I was at Heron Park in Vermillion County (IL) yesterday afternoon looking for the resident Sandhill Crane pair (I eventually saw them at a distance).
While I was there I kept hearing cars honking on the highway. Sometimes the cars would stop and honk persistently. I walked up to the highway, looked east, and saw a family of Canada Geese standing on the edge of the highway, sometimes moving farther out onto the pavement. I thought to myself "Why don't these geese just cross the road and move on?".
I left Heron Park a half hour later and the geese were still there, which seemed odd. As I drove slowly by, I spied a dead gosling on the edge of the pavement, apparently hit by a passing car. The parents stood there looking perplexed/confused, like they expected the gosling to get up and follow them, and couldn't figure out why it wasn't doing that. The other goslings stood nearby on the gravel shoulder of the highway.
I'm not a big fan of Canada Geese...they're aggressive, noisy, and leave a big mess behind. But my heart went out to these two birds, it was such a sad scene. I wonder how much longer they stood there, waiting for the little guy to get up and follow them?
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Three central Illinois Mississippi Kite sightings in two days!
There was a report of a Mississippi Kite over Champaign (IL) at 6:00PM Sunday. The sighting occurred near the intersection of Church Street and Prospect Avenue.
Next there was a sighting at 11:00AM Monday. The bird was flying over the Jordan Creek Wildlife Preserve SE of Rossville (IL). This is about 35 miles NORTHEAST of the Sunday Champaign sighting.
A third kite was reported SW of Decatur (IL) at 6:00PM Monday, along Rock Springs Road. This is approximately 45 miles SOUTHWEST of the Sunday Champaign sighting.
Based on the locations and timing of these sightings, it's likely this was three individual birds.
Next there was a sighting at 11:00AM Monday. The bird was flying over the Jordan Creek Wildlife Preserve SE of Rossville (IL). This is about 35 miles NORTHEAST of the Sunday Champaign sighting.
A third kite was reported SW of Decatur (IL) at 6:00PM Monday, along Rock Springs Road. This is approximately 45 miles SOUTHWEST of the Sunday Champaign sighting.
Based on the locations and timing of these sightings, it's likely this was three individual birds.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Bobolinks(!), late Orange-crowned Warbler, late White-crowned Sparrow
Interesting day in the neighborhood yesterday and today.
First, the late birds:
* I encountered a very late Orange-crowned Warbler yesterday in the woods next to the Indiana University cross country course. Brock’s average southern Indiana departure date for this species is May 14, and Brock’s record late date for southern Indiana is May 17. I heard the bird first and, knowing this was probably kinda late, I spent 15-20 minutes tracking it down for a successful visual ID. This was also a first-of-year bird, and BIGBY species #151 for the year!
* There was also a very late White-crowned Sparrow foraging under my feeders all day Friday. Brock’s southern Indiana departure date is May 11 (i.e., 90% of the WCSPs already should have passed through by then) and the southern Indiana late record is May 23 (tomorrow). I’ll definitely be putting out feed on the ground the next few days to encourage him to stick around!
Now, on to some other highlights:
* Bobolinks!! When I stopped to check for possible nesting Savannah Sparrows at my usual SASP checkpoint I flushed a male Bobolink out of the grass not ten feet away from me, followed by a female. My second sighting this spring, and only my fifth Bobolink sighting on the XC course in five years, all occurring since IU changed its mowing policy two years ago. While these five sightings were of birds in obvious male plumage, I may have seen several females this spring. For a couple of weeks I’ve been trying to identify a “mystery sparrow” in this patch of grass. It just dawned on me after reviewing Bobolink photos that this “mystery sparrow” is a female Bobolink. Wonder if they are nesting there? That would be cool!!
* The Savannah Sparrows are still present in their usual location. I’m assuming they are nesting, which would be the first time I’ve recorded a SASP nest site in five years of birding the XC course. Pretty neat!
* I checked the Killdeer nest again. There were three eggs Thursday. There was a fourth egg present Friday. It’s kinda funny...the closer you get to a Killdeer nest, the less the adult looks like a Killdeer. I got within ten feet of the nest Friday AM, and the adult was practically tying itself in knots trying to look like an injured bird. You never realize how many buff-colored feathers Killdeers have until they’re deep into contortions and feigning injury to lure you away from the nest. Then they seem all buff-colored.
* A very accomplished Northern Mockingbird on Friday AM! At one point during its song it sounded more like an Eastern Phoebe than a Phoebe does. :-) Also did great impersonations of a Pewee, Carolina Wren, Common Yellowthroat, Blue Jay, etc. Very fun bird to listen to!
