Birding Wisconsin

Cedar Waxwing at the Gill Farm

 The Wisconsin adventures are about to begin.  I'm still on the road and will be getting back to you all during the month of July so I apologize for my absence. It has been a fun trek into the Eastern part of the US looking for rarities and other beautiful things. 

My niece is growing up SO FAST!

I'm spending much needed time with the family.....

A mother Eastern Phoebe guards her nest

 ......and their birds.  Sometimes I tune out and revert back to my old self.  Just for a moment. 

Rose-breasted Grosbeak at a nest in Peninsula State Park

 We explore nature preserves, campgrounds and meet wonderful new people on the road. 

Searching for Barn Swallow nests in an old cattle barn at the Gill Farm

I eat Mom's homemade cooking.  There are dumplings and kraut, brats, sausage sticks and CHEESE!  Yum!!!  We grill out.  We gossip. 

And while doing so, my lifer American Woodcock stops to visit while I am without my camera.  I do have a Malibu and Rum in my hands though.  It figures that a secretive bird would stop by and visit when I am not prepared!  My family all watched the bird land and then take off.  The moral of the story.  Never leave your camera in the car:)

My brother gets the fire going.  I make the same expression when the American Woodcock stops by to PEEK on us. No photo.  Next time.

Other birds stop by and calmly pose for photos.  Heck!  Some of them even nest on the porch!

Babies take selfies.

The family gets together for Father's Day

And Downy Woodpeckers come for a sip at the feeders. 

My brother Jared exposes me to a new toy....the drone.  It's easy to operate, but the filming part is tricky.  I safely navigate the drone away from people and birds, but my brother has other ideas:)  

And while all this commotion is going on, I sneak in the time to chase rare birds in Wisconsin. There are rainy days which I treasure because the cool temps allow me to sleep in and enjoy my vacation. 

The Little Gull

 Every part of the world has its challenging birds. Here in Wisconsin, gulls are the challenge as are the many flycatchers.  I like gulls so I don't mind sitting through the thousands of them looking for one or two rarities. 

Red Admiral

So on this overcast and cool morning, I scoured the Sheboygan shoreline and found 3 Little Gulls mixed in with the hundreds of similar looking Bonaparte's Gulls. 

The header to this blog contains a Bonaparte's Gull so you can imagine how much I loved observing all of these birds.  They are one of my favorite gulls that I don't get to see often because I'm in Arizona:) It was a treat!  After a half hour, I located one Little Gull on a shoddy pier.  

Bonaparte's Gulls and a Little Gull.  Can you find the bird?

 Other gulls joined the fun as the Little Gull wobbled around the "Big Leagues".  I think Ring-billed Gulls are small but when they stand next to the Little Gull, they are GIANTS!

A Ring-billed Gull is a giant to the much smaller Little Gull

At the end of my count, I found 3 of them mixed into the crowd.  They have a shorter bill, are a quarter size smaller than the similar looking Bonaparte's Gulls, and have darker legs.  The cap on the head was also slightly different as were the primary tail feathers.  But to the naked eye, they look the same.  I found these birds because there wasn't anyone around me during the early morning hours.  The birds made their weird sounding short squawks at one another. Once I located the "different" calls, I was able to have a debate inside my head.  Why aren't these Bonaparte's Gulls?  I know. I know. I need to see a counselor:)  But hey, it's better than getting into a political debate with my father!  So let's turn off the news, internalize a little more, and enjoy nature!  Birds make for a much healthier debate:)

Door County with the family.  My niece catches me falling asleep on the ferry to Washington Island

At the end, I was confident about my ID. Native to Northern Europe and Asia, these Little Gulls have a known smaller population around the Great Lakes area and East Coast.

The people started arriving and asking me about the Pelicans.  Instead I spoke with them about the rarer gulls.  I helped other birders get on the birds and it was a satisfying bird challenge. But the people were still jabbering on about the PELICANS!  So I'll jabber about them as well in a future post:) Their presence is significant. Today it's raining in Wisconsin and I love it.  The temps are a cool 58 degrees and I have the house to myself!!  I sip my coffee with my gentle music playing in the background.  The doors are open and a breeze is moving through the house.  Tonight, we try out Bloody Mary's at a local restaurant.  Yeah, birding and family is a lot of fun.  Over the next several weeks, my friend Gordon and I will take you on some epic adventures that truly challenged us in the state of Wisconsin.   

