I had arrived at the tail end of migration yet again. The minute I saw Blackpoll Warblers, I knew the game was over. My quest for Bay-breasted and Cape May Warblers would have to wait for another day.
How does one say gaudy in Maine-ish?
But that didn't stop our grand adventures. Birding around Maine is as scenic as it gets in the US. However, the bugs were relentless. Black flies, mosquitoes and ticks were in full force. And I thought Wisconsin was bad. Maine, besides maybe Florida, beats most of the states for crazy bug attacks. Although, I've heard Alaska is a nightmare in summer. They say bird along the coast, but honestly, the coast was just as bad.
Broad-winged Hawk
Between the odd and fantastical, we discovered many incredible birds together. I loved seeing several bird species better. Several were on my list of "must see again".
As Kathie and I both explored beautiful spaces near her home, we observed many birds singing and moving about branches.
Blackpoll Warblers are one of the last warblers to migrate
Many birds were setting up territories.
Bobolink males call and set up their territories
And between the constant attack of the blackfly, I was able to get off a couple shots here and there. It's no wonder why warblers love Maine. There's plenty of food for them there:)
Then an amazing thing happened! I was able to get wonderful observations of a bird I had only seen briefly ONCE, the Scarlet Tanager.
When they are breeding, they are super difficult to observe. Luckily we hit a fantastic observation window where they were still moving and calling out in the open. I not only got to see this bird once but MANY times. We even rescued an injured one!
Purple Finches are wonderfully colored and were in good numbers everywhere we went.
A finch dipped in raspberry jam, the Purple Finch
Vireos made me cringe. They all sound similar. My job was to find a Philadelphia Vireo and separate it from the Red-eyed and Warbling Vireos in the area.
A pair of Red-eyed Vireos
Some birds are super tricky. I had some work ahead of me. Every day we went out and counted birds.
Even though the migration was coming to an end, there were still a lot of great warblers out there.
Chestnut-sided Warbler
A Veery popped out into the open.
Veery
The exciting shrill, "Free Beer!", of the Alder Flycatcher made us smile.
Alder Flycatcher
The picturesque Cedar Waxwings posed often in budding Apple Trees.
Cedar Waxwings
Baltimore Orioles collected cattail fuzz for their nests.
female Baltimore Oriole
Gray Catbirds appeared from behind our backs always watching us from the shadows.
Gray Catbird
Black-throated Blue Warblers were loudly calling inside the forests.
Black-throated Blue Warbler
And this Ruby-throated Hummingbird fiercely protected his feeder from other hummingbirds.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
The electronic warble of the Bobolink was a common sound among the wildflower tinged grasses.
In short. It was nice revisiting several bird species that I don't get to see often in Arizona. Once we finished our first sweep of the common birds, we began our journey for the harder ones. And those stories will be told over the next several weeks. So until next time, use some bug spray:) This wet and cold summer of the North has arrived.
Two wintering Northern Parulas are hanging out at Glendale Recharge Ponds
As we finish out this month of December, I begin to sketch out my final works for this year. The cold winds have arrived reminding us all that winter is here in the US.
Over the past several weeks, I have just wandered random trails collecting data and enjoying our birds in Arizona. Recently I have done some counts along a rocky trail on Mt. Lemmon for a friend. Yesterday, I went hiking 6 miles with another birder. We watched from the distance as a winter storm blew over our desert dwellings. The air on the mountain turned from cold to bone chilling cold. My kind of weather.
During a lunch break in a secluded fern forest alongside a tiny pool of water, we watched many birds come down to take a sip. They felt the storm coming and were actively feeding in preparation for the snow that was about to fall.
Chestnut-sided Warbler
I spoke with my birding partner about the way of the world. The frosty winds blew through the canyon in the dark woods. A Williamson's Sapsucker fed from a tree nearby.
Birds are amazing. They bring me such peace and happiness. When I'm not with them outside, I read about them inside. But during this moment in the shaded glen of perfection, I sat with my birding partner discussing the weight of the world .
This Least Sandpiper is smaller than what this pic makes it out to be
So. What I am about to write is not easy. But this is a blog about my personal reflections whilst in the process of discovering 10000 birds in this lifetime. I work with people. I watch populations of humanity. I listen. I observe my surroundings. And I feel unsettled. I know. It's not the holiday talk you might want to hear.
The wintering Zone-tailed Hawk hangs out at Reid Park for the winter.
During our conversation, we noted how the military base has been increasingly active here in Tucson. Friends of ours have been working late nights. Later than normal. A sign, perhaps, that things are coming.
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Humanity has warred with one another since the day we came to be. One would think that we would learn, but I have observed enough humanity on every side to know that not all things are equal or balanced. This year has been rough on the US and other places around the world. Fires. Hurricanes. Drought. Bombings. Shootings. Then there are the birds. I have even noticed the changes here due to our fires in the various mountain ranges. Some of us suspect that the hurricanes have altered migration patterns of warblers which is why we've had a very good eastern warbler year in Arizona. The patterns are odd.
Gambel's White-crowned Sparrow
People shop and people go about their lives like they normally would. I think about all those who have lost so much this year and it breaks my heart.
