Red-winged Blackbirds, European Starling, Common Grackle, Blue-grey Gnatcatcher nesting, Tree Swallows nesting, Eastern Bluebirds nesting, and Baltimore Orioles nesting.

For the herps I found six Northern Water Snakes and one Green Frog.

Overall a very successful trip, but need to return to see the Red-headed Woodpeckers.