* More Eastern Bluebird fledglings on the XC course. It does my heart good. The nearest bluebird boxes are a half mile away and they are not maintained. It’s good to know that bluebirds can hold their own naturally against starlings, house sparrows, etc.
* Had my first Great Crested Flycatcher *sighting* of the year today along the west edge of the southern section of the XC course. I’ve been hearing them calling from across the IU golf course, but this is the first one I’ve actually *seen* this year.
* So far this spring there has been just one Common Yellowthroat singing on the XC course. When I got there this AM there were four additional birds singing! I’m thinking they might be later migrants, as Brock’s spring departure date for migrants isn’t until May 26. But who knows, maybe they’ll stick around for the summer. * There were a couple of Turkey Vultures on the ground on the XC course this morning feeding on the remains of a dead cat and a large dead snake. Vultures look pretty huge when you see them up close! I think the cat was ambushed by a coyote Thursday night, and the snake was probably killed late Friday AM by a mower mowing the running trails on the XC course. The snake was in several pieces.
* Finally, I think I’ve located a Baltimore Oriole nest site. There’s been a bird singing in the same area daily for several weeks. It’s in a small patch of woods on the IU golf course, just west of the tee for the 7th hole. I think I’ll start looking for the nest next time I’m there.
First, the late birds:
* I encountered a very late Orange-crowned Warbler yesterday in the woods next to the Indiana University cross country course. Brock’s average southern Indiana departure date for this species is May 14, and Brock’s record late date for southern Indiana is May 17. I heard the bird first and, knowing this was probably kinda late, I spent 15-20 minutes tracking it down for a successful visual ID. This was also a first-of-year bird, and BIGBY species #151 for the year!
* There was also a very late White-crowned Sparrow foraging under my feeders all day Friday. Brock’s southern Indiana departure date is May 11 (i.e., 90% of the WCSPs already should have passed through by then) and the southern Indiana late record is May 23 (tomorrow). I’ll definitely be putting out feed on the ground the next few days to encourage him to stick around!
Now, on to some other highlights:
* Bobolinks!! When I stopped to check for possible nesting Savannah Sparrows at my usual SASP checkpoint I flushed a male Bobolink out of the grass not ten feet away from me, followed by a female. My second sighting this spring, and only my fifth Bobolink sighting on the XC course in five years, all occurring since IU changed its mowing policy two years ago. While these five sightings were of birds in obvious male plumage, I may have seen several females this spring. For a couple of weeks I’ve been trying to identify a “mystery sparrow” in this patch of grass. It just dawned on me after reviewing Bobolink photos that this “mystery sparrow” is a female Bobolink. Wonder if they are nesting there? That would be cool!!
* The Savannah Sparrows are still present in their usual location. I’m assuming they are nesting, which would be the first time I’ve recorded a SASP nest site in five years of birding the XC course. Pretty neat!
* I checked the Killdeer nest again. There were three eggs Thursday. There was a fourth egg present Friday. It’s kinda funny...the closer you get to a Killdeer nest, the less the adult looks like a Killdeer. I got within ten feet of the nest Friday AM, and the adult was practically tying itself in knots trying to look like an injured bird. You never realize how many buff-colored feathers Killdeers have until they’re deep into contortions and feigning injury to lure you away from the nest. Then they seem all buff-colored.
* A very accomplished Northern Mockingbird on Friday AM! At one point during its song it sounded more like an Eastern Phoebe than a Phoebe does. :-) Also did great impersonations of a Pewee, Carolina Wren, Common Yellowthroat, Blue Jay, etc. Very fun bird to listen to!
* More Eastern Bluebird fledglings on the XC course. It does my heart good. The nearest bluebird boxes are a half mile away and they are not maintained. It’s good to know that bluebirds can hold their own naturally against starlings, house sparrows, etc.
* Had my first Great Crested Flycatcher *sighting* of the year today along the west edge of the southern section of the XC course. I’ve been hearing them calling from across the IU golf course, but this is the first one I’ve actually *seen* this year.
* So far this spring there has been just one Common Yellowthroat singing on the XC course. When I got there this AM there were four additional birds singing! I’m thinking they might be later migrants, as Brock’s spring departure date for migrants isn’t until May 26. But who knows, maybe they’ll stick around for the summer. * There were a couple of Turkey Vultures on the ground on the XC course this morning feeding on the remains of a dead cat and a large dead snake. Vultures look pretty huge when you see them up close! I think the cat was ambushed by a coyote Thursday night, and the snake was probably killed late Friday AM by a mower mowing the running trails on the XC course. The snake was in several pieces.
