Well, NFL fans, we were just a few points away from a Bird Bowl for Super Bowl XLVII. Instead, we get the Ravens vs. 49ers in a Har-bowl. I’d rather have birds. At least those of you who are more focused on avians than athletics have a team to root for!
Corey could have chosen any of three species of owls that he tracked down in the Bronx this weekend as his Best Bird of the Weekend, but for some reason he was really digging the Bufflehead he spotted in several locations, particularly the one coming in for a landing in the photo. Owls are just too easy to appreciate. My best bird was one I didn’t even go look at: my 8-year old and his friends ran in the house to tell me that a Northern Cardinal was in one of our bushes. Mason was so excited about it for some reason that he wanted to take a pic, so he grabbed my phone and snapped the shot below. Obviously, this photo won’t appear in any calendars, but the experience triggered a whole discussion about cool birds with kids that usually focus on very different topics!
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.
I’d be thrilled if my son came running to me telling me there’s a Northern Cardinal in our yard.
*Sigh*
Location, location, location.
My best bird of the weekend was a Hen Harrier flying over the autobahn near Heidelberg/Germany after yet another Saturday spent at a variety of home-centres. Darn those modern sofas, darn them.
My best bird this weekend was at the Nissequogue River SP near the old psychiatric hospital. A Belted Kingfisher caught a frog & attempting to eat it by shaking the heck out of it – like the way my dog does with her toys. Meanwhile a very still young heron watched & hooded mergansers quickly swam in the pond. Lots of CooCoo’s Nest energy.
Yesterday I spent an hour or so at our nearby state park in some gorgeous weather. My best bird was a Great Blue Heron, resting on one leg, just standing there looking at us only a few yards away.
http://lindasfamilynews.wordpress.com/2013/01/20/beautiful-sunday/
(photo taken with point and shoot camera at full zoom, no scope)
Here on the Olympic Peninsula I hadn’t seen Black Oystercatchers for a long time, because we don’t have many low tides during daylight hours in winter. Finally I heard and then saw the biggest flock I’d ever seen before– eleven!
Hooded Mergansers for me!
Along the Chicago River between Lawrence Avenue and Argyle Street, a small (and shy) raft of Common Goldeneye — my first of the season, and so pretty and unexpected!
Iceland Gulls on the Mohawk River. Lifers!
http://kestrelhill.wordpress.com/2013/01/21/appreciating-the-subtleties/