The Frostbite Chronicles

These gents nearly freezed on the slippery causeway out to the lighthouse.  They did not have the proper winter gear on for this trek. 

The bitter cold. For so many years I have wanted to bird in it.  Over the years, I've taken you to Wisconsin and other cold places.  It would be this trip to Maine with my friend Kathie where we'd finally feel the sting of birding in historic subzero temps. 

Blue Jays. These are NEVER easy birds to photograph BUT in the winter, out of desperation, they will come to the feeders in the masses and feed!  

It wasn't expected.  It wasn't planned.  It just happened.  During my entire stay in Maine, we endured subzero temps....and then we were hit with a blizzard.  Is it possible to bird in these conditions?  Yes.  But it's serious birding. 

Another tricky bird to photograph, the Tufted Titmouse, finally stays put for a decent shot!

 I wanted cold but I should have been careful for what I wished for!  In my mind, birding in 10-30 degree Fahrenheit temps is comfortable with the proper attire. What I hadn't planned on was the wearing of 4 layers of clothing(t-shirt, sweater, vest, and coat) and two layers of socks!  Kathie prepped our hot drinks in the morning with a wonderful blend of lemon and ginger for a buttery citrus zing that warmed the cockles.   

hen Common Eiders are common in harbors and along the coastal waters

 We timed everything carefully so that we didn't get frostbite.  It was a harsh reality and some of the most educational birding that I've done in a long time. How do the birds do it? And where can birders find birds in these extreme conditions?

Before I get to those questions though, I want to tell you how eerie the weather was.  The supermoon caused severe tidal damage to the coastal towns.  The ocean had steam rising from it which the locals call "Sea Smoke".  I've seen this on Lake Michigan BUT it causes fog.  This was dark matter that just fuzzed above the ocean. It created issues for our scope. 

Sea Smoke is dramatic and beautiful......it's also very rare. Gulls huddle together to stay warm. 

Even poor Coda below had issues using the bathroom outside!  She quickly did her business and rushed back inside the house. 

So back to the questions posed about winter birds. How do they survive?  Well, the waterfowl, like ducks and geese, huddle in masses along the shorelines.  Smaller birds feed early, and often, as the morning warms up.  But they don't feed for long.  They will disappear into the thick vegetation to protect their bodies from the brutal winds. Daylight was limited which gave us a small window to do our work. They need to eat A LOT to keep their bodies warm! Winter berries are very important for birds like waxwings and thrushes. 

We could only endure 20-30 minutes at a time.  These birds are tough! So where should birders focus their energies on these outings?  Bird feeders, landfills, the open waters of rivers and harbors AND at the very rocky tips of the peninsulas where many ocean birds can be seen up close OR in the distance with a scope.   

I marveled at the Mainers.  They are tough people who endure some of the harshest climates in this country.  During our time there, a clammer went missing in the rough waters and people had to be rescued from the dangerous freezing temps.  At one point, during a birding mission on a causeway, we found a woman and her dog stranded in the middle of nowhere.  We took her to a local gas station because she didn't have a cell phone on her.  It was a truly fascinating experience!

I had wanted to see Kathie and Gus who I haven't seen in over a year.  We usually try to meet up somewhere in the country and bird.  It was my turn to visit Maine.  It really is a beautiful state and a must see for people who'd like a true US cultural experience.  The food, the landscape, the wildlife and the people really make Maine a unique experience. 

The Snowy Owl peers above the lobster traps in the center of the island

My last bird for the year was a Snowy Owl at Biddeford Pools.  I should write BITTERford pools.  It was bitter cold!  My fingers almost fell off!  Anyhow, we were on a mission to find new bird species and revisit old ones.  I'll explore those places in my Birding Maine series this month.  Happy New Year everyone!

Las Aventuras: Across America

I woke up on the New Year's Day both happy and sad.  It was over. How can a year fly by so quickly?!  That part is still hard to get over.  What an amazing journey it has been!  But I am also happy to stop the doubled efforts of chasing birds I have already seen.   My purpose for last year's event was to load up on my North American birds.  Here are some fun facts from my journeys to California, New Mexico, Colorado, Florida, the New England states, and of course, Arizona. 

