How are seasons like species? In both instances, we can have trouble telling where one ends and the other begins. We’re in the midst of a shoulder season right now, which can be almost as much fun as finding a cool hybrid or intergrade bird in the wild.
The bird I was happiest to see this weekend was Eastern Kingbird, a flycatcher that screams summer to me (awesome photo above by Carlos Sanchez). Corey’s Best Bird of the Weekend was a Mississippi Kite, though 17-year cicadas came a close second.
How about you? 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.
Mike is a leading authority in the field of standardized test preparation, but he's also a traveler who fully expects to see every bird in the world. Besides founding 10,000 Birds in 2003, Mike has also created a number of other entertaining but now extirpated nature blog resources, particularly the Nature Blog Network and I and the Bird.
I have really been enjoying the house finches, this weekend. (I know, I know–very ordinary, common birds.) They have this absolutely lovely little whistling, peeping song they do, when they’re courting. And another song they do in the morning, when they’re greeting the day. It’s about a thousand times nicer than gull noises.
I also saw a HUGE golden eagle, the largest I’ve seen so far, being chased out of the garden by angry gulls and crows. (Every time an excellent bird of prey appears, this happens. The local gulls and crows are very intolerant of birds of prey. I understand their reluctance to share their patch, but at the same time, I like staring at massive birds, and wish the gulls and crows would be a TINY bit less vigilant.)
Kirtland’s Warblers! I took one of the tours up in Northern Michigan this weekend, and we got to see 4 individuals (and hear many more, about 10 total). It was a life bird for me.
@Mike: Mine was also an Eastern Kingbird, only it was imaginary. This weekend was too jam-packed to really bird, but I had a dream about an Eastern Kingbird marauding a falcon. Probably better looks at both than I would have gotten in real life!
I go for either Louisiana Waterthrush (rare in Ontario) on Saturday, or an out-in-the-open-and-singing Veery on Sunday. Try describing the Veery’s song without using the word ethereal. I’ve written about both birds on my blog at mybirdoftheday.ca
And then (I’m off topic now) how about a pair of copulating Northern Water Snakes? Also on my blog.