I'd also like to make a shout out and thank Nancy and Earl Gill for their wonderful hospitality. Several of the photos featured in today's post are from their property. Nancy gave me a tour of their beautiful farm and a delicious jar of canned pickles!  I like pickles but these pickles are amazing.  Needless to say, I'm rationing the jar:)  SO GOOD!  There are so many shades to birding.  I love Wisconsin.  I love the relaxed pace.  Arizona birding is wonderful but it's stressful when you're with so many professional birders! They've made me a better birder, but sometimes the birding can be demanding there. Here, it seems less stressful with a lot more laughing.  And when I'm with my Shire, I feel at home.  Until next time........

Dark Skies

Cholla Cactus at Sunset

Black Vultures.  My big break with the rare bird alert people/gurus.  And then it happened. I felt legit as a birder.   Rare for Tucson this time of year, I found over 50 in an area near the recharge ponds in Avra Valley on Mile Wide Road.  But they wouldn't believe me unless I took my pictures!

And so it began.  It wasn't the Groove Bill Ani I was chasing that would get me on the rare bird alert...but the Black Vulture!  Of all birds that would get me notice, it would be Black Vultures!  And they weren't even a lifebird for me! You never know when or where luck will strike, but I'll take it:)  I scheduled my morning to find the Crested Caracaras, Ani, and Northern Parula.  2 of the 3 birds I'd find, but forget about the Caracaras. 

It was an early morning to be on the road alone.  But I drove listening to inspirational music to keep my spirits high.  It was cold and I was almost at my destination when these birds flew out from under a bridge.  I nearly crapped myself.  What the.....??!!!

I got out of the car and smiled from ear to ear.  This was one for the record books.  10 had been reported but I counted over 50 around the area.  Which could have meant only one thing.  Death.

Black Vultures

I parked my car and prayed to the gods that it not be a human.  It went something like this, "Please please please let this not be a person."  I held my cell phone close.  You see, in Arizona anything is possible.  It may sound funny in this writing but I assure you....it's not. I prepare for that mentally everytime I go to strange and isolated areas.  And I am now thankful that I have a cell.

I walk closer to the bridge but something spooks the birds.  I hear howling and yipping.

The mass of vultures fly off and I spot why they're quick to leave.  Cell phone is held closer.  This time it's on.

I take a pic of them on the line and I see coyotes running from under the bridge.

The question is.....what in the world is this?  I am still puzzled.  The Vultures were there for the carcass, but is this a coyote?  I didn't want to get too close because the ravine was deep.  Were the coyotes feeding on this carcass or were they mourning the loss of a member from their pack?  I left the scene just as confused as I had been when I got there.  Whatever happened, I made it on the rare bird alert watch.  However I was lectured about my JPEG size when submitting photos:) I guess I'll never win:) But all that's goofy nonsense.  What do you think really happened here?

More tomorrow....

Birding Etiquette

What happens when the world is looking for the rarest bird in the US?  Well, it was such an amazing thing.  Birders from all around the country come in flocks.  You swear a celebrity was in town.  The parking lot filled up like I've never seen before.  Parking starts out on the street and backs up.

I contact Kathie, who just came back from a big trip the night before, and she is on her way.  I had already seen the Groove Bill Ani the day before, but I want Kathie to get it on her list.  And she wants it on her list.  But she lives on the opposite end of town.  It's Sunday morning and people are going to church.  Traffic slows her down.

And Murphy's Law happens.  Almost too perfectly.  The bird lands right in front of me.  I hear the call first like I did the day before.  A man near me repeats, "Ani" the same time I do. And we're off.  Surprisingly, most people did not study the bird call before coming.  At least twenty people begin to crowd around with their cameras, but being that I had the call located to the right spot......I had the bird right in front of me.

But I crouched so that others could see.  I am a very tall guy and didn't want to be rude.  Someone's phone went off and the birders were all annoyed.  Really annoyed.  The bird flew into the salt bush.  And moved like our Road Runner does here in the desert.  I was able to then make adjustments to my camera the best I could.  You see....the Ani is from the Cuckoo family as is the Road Runner.  Not a graceful bird at all.

But the bird was quick!  It seemed to prefer the Willow Trees along the ponds. It perched mid to high range on those trees.  Birders, surprisingly kept their distance and allowed the bird some space.  But birders are aware of the idiots who don't care and just want the shot and ruin it for all. Today no one would try that move.  And thankfully no one played that call on their cell phones!  Extremely rude!

We observed the bird for 20 minutes.  It was quite the crowd.  I texted Kathie and said, "Hurry!  But be safe!"  As she drove into the parking lot, a Cooper's Hawk flew to grab the Ani.  The Ani dropped into the reeds and quickly disappeared.....for good.  The crowd, as quickly as they came, disappeared.  But others came after them and remained hopeful.  I stayed for Kathie to help her find the bird.  We were able to hear it several times that day but it never made an appearance again.