Female Summer Tanager
I sat in that wooded glen thinking about how perfect it was. And I wish I could hide forever inside of that moment, safe and protected.
My favorite pic of this series are these Red Crossbills, Type 2 from Reid Park. This has been a very good year for them here in Tucson.
After verbally putting my thoughts together out loud with this birder, I felt sad. Is there a war coming and is there no way around it? One side pushes the other. More innocent lives will be affected. I see between the lines. This isn't Iraq. This is something completely different. After our trek, my thoughts still lingered on that conversation for the rest of the day.
A Vermilion Flycatcher takes a sip from the bubbler
Anyhow, enough on this topic. I will say though that I have just shared with you some of the things that run through my head while on the trails. While you were looking at the pics(in a sense, birding with me), you were also following my thoughts. I'm pretty sure we all do it. Some birders will talk a lot while on the trails. Some birders talk to themselves:) I usually save my thoughts until we've found our birds. These are the things I process in my brain while playing detective out in the field. So thanks for reading through my thoughts here.
Canvasback
In a few weeks, my life bird hunt will take me up to Maine to visit my friend Kathie and her hubby Gus. We will be doing some casual and fun birding around the coastal area. I'm definitely looking forward to the break.
Ring-necked Duck
On a side note, I am ok. I really am. I'm just a deep thinker. I work with so many people every day that all of their worries, concerns, and stories recycle around in my mind during my off hours. It is why birding is SO important to me. It's the silence from word that I crave after these busy times. The birds I've presented today in this post are from my research and data runs for Audubon. Someone has to look over our birds:) Each of us can make a difference in their success. I'd like to encourage you to join a CBC(Christmas Bird Count) wherever you may live. It can be as easy as monitoring your backyard bird feeder or as adventurous as a long hike on a beautiful trail. Contact your local Audubon for more information. I can't change the way of the world, but I can try and make a small difference in my own little bubble. Until next time!
This is my original work. These birds are not easy:) A few warblers have since been added to this chart.
This past weekend was truly a test of patience. Target birding. Not the kind of birding some people prefer. As several birders climb to the top of this imaginary pyramid; things become trickier. Trickier birds require trickier maneuvers. On this particular weekend, birders from all over the state(s) came together. These finds were not only epic but state firsts for many people.
Chestnut-sided Warbler. Photo courtesy of Gordon Karre! Thank you for helping me tell this story.
I began this weekend with the mind set, "Warblers or die." So I chased 4 rare warblers that were reported in the state. My first challenge was the Chestnut-sided Warbler near ASU in Tempe. The second and third warblers were the American Redstart and lifer, Black-throated Blue Warbler within the region known as the Santa Cruz Flats. Finally, I went after the Yellow-throated Warbler in Patagonia. Each one presented different challenges.
The Santa Cruz Flats and within this vast land, a few Sprague's Pipits hide.
Lately, I have turned into a binocular-before-photographer type birder. The binos allow me to reach the bird quickly and observe behaviors that I normally wouldn't see with the camera. I arrived at the ASU campus and located the Chestnut-sided Warbler in a lone Cottonwood tree. For a few moments I saw the bird sit still long enough for me to clearly ID. When I reached for my camera to snap a shot, the warbler was gone. To make matters worse, an ASU sports event let out, creating chaos around me. At that point, I put my head down and walked away. Why do birds pick these loud and obnoxious locations? Did I find the bird? Yes. Did I get a photo? No. This is where my bud Gordon Karre comes in to save the day! He did get a shot of the bird earlier that day and was very kind to share his photo on Las Aventuras this week.
The watering hole on Sasco Rd.
But I knew I was facing an uphill battle for the next day. There were two lifers involved here. The Sprague's Pipit and the Black-throated Blue Warbler. Both on private property! I knew that getting pics would be difficult. We assembled the most amazing team of birders around the state to find these winged gems. Our day was a success and the odds played in our favor. All targets accomplished. My lifer, the Sprague's Pipit, was seen in the collection of scopes. As the bird lifted off from one field, I snapped a poor shot of it flying into another grassy patch. Then it was off to THE house.
I hope no one lives here.
Birders flocked to this home and waited and waited to see the reported male American Redstart, Black-throated Blue Warbler and Summer Tanager flying around the Pomegranate Tree. Technically, we were stalking. For 93 minutes we stared at that blasted house in the shade swapping stories with one another. We still aren't sure if there were people living there, but a sheriff did come to see what we were all doing. We blamed it all on Magill.
I sat staring at that pony or cow creature in the yard. Definitely cute and out of place. In fact, it looked like Samwise Gamgee's pony Bill from Lord of the Rings. I thought about how nice the shade was. I thought about how much I liked the people around me and wished we could hang out more often. I wondered if the machine under the pomegranate tree was a tractor or grill. And I wondered if that damned warbler would show up. And eventually it did.......
Black-throated Blue Warbler gets the tractor ready
But this time, I wouldn't let the warbler get away. So I got rid of the binos and held my camera instead. That warbler was beautiful. WOW! We watched as it drove the tractor around the yard a couple times. And then it was off for more target birding.
