October in already on the wane, so you should begin bracing yourself for winter (or summer) birding. Once migration tails off, all you’ll be left with are seasonal residents. For now, though, surprises still abound. Seen any? Step right up and share your best bird of the weekend.
As I mentioned last week, Corey and I met for some long overdue avian ogling. We worked Riis Park and Fort Tilden on a severely gusty morning, but still came up with some terrific birds. My favorite was a Blackpoll Warbler which Corey identified in its fall plumage with admirable aplomb. His best bird, on the other hand, ended up being a self-found Yellow-breasted Chat at Fort Tilden, his first ever in Queens. The sighting was made all the sweeter both because it was marvelously cooperative and because he never expected such a good bird would show a day after he and I scoured the same territory! Charlie, as predicted, stayed home to edit his latest podcast.
Accursed chat…
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.
Best bird of the weekend for me was this obliging Red-throated Diver. Normally a distant fuzz through a scope this bird fed close in shore. Delighting birders and non birders alike.
http://www.mpgoodeyphotography.com/apps/photos/album?albumid=8575189
Connecticut Warbler. Twice.
http://thedrinkingbirdblog.com/2010/10/18/sweet-relief/
Mike, you haven’t even heard the half of what we missed on Saturday…
Very co-operative Belted Kingfisher at Ramshorn in Catskill,NY.
Had seen them there before, but from a great distance.
Red-shouldered Hawk on Sunday afternoon at the Chestnut Ridge Hawkwatch in Bedford, NY.
@ Wes Finger: we saw an unexpected Belted Kingfisher also at Crestwood Lake (Tuckahoe, NY). It even let a Downy Woodpecker sit on the same branch!
But by far the coolest bird of the surprisingly productive trip around our little lake was a small group of Green-winged Teal, the first of the season down here. They were hanging out on mudflats and proceeded to shoo away the resident population of much-larger Mallards! Some chutzpah for such a little duck.
Vesper Sparrow. Thanks to a tripod-toting bird-blogger at Fort Tilden.
No question about it. I went out to the Reifel sanctuary south of Vancouver BC in search of the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, which I finally saw after years of missing it in its fall migration.
But that wasn’t the BBOTW. Just across the pond was a clump of birders huddled around a Wood Sandpiper. Only the third record for Canada, they said. That was the BBOTW.
Hooded Crow in SW Germany. It’s not often you move to a new place and find a state rarity on your second walk around your new neighbourhood.
I had to work during the weekend, but I did manage to see a Brown Creeper climbing up a cedar tree, and then dart over to another tree. Looked just like a little mouse with a tail!
My best bird was a northern harrier. What was great was how obliging it was.
I was at the edge of the marshes at the portion of Alley Pond Park north of Northern Blvd. I watched it cruise low over the marsh, at times coming less than 10 meters away from me. It acted like I wasn’t even there. It was the best viewing of a raptor I’ve ever had.
@Donna: Do I know that guy?
Saw a small flock of Bluebirds this weekend. Up here just outside Chicago that’s pretty late to be seeing Bluebirds. No Juncos yet, I hope that means a mild winter-such as it is. Love your site.
My best bird was a Snowy Egret. I had to trespass to see it, but it was worth it.
http://blog.whatschirping.com/2010/10/trespassing-and-birding-at-black-point.html
A Screech Owl heard out my back door last night. A new and very unexpected yard bird.
The little known, infrequently seen, and candidate for splitting, Prevosts Ground-Sparrow in a coffee plantation just up the road from my house.
http://birdingcraft.com/wordpress/2010/10/19/536-species-so-far-for-2010-with-two-months-to-go/