Pied-billed Grebe

I began the year with a Pied-billed Grebe in southern California and ended the year with a rare(for AZ) Red-necked Grebe.  In the US, I found 468 species of birds.  For North America, I found 476 birds.  I've been doing some work down in Mexico again and it will be my focus this year.  I am surrounded by bird ID books from these regions!  As of now in the US, I rank 62 for the 2014 year.  Some birders haven't entered all their lists into ebird yet so it could slightly alter the ranking.  But I have secured myself within the top 100 for the year and achieved my goal set back in January. In the state of Arizona, I ranked number 2 thanks in part to all the birds found in the state and for this reason, it kept me on top of their list. 

But those are just numbers.  The true purpose of my birding is to live the birding adventure and find as many of our world's birds as I can before I visit the green pastures:) Or sadly, before they disappear. My current life list stands at 586.  And it's hard!  It was so easy a few years back adding birds to the list.  Now, it takes a lot of planning and good use of my time. With the night studies, my full-time job, a partner and regular life duties, I was able to add 127 life birds to the list in 2014.  Not a bad haul. 

What were the highlights?  Each place was special and so much fun.  But let's look at the bird discoveries......

The most exciting camping trek?  
There is no doubt at all here on this one. Although our Greer trip comes close! It was our AZFO camping trip to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.  Here we did a survey of nesting birds around the area.  We had an amazing crew, did some rough camping, and worked incredibly well together.  Everyone still talks about that trip up there.   I hope to join my AZFO group again this year as we explore Organ National Monument down by the border.  

The North Rim of the Grand Canyon

The most frustrating experience?
I think Kathie Brown can vouch for this one.  The Bicknell's Thrush.  I will say this about the Mt. Washington Auto Road.  It sucks.  Beautiful scenery but full of cars and annoying people. And the entrance fee is overpriced. This bird was the trickiest to sort out with the constant traffic. My ears are VERY important when locating birds and this trek was very difficult thanks to all the noise pollution. I still have a bad taste in my mouth about the experience.  I remember how quiet and uncomfortable I made everyone feel in the car by my quiet anger.  I am not proud of that moment, but I was determined. There were many thrushes in the area which also made listening to the Bicknell's call a challenge.  We did manage to spot a couple of the BITH.  However, I will never go on that road again.

The gorgeous mountains of New England

The craziest experience?
We went for the Atlantic Puffin along Maine's coast on very rough waters.  This is where Kathie and Micheal lost it!  The rocking of the waves were too much for them. The Audubon guide was hit left and right during his presentation with ice cold ocean water!  For me, I felt like a giant dancer capturing all the amazing terns, puffins and guillemots around the Eastern Egg Island while the ship rocked back and forth. 

Eastern Egg Island

The most sacred of moments?
Whispering to the Florida Scrub-Jay.  In a magical moment, the captain of the jays flew to the top of my hat and kept lookout while his company flew all around me to feed on the ground.

Florida Scrub-Jay

Best couple activity?
Camping on the Channel Islands for the Island Scrub-Jay!  There we watched migrating whales, tiny foxes and orcas around our island while spending a couple nights on Santa Cruz Island. 

Strangest bird?
The Upland Sandpiper.  The call alone was cool!

Upland Sandpiper

Rarest sighting?
A Snowy Owl in Kennebunkport, Maine in the middle of summer!

Snowy Owl

Best study sessions?
The AZFO fall get together in Globe and grassland sparrow banding with Dr. Janet Ruth. 

Janet releases a Savannah Sparrow

Most epic moment?
While observing Lesser Nighthawks, a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher flew past me at sunset.  I couldn't believe my eyes!  And it was all experienced alone after a really bad day at work.  This bird made me forget it all. 

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

Most painful?
While observing the endangered Piping Plover on Bunche Beach, FL, I was attacked by thousands of chiggers.  I suffered an entire month after a trip to that beach.  

Piping Plover

Most studied birds?
The Montezuma Quail and Bell's Sparrow.

Montezuma Quail

Favorite place to bird?
The grasslands of Southern Arizona

The bitter dip?
The Gunnison sage-grouse!  I'll find you!  The weather was NOT cooperative on this day!

Most overlooked place to bird?
New Mexico!  For those people who say there is nothing there, I challenge you to look again.  WOW!  Plus best food stops this year!  Green chiles......

Most scenic?
Road trek up to Gunnison, CO!  WOWSA!