Ferruginous Hawk
Then it was off to the small town of Patagonia for the Yellow-throated Warbler. This wintering warbler is currently feeding on bugs found around the mistletoe at the Patagonia City Park. However, we sat in this park for 2 hours before it BRIEFLY showed up! We were with two other birders. This bird was not a lifer for me so I used my binos instead.
Yellow-throated Warbler. Photo taken in 2013 at Sweetwater Wetlands
My ears were sharp and I spotted the bird quickly. Unfortunately, our new birder friends had their eyes on the doppelganger Yellow-rumped Warbler. So they followed that bird with their bins instead of keeping their eyes on our target. Madness ensued. Russian tourists entered the picture and chased the Yellow-throated Warbler off as they ran pointing at the bird. Another woman decided to follow us around and chat. When we didn't answer her, she responded, "Oh this is serious business, isn't it?" When you wait for a bird for more than two hours, yes, it is. The other birders never saw the Yellow-throated Warbler and I never got a shot of the bird feeding at the mistletoe. Instead while we sat under the tree waiting for the warbler, we watched this guy bored out of our minds. People watching can also be fun. Between the Russians, Japanese and elderly, it was a busy day at the park.
That guy hanging out on the bench for as long as we waited for the warbler
Who was he? A local? An artist? Then I started thinking to myself. Why can't my hair grow that long? How did I get so stuffy in my life? Blah blah blah. After a long afternoon in the park, I thought about calling my mother to wish her a happy birthday, getting home to do the laundry and finalizing some summer plans with my other half. Ahhhh! The joys of rare warblers.
I'd like to thank all the wonderful people behind this post today. I think without each other's support, we'd have given up empty handed. It was a blast and it's fun playing detective with you all. Thank you Linda, Magill(for organizing), Gordon, Nathan and Muriel. You guys rock! It's surprising but the life list is slowly growing. 10 more birds until I reach 600. Who will the next life bird be? Over the next several weeks, we'll meet up with friends Randy, Cindy and Pam. Stay tuned for more....
Our trip to Maine was so much fun. I wish Kathie were closer so that we could bird more often, but we knew the time would fly by quickly.
I won't forget the first night Gus made us Lobster rolls! I had watched birders salivate while telling me their stories of Maine and their love for....lobster rolls. Now I understand better why they went crazy over the mention of Maine.
Chestnut-sided Warbler in Kathie's backyard
For me, birding is about great observations on new birds. It's also about getting better observations on older birds that I've previously seen. Sometimes the work is difficult but it's also very rewarding.
Many times we didn't have to go far to encounter new birds. We'd find them everywhere around Merepoint, Wharton's landing, Brunswick and other areas.
Pileated Woodpecker near Brunswick Landing
The primary targets for the Maine adventures were finding all the "Eastern" versions of our "Western" birds like the Eastern Whip-poor-will, Eastern Towhee, Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Eastern Kingbird, etc etc. Because I don't live on the eastern side of the US, many of these birds were new! For many others, these are common birds around their feeders.
Copulating Horseshoe Crabs
The other targets for our Maine journey focused on the Atlantic Puffin and Bicknell's Thrush. Those required special trips out to the various areas and were planned well in advance.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
As our checklist and time narrowed, we chose our destinations carefully. I think over the course of two weeks, we took two days to do some light birding around Kathie's house. These days were meant for relaxing and recharging our birder batteries:)
These days allowed for us to closely examine several already seen birds and their nesting habitats better. For example, we watched a Yellow Warbler family nest near the landing by Kathie's house.
Yellow Warbler
Without disturbing the nest, I took some photos and watched the parents feed their young ones over the course of several days.
Nesting wasn't just limited to the Yellow Warbler family. Song Sparrows were busy feeding their young ones as well.
Song Sparrow
There was a lot of great habitat around Kathie's house.
She had nesting Bald Eagles and a field full of Bobolinks!
Bobolinks in the fields of gold
And when we weren't walking around, we just sat and watched the feeders together. Hairy Woodpeckers, Purple Finches and Tufted Titmice came to visit.
Hairy Woodpecker parent feeding juvenile
Common Grackles lived up to their name. And looking back at it all, Kathie's backyard was a wonderful place of discovery. The entire drive up and down her magical Merepoint was a wildlife experience. I will forever remember driving down that several mile road along the forest and ocean. It was always relaxing and peaceful. So on the 4th of July when we had to say good-bye, I was sad to go. We didn't have fireworks but we did have fireflies:)
Common Grackle
It is always hard to say good-bye to dear friends. Everyone was exhausted by the time the trip came to an end, but it was a pretty exciting ride! At the end, I added 35 new bird species to my list and Kathie added several more to her Maine and Life Lists as well.
I'd like to thank Kathie and Gus for a wonderful time. It's now time for me to reciprocate the love. She will need to come and visit in the spring of next year to Arizona so that I can help her find the LeConte's Thrasher and several others she needs for her list:) Life is short. It is to be enjoyed and explored. Our adventures continue back home in Arizona. Until next time Maine!
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