It would be the last time I saw the Groove Billed Ani.  Kathie would go again and not spot the bird.  I was bummed out about the timing.  She was kind and said it was okay. 

You win some and you lose some in the business of chasing a rare bird.  We saw the Common Loon together and were happy about that find.  But this one we couldn't both claim.  Kathie has to see the bird to make it count.  I have to get it on camera to make it count.   Once it's on camera, I will count the bird if I hear it by call alone. So what kind of birder are you?  And would you follow birder etiquette to get that shot?  

Try

I find chasing after a new bird has a cost because it doesn't always guarantee an excellent picture.....just a fuzzy one for that chance glimpse. And while running after that bird, many other species present themselves in broad daylight.  Ones that I've wanted to get great shots of since the beginning of this year.....but the distant call of the Groove Bill Ani calls me and I run.

Male Summer Tanager

As I run, the rare Male Summer Tanager taunts me sitting on top of a sign.  A test to see how bad I want this bird.  But I stop and hold myself together to snap shots of it.  The Ani calls again and my heart races and I must leave the bird that I've been trying to get better shots of........all for the Ani.

I walk briskly to the bird call.  Whenever there is a rare bird like the Plain Capped Starthroat Hummingbird or the Groove Billed Ani, I can't sleep well.   I memorize their calls and listen carefully while out in the field.  I hear the call repeatedly.

Meanwhile, like the devil taunting me, birds sit and stare at me giving me perfect shots of them.  "Come on!!!  Why couldn't you have done this before???  Why now!??"  The call comes again.

Rare bird indeed.  The only one in the US right now and the whole world is looking for it.  I find another birder also focusing her eyes on the same place I hear the call.

Cooper's Hawk

We look into the tree full of Grackles but a floppy jump catches my eye. "Everyone is here searching for you and we two lucky people found you."

But my eyes are distracted.  INCA DOVES!!!!!????  Come on!!!  Is this some sort of sick joke??!!!  I have searched for you all year long and now, NOW! of all times you and your friends are with the Ani in the tree.  

Inca Doves

A White Crowned Sparrow pops out....and perches perfectly for me.  I wish I had a copy of myself to observe them all at once.  But I can't.  And it's frustrating.  The Ani calls one last time and snaps my attention back like a tight rubber band. 

White Crowned Sparrow

And I catch it flying off into the reeds of the Sweetwater Wetlands.  And as soon as it all happens, it all quickly fades away.  Birders see us both get excited and MANY people come towards us.  I point the direction of the bird and they all quickly go after it.

Groove Billed Ani

"Try" happened twice for me to find this bird.  I had many sleepless nights. Finding the bird was pure adrenaline.  I won't forget that moment for a long time.  But I am a perfectionist and as a photographer, I was upset with my pictures.  I am OCD and went back the next day around the same time.  Would luck strike twice?  More tomorrow.....

Blown Off Course

There is no doubt in my mind that we live in the desert.  Many of you see green in a lot of my pics with our Sonoran desert and you may think that unusual for deserts.  Well it is.  The Sonoran desert is considered the greenest desert of the world.  If you've been here,  you know it is very brown and dry at times. But what makes the Sonoran desert unusual is that we get regular rain(monsoon), sometimes on a daily basis, during our summer months.  Today check out what happens when storms happen on Part 2 of this monsoon series.

This monsoonal weather pattern can cause chaos around here:)  We still have those hot hot temps which spark the moisture in the atmosphere and BOOM!!!  Some of the best lightning shows begin. 

Shorebirds from Mexico and California are thrown off course and end up around our watering holes in Tucson.  During the time of this shoot, it was reported that several Brown Pelicans were spotted at several of our parks.  So I jumped in my car to get these fun shots.

About three large blocks away, I found the Brown Pelican immediately.  Even better were the sightings of the Cormorants(both Double Crested and Neotropic!).  Oh it was hot, moist and very tropical this day, but I didn't have to walk very far to find this guy:)

So you may ask, "What happens when these ocean birds end up in the desert?"  Sometimes, several have to be rescued right away as they are in poor condition, but during this last storm, 6 were healthy happy and feeding on the fish from our "lakes". These guys are rounded up and then taken over to San Diego where they are released back into the wild.  

Brown Pelicans are interesting birds but I liked these shots the most because they show something different.  Pelicans do a lot of funny things with their beaks.  Observing this particular behavior, I would imagine that this guy was cooling himself off:)

I also found out that a group of Pelicans are called a Pod. Fun! The bonus of finding a Pelican also means that there will probably be some colorful characters around the area as well....like the 3 stooges above.  The Cormorants kept the area interesting.  Sometimes the Pelican would smack them on the head and they didn't seem to mind:)  More tomorrow...

Living in their rightful airspace of Mexico.