The first weekend of May is not a time to ask if one will be birding; that avian observation will ensue is a foregone conclusion. Birds are on the wing AT THIS VERY MOMENT. Even better, many of them, adorned in fresh breeding plumage, are at peak pulchritude. Obviously, you will be birding. But where?
Corey and I are covering different parts of New York State. The NYC area may already be awash with migrant songbirds, but Western NY seems behind schedule. This issue most definitely merits further inspection!
How about you? Where will you be this weekend and will you be birding? Share your plans in the comments below.
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!
“The first weekend of May is not a time to ask if one will be birding; that avian observation will ensue is a foregone conclusion. Birds are on the wing AT THIS VERY MOMENT. Even better, many of them, adorned in fresh breeding plumage, are at peak pulchritude. Obviously, you will be birding. ”
Such Northernhemispherecentrisim! Enjoy your spring! I may head to nearby Petone to look for waterbirds, but it won’t be spring I feel.
Duncan, you should read between the lines. Whenever I write about glorious spring in the upper half of the world, I empathize with those of you at the bottom watching your fall birds leave (though I don’t know if that even happens on NZ). Anyway, birders from around the world appreciate 10,000 Birds for its rampant Northernhemispherecentrisim, right?
Alas, our migrants are leaving as well. But after adding Mountain Trogon, Chestnut-sided Shrike Vireo, Russet Nightingale-Thrush, White-throated Thrush, and Black-headed Siskin to my life list, plus another 3 species to my year list, I’m definitely going back to the Parque Nacional José María Morelos y Pavón, to the east of Morelia, Mexico.
I am still posting photos from my last trip to Australia..its not a great time here either..getting very very hot, but the mango tree is filled with parakeets and asian koels and mynahs and I hear a tree pie sometime
Here in the Caribbean we are also saying goodbye to our migrants but for the first weekend of the month of May my briding took me to a posh resort to observe courting Pied Billed Grebe, Green Heron fooling around and 200+ Black-bellied Whistling-Duck.