Birding With Ginger – Page 2

Florida Gators

One of the reasons we keep Ginger on a leash is Florida’s State Reptile, the American Alligator. We saw several during our trip to Sweetwater Wetlands Park.

We saw one today at a local park.

But this guy was all business.

More Florida Birds

While the warmth is nice, the birding with full foliage can be challenging. Here is an example of a mystery bird — answer is at end of post.

This Gray Catbird stopped to pose for a moment.

American Oystercatchers are easy to ID and fun to watch.

This bird popped out for a quick photo op? What’s your id?

The first bird is an Orchard Oriole – I saw it without my camera earlier.

I’m calling the last bird a female Indigo Bunting. Good birding to you.

Florida Birds-2

While the weather holds, we’ve gotten some good walking and birding done. Our cottage is nestled between some clamming operations: here’s a look to the southwest.

Yesterday, we encountered a few Purple Martins trying to hold on to their room reservations.

Ginger loves the small black lizards that dart in front of her but missed this critter, who thought he was hidden right by the path.

We missed the April snowstorm in New England but got hammered by thunderstorms last night. I had forgotten how intense these tropical deluges can be. Stay safe.

We are leaving for a little trip to Florida this weekend and it will be fun to handle the camera with warm, or at least thawed-out hands. I’ve been grabbing some shots here on our daily walks and thought I’d share a few.

Song Sparrows are everywhere, singing up a storm, adding their audio brightness to our lengthening days.

Even the more common birds stand out with leafless trees (and power poles.)

One of the first Common Grackles of the year for me.

Northern Cardinals are very vocal as they establish territory and checking out each other.

This is my first Belted Kingfisher of the year, at a great distance.

Yesterday, while walking with Ginger at the Wrightsville Reservoir, I came upon this perched Bald Eagle who watched us as we circumvented his perch but seemed pretty disinterested. I can’t determine if it’s a molting bird or a juvenile.

FOY Hoodies

Ginger and I have a Friday morning routine: take the recycling/trash to the depot and then head up to the airport and Berlin Pond to check for birds. Today, it was too windy to chase balls on the tarmac but we came across this nice pair of Hooded Mergansers.

Hoodies are fun to find but the first pair I see is always a special treat.

I was able to use the car as a blind – and kept from disturbing them.

Saturday Birds

Saturday morning, I fiddled with the camera to try to handle snow scenes better and then went out with the dog to try it out. While getting ready, I got this Red-breasted Nuthatch through the back door windowpane.

We have a couple of these every day – they grab and go quickly.

On a backroad drive, where a cold wind made walking a challenge, there was a flock of Wild Turkeys off in the distance. Pushing the limits of the little Canon, I got this shot.

The sun came out for a while when we returned and we had a flurry of backyard activity to give me some practice.

This American Tree Sparrow was my first this year.

We have a couple of Hairy Woodpeckers visiting daily.

We have had dozens of Pine Siskins for the last few weeks.

It’s nice to focus on birds instead of news.

A Couple of Winter Visitors

One of my resolutions for 2021 is to pick up my birding activity in my local county. Ginger and I have been out every day but often we just hike and listen — bird naked, so to speak. The last couple of days we have returned by auto to some of my favorite spots. Yesterday, I went looking for Snow Buntings and others, and at a spot where I’ve spotted them in years past, we found 8 or 9 birds high in a tree. The lighting was lousy and they were way out there but when I got home, I saw that they were in fact Snow Buntings.

I look for buntings to be on the ground, moving continually in swirls of motion, so these birds initially faked me out.

Today, after some errands, we swung by the airport (always hoping for a Snowy Owl) and pulled into a medical complex where I’ve seen shrikes and a snowy. Sure enough, perched way at the top of a far off tree, swaying in the north wind, was this Northern Shrike.

Shrikes always seem to perch on the very top of the tree.

It was pushing the limit of my point and shoot but it was nice to leave the car running, grab 20 shots, and get back to warmth. Fair weather birding via Honda Fit.

Neighborhood Surprises

It’s cold and windy with a dusting of snow – I just took a short walk on local streets with the dog and left the binoculars and camera at home. Of course, five minutes from the house, I came upon a dozen Pine Grosbeaks feeding in some fruit trees – a place I’ve seen them in years past. Return home for the camera – and risk missing them, or dig out the iPhone? I opted for the latter and with the dog straining on her leash and wind whipping, I took some shots. Here are two – poor lighting, branches, but better than nothing.

We walked the short loop and returning, I saw a low-flying adult Bald Eagle cross just about over us. A quick look – saw the bright white tail – and it was gone behind houses, heading for the forest.

It was a nice outing for exercise, fresh air, and a couple of nice sightings.

Misty Monday Morning

In very light drizzle and temperature about 70, the dog and I took a walk at one of our favorite spots, North Branch Nature Center. It was shorts and t-shirt weather, perhaps the last for a while.