Remember when Public Enemy proclaimed “Don’t Believe the Hype” to the masses? Wise counsel indeed, but sometimes hype deserves our trust. Summer presents the perfect opportunity for denizens of the Northern Hemisphere to make pilgrimages to attractions various and sundry, and more than a few of these famous locales deserve every bit of the hype they’ve garnered over the years. I just visited Niagara Falls for the first time in 25 years. I even took a jaunt on the Maid of the Mists. Definitely lived up to the hype… believe it!
I should have brought my bins to the falls, as the gull action there also lived up to the hype. Unable to parse out the rare gulls, I turned my attention to the droves of Double-crested Cormorants that nonchalantly plied the roiling waters at the foot of the falls. One particular cormorant appeared to have streaks of white plumage that mirrored the effect of the foamy water. Fascinating! Corey’s Best Bird of the Weekend was exceptionally hard for him to choose. After all, he was in Trinidad until Saturday afternoon. After much deliberation, he decided that the Black-crested Antshrike above was his BBOTW both because it is an awesome bird and because for some reason he did not think it was likely he would see one, especially not so well.
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 was confined to backyard birding by a stomach flu but nevertheless enjoyed the common swifts. They are very conspicious now that the young have left the nest, and will depart for Africa in just a few days.
What a life…
Corey’s photos are always a treat. My best was an Orange Oriole – finally, YAY – at The Jungle Place, Chemuyil (Mexico), which is a sanctuary for spider monkeys who cannot be returned to the wild. A monkey sat in my lap and hugged me so that was pretty cool too!
Put me down for chimney swifts! During my shift as a volunteer at our local wildlife center, some orphaned nestling chimney swifts were brought in that needed care. Always fascinated by new-to-me species, I noticed that they had an almost raptor-like beak and talons and cries that were surprisingly loud.
I love all our feathered patients equally, so if the other birds ask, please tell them that the swifts got “most unusual bird of the weekend.” No hurt feelings.
Thanks, Laura, that made my day!
Yes, the Maid of the Mist does live up to the hype! Best for me was a Prevost’s Ground Sparrow in coffee fields near Santa Barbara, Costa Rica.
After missing the Rufous-necked Wood-Rail on my second try in 8 days, I camped at Valley of Fires recreation area on my way home. Sunday morning I found a family of cute as a button Western Kingbird fledglings and then their step-sibling the Bronzed Cowbird flew up. Not a common bird in that part of New Mexico. http://www.flickr.com/photos/33518201@N08/9335601229/
My best birds were two dueting Carolina Wrens, but Double-crested Cormorants figured in it too. We live in Canada about 6o Km. from Niagara Falls, so I can attest to the Maid of the Mist as well worth the cost and the Niagara River as an interesting birding spot year-round.
More on the Carolina Wren and for a couple of pics of cormorants go to http://www.mybirdoftheday.ca
I always enjoy watching the Piping Plovers at Mecox Inlet, Southampton, NY. They totally blend into the sand, so it always takes a few minutes of staring before I see them, unless they are scurrying along the shore like this one was: http://www.flickr.com/photos/queensgirl/9325695560/
Better late than never … there were lots of cool birds at the Sepulveda wildlife refuge & neighboring Woodley Park/Lake Balboa in Sherman Oaks/Van Nuys, CA (thanks for the tip, Mike!). But although I picked up quite a few lifers, my BBotW would undoubtedly have to be the Tricolored Blackbirds!