October in the Northern Hemisphere is slinking into November under cover of encroaching darkness. Begin bracing yourself for winter birding, unless you’re south of the equator, in which case get ready for long days. Once migration tails off, all you’ll be left with are seasonal residents. For now, though, surprises still abound. What have you seen? Step right up and share your best bird of the weekend.
My best birds of the weekend were Golden-crowned Kinglets zipping around while the kids and I hiked around Corbett’s Glen in Brighton. Corey’s was, if you don’t count a third visit to see that Manhattan Prothonotary Warbler, a relatively cooperative Blue Jay in Kissena Park on Saturday.
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.
Red-crowned Parakeet at Karori Wildlife Sanctuary. They were reintroduced to Wellington in June, and this was the first time I’ve seen one.
The first Waxwings back for the winter, always approachable, precocious and in bizarre locations such as the local supermarket car park.
As of Saturday it would be Cedar Waxwings as I had not seen for months, but yesterday saw an American Kestrel up close – best look ever.
This is a difficult call this week… my first instinct is to say the Saw-whet Owl (I mean come on, when are owls NOT high on the best sightings list) but if going by ABA Rarity codes, I’d have to say it was the Barnacle Goose on Saturday.
@Christopher: That is just not fair!
While just starting my run through the center of town … dozens of Starlings marauding an irritated Sharp-shinned Hawk over the police station until it disappeared. Love catching common birds doing interesting things!
Speaking of which … the PBS show “Nature” had a really cool episode on crows last night. I’m sure it’ll be repeated for anyone who missed it.
It’s a toss up between a Greater Yellowlegs (I’m pretty sure) and an American Kestrel. Both were firsts for me since I’ve been actively birding. Here are some pictures of what I believe to be a Greater Yellowlegs – http://blog.whatschirping.com/2010/10/greater-yellowlegs.html
@Christopher- sounds like you had an enviable weekend!
My best were a toss up between Streaked Xenops and Red-headed Barbet on a day visit to Tapanti National Park. The Xenops is a rare bird in Costa Rica and my first for the year but it just cant compare to the multicolored barbet in terms of appearance.
My best bird was a rather unconcerned juvenile Cooper’s Hawk on the Frenchman’s Bar Trail in Vancouver, Wash. I don’t see them very often and it was a treat to see one close-up!
Well, it would appear that this Christopher fellow stole my thunder…
Saturday I saw the NYC protho, followed by an eurasian wigeon.
Sunday had great looks at a Hooded warbler, and then { a different?} Barnacle Goose on Belmont Lake stpk.
Now into my 10th month of cycling around birding every RSPB and WWT nature reserve in the UK. A quest to beat the non-motorised year list record for the UK too. Best bird of the weekend was a superb male sparrowhawk being chased by a few jackdaws. The weather was awful but this brave bird braved the lot.
Now today’s best birds have been little auks, a waxwing, a little gull and a sooty shearwater at Flamborough, England. Shame they were on a monday!
http://www.bikingbirder2010.blogspot.com
Like almost every NYC birder, the brilliant and cooperative Prothonotary Warbler in front of the library was the avian highlight of my weekend.