An interesting–or perhaps enervating–aspect of this time of year is how birding tends to run feast or famine. That is to say that, at least in the temperate regions, those of us who aren’t traveling somewhere special have to make do with the same old same old.
Corey and I both pondered birds that are extremely ordinary for us. I enjoyed chattering Chimney Swifts while taking in tremendous bands at the Rochester International Jazz Festival. Corey had several good species to choose from this weekend but most appreciated trying to get decent shots of alternate-plumaged Herring Gulls in bright sunlight. Not an easy task! How do you think he did?
What was your best bird of the weekend? Tell us in the comments section about the rarest, loveliest, or most fascinating bird you observed. If you’ve blogged about your weekend experience, you should include a link in your comment.
Didn’t have the time to get out this weekend but my favorite was a house finch who was having way too much fun at the feeder…don’t usually get them at my feeder. It was a nice surprise!
Juvenile Greater Roadrunner on the same day there was a Wile E. Coyote in my backyard of my suburban Dallas house (with a small bit of woods behind it). I think all God’s creatures are noticing we haven’t had rain in a while and are coming to the water I’ve set out.
Can’t really decide as here in Canada, there are many beautiful and interesting birds, like baltimore orioles and green herons, but my favorite was a Yellow Warbler in patch of woods in Marineland, near Niagara Falls.
Fantastic looks at a Lesser Ground Cuckoo near San Ramon, Costa Rica was the best bird for me.
My lifer, Piping Plovers. I had a terrific time with the members of the Edmonton Nature Club, and I loved seeing the PIPL chicks, so cute and fluffy! Here is my post: http://prairiebirder.wordpress.com/2012/06/24/piping-plovers/
Best bird, a lifer and rare for upstate New York – a pair of nesting Mississippi Kites! http://flic.kr/p/ck1nxC
Do you have to discriminate against weekdays so much? I spent a good bit of Saturday working and went birding today instead so I’m going to pretend today is part of the weekend. A Dickcissel at Middle Creek WMA was definitely the best bird of the day. Closely following it were a couple of Grasshopper Sparrows and a few Bobolinks. I can’t remember when I last I found a Dickcissel in Pennsylvania.
Can one of you help me with a ID please? My knowledge of North American birds is sadly extremely lacking. There are a group of small brown swallow-like birds swooping around over near Niagara Falls at that gorge where people look for Ross’, and Thayer’s Gulls in winter. I was following the local pair of Peregrines when a small brown swallow swooped in. It was very small, brown, with a paler underbelly. It seemed to nest in the cliffs underneath the road, as it swooped in, dissappeared, then came out with two or three others. Based on the swallows living in that area, what could it be?
My best bird of the weekend wasn’t a bird! While checking out usual Chicago River birds, I saw something big roiling up the water (near Peterson Avenue, if you’re local). When it surfaced, all I could tell is that it was long (maybe 3 feet), stocky, brown and furry. I was thinking otter, based on the way it moved, but Google tells me that beavers are more common in the river. Either way, my best bird of the weekend was a cool mammal!
@Prairiebirder: Nice pics of those Piping Plovers. Aren’t the chicks just adorable?
A male House Finch who brought its fledgling to our black oil sunflower seed feeder for its first visit.