In the United States, so much seems to be happening towards the end of October. Not only is baseball hitting the very apex of what excitement it arouses, but the storylines in the National Football League are just beginning to manifest in reality rather than in the empty space between commentators. Kids can’t help but work themselves into a multi-week Halloween frenzy. And we still get to enjoy fall migrants knowing well that the birds of winter aren’t far away. Good times!
Corey and I could both say that the best bird of the weekend was a mighty, mighty Cardinal, but that would be too easy. Anyway, I was more partial to the few Turkey Vultures still sticking with us up here as temperatures drop along the shores of Lake Ontario; in no time at all, even these birds will be making their tippy way down south. Corey had an abundance of awesome birds to choose from, but none could hold the proverbial candle to his life Brown Booby in Jarvis Sound at Cape May. Mega!
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.
Ahem….
Kakapo.
@Duncan: GET LOST !! 🙂
Okay, after Brown Booby and Kakapo, what am I to write?
During my walks around the fields south of Heidelberg, Germany, I had a very close-up view of a hatch-year male Goshawk being first mobbed by crows, who then broke away from the crow group to successfully pursue and kill a domestic pigeon while still being mobbed by crows and then also surrounded by the remainder of the pigeon flock.
If it’s any consolation it was Sirocco the rather tame one, which tedious listers would insist “doesn’t count”.
I don’t imagine it’s much consolation. Besides, the listing types would be wrong.
15,000 flock of shorebirds minus one Great Knot-grabbed by a Brahminy Kite, who dropped it and then out of nowhere a White-bellied Sea-eagle flew over us and took the Great Knot. Sad day for one Great Knot-not his best weekend.
@Duncan: I am not entirely sure any Kakapo would currently count, but am near-certain that not a single birder on this planet would give a … you know what … about this detail when offered a chance to see one.
@Clare. well, thanks a lot there, Clare. And here was me thinking that I would at least stand a fraction of a chance against Brown Boody and Kakapo with a kill-scene – and along comes Broome! Heidelberg sucks.
@Jochen: I would love to see a Goshawk…it has been four years since I saw one!
@Corey: thanks, buddy! True friends, ey? True friends… 🙂
The Brunette and I saw a Red-naped Sapsucker at Big Webberville Park east of Austin yesterday. It’s a rare bird for these parts and we were pleased! I also saw a Northern Flicker, a first for me, and they are gorgeous birds!
Though I am hoping for the Cardinals’ demise in 7, on Saturday I was sad to hear one particular male cardinal smash himself into my birdwatching window so hard that he instantly died. The sound was so loud the neighbor kids came running to see what had happened. Besides that, a flock of Inca Doves in my backyard and a flock of feral Monk Parakeets outside Taco Bueno. Go Rangers.
The Best Bird of my weekend was a Pine Grosbeak. Heres the post. http://prairiebirder.wordpress.com/2011/10/23/a-fall-finch/
I had a wonderful bird filled weekend at Tortuguero National Park in Costa Rica. Great Curassow and Great Green Macaws were among the best of birds but the rarest species were actually Northern Harrier and Bobolink!
Did anyone else get the Yellow-breasted Bunting?
http://redgannet.blogspot.com/2011/10/long-valley-hong-kong-oct-2011.html
Just saw a Tui chasing something small and green. I wonder if it was a cuckoo.
It doesn’t hold a candle to any of the birds y’all have been seeing, but I finally noticed some non-sparrows in the tree outside my window. (I’m doing a lot more sitting at the desk opposite the tree these days, and the leaves are at last just starting to thin out.) Long story short, I was looking at a few active Ruby-crowned Kinglets! It’s so nice to see something other than a House Sparrow at eye level.
@Mike and Corey (and Thainamu): Reluctantly rooting for the redbirds. Though it doesn’t look promising. Maybe this will prompt Pujols to jump ship for the Cubs next year! 🙂
If I can count yesterday as part of the weekend, I also saw the Cape May Brown Booby! First at a distance on the pilings, then a great display closer to the boat (The Osprey) hunting and feeding! An unexpected lifer for me.