* Finally, I think I’ve located a Baltimore Oriole nest site. There’s been a bird singing in the same area daily for several weeks. It’s in a small patch of woods on the IU golf course, just west of the tee for the 7th hole. I think I’ll start looking for the nest next time I’m there.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Update on historic Sandhill Crane nesting in east central Illinois
I've reported on the historic Heron Park Sandhill Cranes in Vermilion County (IL) a couple of times in the recent past. Heron Park is just northwest of Danville, IL, about six miles west of the Indiana/Illinois state line.
I use the word "historic" here because the last known Sandhill nesting in east central Illinois was nearly 140 years ago, way back in 1872 (see: http://bit.ly/bvx8ty. The reference is on page 134 of the PDF, but the page number printed at the bottom of the page on the source document says page 120).
According to Illinois Natural History Survey biologist Steve Bailey: "This is quite a ways south of the most southern known Illinois nesting right now…at Grundy County's Goose Lake Prairie State Park." Heron Park is about 110 miles SSE of Goose Lake Prairie State Park!
The Sandhills managed to build a rudimentary nest and produce a single egg. See Brian Stearns' photos at: http://bit.ly/9FVe5F. When you scroll down to the "Sandhill Crane" entry you will see seven photos. The fourth through seventh Sandhill photos are dated May 14. You can see the egg in a couple of pictures.
Unfortunately the nest was built too close to the water. Earlier this week (the night of May 17/18) the water level rose from recent rains and flooded the nest, causing the cranes to abandon it. Last I heard, the cranes were still in the area though.
(UPDATE: THE PAIR OF SANDHILL CRANES WAS STILL PRESENT AT HERON PARK AS OF THE MORNING OF MAY 24).
(UPDATE: PHOTO FROM THE MORNING OF MAY 26, TAKEN BY BUD LEWSADER: http://bit.ly/aMl4cN).
I use the word "historic" here because the last known Sandhill nesting in east central Illinois was nearly 140 years ago, way back in 1872 (see: http://bit.ly/bvx8ty. The reference is on page 134 of the PDF, but the page number printed at the bottom of the page on the source document says page 120).
According to Illinois Natural History Survey biologist Steve Bailey: "This is quite a ways south of the most southern known Illinois nesting right now…at Grundy County's Goose Lake Prairie State Park." Heron Park is about 110 miles SSE of Goose Lake Prairie State Park!
The Sandhills managed to build a rudimentary nest and produce a single egg. See Brian Stearns' photos at: http://bit.ly/9FVe5F. When you scroll down to the "Sandhill Crane" entry you will see seven photos. The fourth through seventh Sandhill photos are dated May 14. You can see the egg in a couple of pictures.
Unfortunately the nest was built too close to the water. Earlier this week (the night of May 17/18) the water level rose from recent rains and flooded the nest, causing the cranes to abandon it. Last I heard, the cranes were still in the area though.
(UPDATE: THE PAIR OF SANDHILL CRANES WAS STILL PRESENT AT HERON PARK AS OF THE MORNING OF MAY 24).
(UPDATE: PHOTO FROM THE MORNING OF MAY 26, TAKEN BY BUD LEWSADER: http://bit.ly/aMl4cN).
Monday, May 10, 2010
My 150th walking BIGBY species of the year!!
(What's a BIGBY? See: http://bit.ly/bGUVxi).
Nice cool morning on the Indiana University cross country course. The breeze was from the NNE, my favorite wind direction on the XC course because it holds the urban noises at bay, keeping everything peaceful and quiet, with only natural sounds.
I had a better-than -average 61 species when I added everything up. This kinda surprised me since it didn’t seem especially birdy while I was out there. I had four new FOY/BIGBY species, bringing my 2010 walking BIGBY count to an even 150 species! (I’m still a little behind last year’s BIGBY pace, though).
Here are the new walking BIGBY birds:
* Willow Flycatcher - BIGBY species #147 for 2010
* Connecticut Warbler - #148
* Wilson’s Warbler - #149
* Black-billed Cuckoo - #150
And several non-FOY highlights:
* I’ve been seeing Savannah Sparrows just about daily in the same patch of grass since April 23. I’ve never seen them so consistently in five years of hanging out on the XC course. If I stand in a particular spot long enough a Savannah will pop up out of the grass and fly over to perch on a low forb. I’m hoping that they are nesting, because in five years of birding the XC course I’ve never seen any evidence that would suggest nesting by Savannah Sparrows!