The worst decision?
Perhaps not the greatest place to bird. One team member discovered a man shooting up in the bushes. All of us had seen the bird in other parts of the country but we wanted it on our Arizona list:) It would have required us to hike a wash full of broken glass, used needles and possibly encountering other nasty things. We decided to leave the area for safety issues.  However, we knew the birds were hiding in that wash. And so we dipped on this bird.  Later in the year on our way to Gunnison, we passed through that same area sans the visit to what I now label "Drug User's Wash" and found the bird around a housing area.  Much safer!

Black-billed Magpie

And finally.  Favorite bird of the year?
The Rhinoceros Auklet.  

I'd like to thank all the people involved this year with Las Aventuras.  The treks have been amazing and without the people, many of the adventures would have been lonely ones. 

When I think about birding in Central and South America, and of course, Mexico, my heart beats a little faster.  It's why I do what I do in the real world. It has taken me to the most amazing and breathtaking places on this planet.  This year, my goal is to explore Mexico again, do a pelagic and spend time with my family back in Wisconsin.  And then there is our wedding at Rocky Mountain National Park this next year. Will I find a White-tailed Ptarmigan while I say, "I do.....love birding."?:)  Or will I get myself into trouble under the eyes of Mother Nature for trying to bird and marry at the same time?  Only time will tell:)  Happy New Year to you all!  

This year's photo album

Birds, birds, birds......check out the amazing Wild Bird Wednesday collection from around the world each.....Wednesday:)

Hedwig

The ocean cast her misty net around us.  A thunderous clap could be heard from the far off distance.  The fog had arrived and there was no escape. 

I imagined witches and warlocks flying around the isles of these waters. 

The wheel of the ancient mill churned the waters of the fast moving stream. A light rain fell from the sky. Did a wizard live here?

Modern day folk relied on their local weather forecaster to predict the weather changes.  Half the time, their prophesies were wrong. And so we navigated around the constant change of elements.

And while we didn't find a witch or warlock, I suspected they were there. For we spied upon crows and......

....a Snowy Owl?  Most people thought we were looking at the house and stopped to snap pictures.  Because that's what people do. But did they notice that something so rare and beautiful was on top of the chimney?  No Snowy Owl remains in July.  But this one did. 

Hedwig.  It had to be.  Harry Potter's Snowy Owl.  Only a dedicated Owl would stay in Maine during the summer. Harry and his friends must be vacationing from England. 

This life bird lived up to its' reputation. The epic landscape and weather changes around Maine were incredible. Most of the Snowy Owls should be up north on their breeding grounds, but this one stuck around just long enough for us to visit.  Pure magic. 
For more incredible birds, check out Wild Bird Wednesday. 

Searching For Elves

Barred Owl

Another mission that is ongoing is the hunt for the great Elf Owl.  This year has been primarily a year of the Great Horned Owl.  So while I search for this little bird in the wild, I thought I'd review what I've seen so far.  Education is the best!  The above pictures were taken in Wisconsin at the Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary.  Granted I don't count these shots as part of my birding list, but I did do some research on them for future searches.  The Snowy Owl isn't found in Arizona nor is the Barred Owl.

Snowy Owl

But out in the wild jungle of our deserts, I did get shots of the Great Horned Owl.  This year was full of them!!!  And I took the opportunity to film them. 

It started with my first thrilling search at night inside a wash at Tanque Verde.  Then it all went downhill from there.  Owls nesting at my school, in trees, and the Great Horned Owl became an instant favorite:)

And while on my hunt for owls, I discovered the Western Screech Owl near Patagonia.  I have to admit that these are a bit tricky for me to spot.  Note how they blend in with their surroundings!:)

Western screech owl-sadly this owl was eaten by a hungry Cooper's Hawk in the winter of 2015

On a fun day trip to the Renaissance Festival in Florence, I was exposed to the Eagle Owl only found in Europe.  The relative of our own Great Horned Owl was MASSIVE and I wouldn't want to be on its bad side:)

The grace, curiousity, and beauty of this Barn Owl flew into view at the Buenos Aires Wildlife Park.  It was really a treat to see this gorgeous owl near....the barns:)  It flew near me watching me hike.

And then there is this Short Eared owl from the Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary. Apparently they are here in Arizona.  So I'll be keeping my eyes open for not only the Elf, but for the Short Eared, Burrowing, and Flammulated Owls.  If a troll shows up, I'm outta there.....:)

As of August, 2015, I have not seen this owl in the wild.