All of a sudden, migration is on the wane. The unofficial beginning of summer happens to coincide with the end of spring migration. Funny how that works out! At least those of us in North America have a three-day weekend to ease into what many consider the slowest season of birding. How will you be spending this Memorial Day weekend and will you be birding? Share your plans in the comments below.
My family and I are headed down to NYC to meet my new niece, Chloe Danielle. Yay! Corey will be licking around locally, probably checking the Queens ravens’ nest to see if they have fledged. Charlie plans to stay close to home as well, especially as he’s preparing for the June 2 trip to the Bavarian Alps he’ll be co-leading for Wildlife Travel.
Whatever your plans this weekend, make time to enjoy SkyWatch Friday. Also be sure to come back Monday to share your best bird of the weekend!
Have a scraptacular weekend!
I cant wait to go birding this weekend because I will be guiding a small group at the El Copal Reserve in middle elevation, Caribbean Slope forests of the Talamancan Mountains. I am especially excited because this will be my first visit and I hope to report on the birding. This site is near Tapanti National Park (an excellent birding area) but is supposed to be even better birding and has sometimes been called the best birding site in Costa Rica because so many uncommon species can be seen there. It will probably rain a lot but we should still see some good stuff and I may even get a lifer!
GREAT GREAT SKY! I love it
happy swf
I am excited to go back to Magee Marsh this weekend. I was there a couple of weeks ago for the Biggest Week. Get to see a different set of migrants this weekend: vireos, flycatchers and late season warblers. Woohoo!
Is Magee Marsh near Montezuma? ’cause that’s where I was today (long trip north, but I got an early start.)
Off to Whiskey Hollow, Perch NWR and then Fort Drum… the Drum Fri and Sat… and Sun? Random areas on Sun and Monday. I’m sure there’ll be plenty of traffic.
I like, too, how the Connecticut warbler decides to show up in Central Park while I’m away.
That’s just small and petty. 🙂
I am heading over to eastern Idaho to go birding with some of Idaho’s top birders at Camas NWR where migration is at its peak right now. Camas often gets a few rarities, so we’re hopeful!
I’m heading up to the south shore of Massachusetts to visit family, but as there have been Sedge Wren and Nelson’s Sparrow reported within walking distance of my house there, I am hopeful for 2 lifers. There will almost certainly be bobolinks, purple martins, and piping plover, so even if I fail with regards to the Wren and Sparrow, it will be good birding.
We’re headed to the Michigan Botanical Club’s annual Spring Foray, which happens to be in Ohio this year (long story, don’t ask.) Along with the botanizing, we’ll be birding the Oak Openings region. If time allows, we may pop over to Magee to see if any warblers are still hanging out.
Interesting capture 🙂
Heading to some pine flatwoods to look for Red-cockaded Woopecker and Redheaded Woodpecker for my county list. Last weekend I picked up a Crested Caracara and Wild Turkey. I’m hoping for even bigger this weekend!
Do any of your birds come to New Zealand?
We have gannets from Australia. In October it’s a changing of the guard as the arctic migrants like the eastern bar-tailed godwits are welcomed here.
I will be bird watching at my cabin on Powell Lake in Coastal BC. I just posted about a brown-headed cowbird that came to visit for the first time. – Margy