The natural attractions of midsummer seem more subtle than those enjoyed during the frantic peregrinations of the world’s migratory species. But tasteful birders can find odes, moths, and even shorebirds as beguiling as the most gaudy songbirds. How refined are your tastes in nature?
The best birds of my weekend, believe it or not, were American Robins mobbing a crow. My kids found this behavior as fascinating as I did. Of course, the reasons why robins might mob a crow are obvious, but I never attributed a mob mentality to that species! Corey’s Best Bird of the Weekend was a Long-billed Dowitcher at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge in Queens on Sunday morning, his first of the year.
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.
Long-billed Dowitcher? That’s nice. Me, I saw some Weka, some Fairy Prions, huge rafts of Fluttering Shearwater, but I think the winner was the Black-browed Albatross I saw on the ferry. One of about 15 I saw in the distance, hard to tell what most of them were, except the White-capped Albatross. Anyway, the Dowitcher sounds nice too.
Best bird of the weekend might be a candidate for best of the month, a Winter Wren. Yes, a little ol’ Winter Wren; usually heard but not seen. While I sat still, this one came closer and closer until it perched overhead and sang endlessly. I took too many photos and then remembered the video capability of my camera.
See more at http://www.mybirdofteday.ca Sometimes a bird just hits it out of the park.
Other than birds? I’m studying ferns – now there’s a challenge! It’s like fall warblers all over again.
I’m not much of a twitcher, but the wife and I hopped in the car when we got word of a Curlew Sandpiper 90 minutes away. Unexpected lifers are always nice.
Really enjoyed a juvenile Gray Catbird begging atop the grave of Alexander Wilson in Philadelphia.
Semipalmated Plover and Least Terns at Squires Pond in Hampton Bays.
Middle Spotted Woodpeckers during a family trip to a nearby small deer enclosure / “adventure playground” in a forest near Heidelberg.
First-of-year Sanderling pecking nonchalantly around the Caspian Terns on Montrose Beach here in Chicago. #perennialfavorite
Brief looks at a male Resplendent Quetzal sans tail streamers was my best bird during a day of guiding in the Poas area, Costa Rica.
Best bird of the weekend was watching a Mississippi Kite nest and having a Barred Owl show up near the nest. Photos with comments and some video here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/95667782@N06/sets/72157634826461377/
I had the biggest grin watching 71 Swallow-tailed kites feast on june bugs and dragonflies at a farm in Glennville, GA. At times it looked like a page out of Crossley’s Raptors!
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/79gQ3_VCX8XRdWzqqxecbtMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=directlink
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/eukFS-Tph_o16JB1WvqoqNMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=directlink
Blue-gray gnatcatcher fledglings!
The white terns (used to be fairy terns) are teaching their baby to fly in that beautiful way they have…strengthening those little wings so they can all get out over the ocean to feed. The baby rests from time to time on our lanai railing or on a branch in the huge Chinese banyan outside our windows. The black eye, needle-sharp black bill, and conspicuously clawed feet are such a gift to see close up. Their call makes me laugh…such a silly sound for such a magnificent bird!