Now that we’re past May Day, the next month promises some of the most spectacular migratory action of the calendar year. If you’re reading this, that’s probably what May means to you. May also means, as I’ve learned this weekend, the beginning of Little League, which my son will be doing a whole lot of in the next six weeks. Phenology aside, what else does the month of May mean to you?
Corey’s best bird of the weekend was a wicked Chuck-will’s-widow at Prospect Park on Saturday. He actually got a good look at this cryptic caprimulgid, that lucky sod! My own best bird was Caspian Tern, right on time along Lake Ontario. However, that wasn’t fancy enough, so I finally tallied up my new life and ABA birds from the Great Texas Birding Classic:
- Muscovy Duck
- Scaled Quail
- Reddish Egret
- Mississippi Kite
- Swainson’s Hawk
- King Rail
- Franklin’s Gull
- Green Parakeet
- Red-crowned Amazon
- Elf Owl
- Lesser Nighthawk
- Common Poorwill
- Nelson’s Sparrow
- Clay-colored Sparrow
- Black-throated Sparrow
- Cassin’s Sparrow
This list doesn’t even include Aplomado Falcon, which alas is not ABA-countable when found where we found it. On the other hand, a woefully brief glimpse of a Hook-billed Kite at Bentsen State Park was all it took to move it from my world list to my ABA list. For those of you playing along at home, this gives me 17 new ABA birds for a total of 467 as of May 1, 2011. The length of the list means nothing except in comparison to Corey’s list; I’ve finally overtaken him in our ABA competition, but how long can I maintain my lead?
While pondering that, also share 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.
This is my first year as a birder trying to pay better attention to spring migration. On Saturday, I saw what was possibly my first Yellow Warbler ever. I found it in a local neighborhood park, all by myself. I was so excited! It was such a brilliant male, and I got to point it out to a family that was walking by.
I enjoy your posts and subjects. This saturday at Forest Park,,,your backyard,,,my best bird among lots of activity was a Prothonotary Warbler and at Alley Pond Park were several Rusty Blackbirds looking for food among the wet leaves. In January 2011 on a cold mourning driving over 2 hours to Oscar Scherer State Park in Florida to get a successful look and some nice photos of the Florida Scrub Jays. I hope to get to Texas next Jan-Feb…but for now enjoying the spring migration.
You’re going down, Bergin!
Someone get me to Florida or Texas or Colorado or Washington!
I think the Cincinnati Garganey should probably be my best bird, but I also got a lifer Wilson’s Phalarope, which in a way seems better since I found it and I’ve been chasing Phalaropes for a little while. I never expected a Garganey to fly into my town.
It’s a shame you can’t make it to NC for a pelagic this June, Corey. You’d be back on top with in no time…
We dipped on the La Sagra’s Flycatcher, but finding our first Black-whiskered Vireo was a fantastic treat and our best bird of the weekend.
Now that I live in Costa Rica, May has gone from being the magical return of migrants and warm days to the start of the rainy season. I wish I was up north! Congrats on getting a bunch of cool lifers during the GTBC- I still need to see that minute owl. My best bird of the weekend was probably Blue and gold Tanager in a large mixed flock in Braulio Carrillo National Park.
On Friday I found my third Audubon’s Warbler in the last three weeks at Tawas Point State Park on the north edge of Saginaw Bay in Michigan. A Wilson’s Phalarope was also a fun bird. There are less than ten records from Michigan so I can’t believe I saw two in Michigan and one in Ohio in one month.
Too tough for me to decide. Or not.
Lincoln’s Sparrow http://thainamu.blogspot.com/2011/04/new-bird-lincolns-sparrow.html
Today I got a glimpse of a much prettier painted bunting.
My best of the weekend would have to be the Sora, though back-breaking looks at a Cerulean Warbler and a stunning view of a Blackburnian Warbler were pretty good, too.
My first official birding outing in Chicago, at North Park Village Nature Center … and my first (confirmed) sighting of a Palm Warbler! (They were going like hotcakes in this place) It was mighty cool seeing a bunch of different species doing their mating dances too.
@Mike: congrats on pulling into the lead!
@Nora: Aren’t Yellow Warblers delightful? Visually and aurally they’re just a little bundle of cheer. We had a few on our walk too. I hope they stick around awhile.
@Meredith: So have you permanently abandoned the east coast? The horror!
@Meredith: don’t let Corey confuse you (pure jealousy). The Great Lakes ROCK, although of course lake Erie is the best of the bunch.
@Corey: Sadly, for the time being, yes. But I’ll be back to visit lots … let me set a goal right now of Jamaica Bay at least once a year!
@Jochen: It seems like there aren’t too many birds here that don’t also make their way to NY. (Except the Upland Sandpiper, which I’m told is worth the drive.) Nevertheless any tips are much appreciated!