* For the second time in a few days I’ve observed a Dickcissel singing on the XC course. This AM it was perched on an XC course directional sign, singing away. I’m pretty sure I’ve never encountered a *singing* Dickcissel on the IU XC course before. Maybe they’ll stick around?
* I think I’ve located the approximate locations of two Field Sparrow nests on the south section of the XC course. That’s pretty neat because I’ve never found a probable FISP nest on the XC course proper before. (They’ve nested in a nearby 20 acre grassy meadow in past years).
* Lots of Indigo Buntings hanging around. Cool birds. Pretty songs.
* At least ten Eastern Kingbirds on the XC course today. Lots of insect hawking and pitched battles. :-)
Nice cool morning on the Indiana University cross country course. The breeze was from the NNE, my favorite wind direction on the XC course because it holds the urban noises at bay, keeping everything peaceful and quiet, with only natural sounds.
I had a better-than -average 61 species when I added everything up. This kinda surprised me since it didn’t seem especially birdy while I was out there. I had four new FOY/BIGBY species, bringing my 2010 walking BIGBY count to an even 150 species! (I’m still a little behind last year’s BIGBY pace, though).
Here are the new walking BIGBY birds:
* Willow Flycatcher - BIGBY species #147 for 2010
* Connecticut Warbler - #148
* Wilson’s Warbler - #149
* Black-billed Cuckoo - #150
And several non-FOY highlights:
* I’ve been seeing Savannah Sparrows just about daily in the same patch of grass since April 23. I’ve never seen them so consistently in five years of hanging out on the XC course. If I stand in a particular spot long enough a Savannah will pop up out of the grass and fly over to perch on a low forb. I’m hoping that they are nesting, because in five years of birding the XC course I’ve never seen any evidence that would suggest nesting by Savannah Sparrows!
* For the second time in a few days I’ve observed a Dickcissel singing on the XC course. This AM it was perched on an XC course directional sign, singing away. I’m pretty sure I’ve never encountered a *singing* Dickcissel on the IU XC course before. Maybe they’ll stick around?
* I think I’ve located the approximate locations of two Field Sparrow nests on the south section of the XC course. That’s pretty neat because I’ve never found a probable FISP nest on the XC course proper before. (They’ve nested in a nearby 20 acre grassy meadow in past years).
* Lots of Indigo Buntings hanging around. Cool birds. Pretty songs.
* At least ten Eastern Kingbirds on the XC course today. Lots of insect hawking and pitched battles. :-)
Sunday, May 9, 2010
A good birding video for Mother's Day
Good Mother's Day themed birding video. :-)
A rescued baby hummingbird is fed in a person's hand by its mother.
http://bit.ly/cRSVuE
A rescued baby hummingbird is fed in a person's hand by its mother.
http://bit.ly/cRSVuE
Saturday, May 8, 2010
We officially now have mountain lions in southern Indiana!!
We officially now have mountain lions here in southern Indiana!!
Photos were taken by an Indiana Department of Natural Resources motion-activated trail camera. The IDNR was investigating two years of reports in nearby Greene County.
See: http://bit.ly/dpDNzJ
Photos were taken by an Indiana Department of Natural Resources motion-activated trail camera. The IDNR was investigating two years of reports in nearby Greene County.
See: http://bit.ly/dpDNzJ
First Week of May - 24 new BIGBY Species!!
(What's a BIGBY? See: http://bit.ly/bGUVxi).
May is a great month for birding on the Indiana University cross country (XC) course! Seems like you see interesting birds left and right, like they’re crawling out of the woodwork.
I thought I’d had a decent month in April, with 108 total species recorded for the month (see: http://bit.ly/9J7M9y for my April summary). But I’ve already topped that in the first seven days of May, with 110 species recorded for the week! I think I’ll throw all caution to the winds and declare May as a Big Green Big Month, with a goal of 150 total species recorded during the month (probably not likely, but it gives me something to shoot for).
And I thought I did really well in April with 40 new BIGBY species for the month. But in the first week of May I’ve already tallied 24 new BIGBY birds! (See list at bottom of this posting).
With the addition of these 24 new species, my BIGBY count now stands at 146 species within walking distance of home for 2010. That leaves me a little behind last year’s pace, when I ended up with 153 BIGBY species by the end of the first week of May 2009.
Here are some highlights from the week:
* Cattle Egret – Without a doubt THE highlight of the month, if not the year. The egret put in an appearance as an IU mowing crew was mowing the golf course driving range. According to BNA Online, these birds are sometimes attracted to “fields where fire, tractors, or cutting/mowing machinery are used.” This was also a new BIGBY life bird for me!
* Bobolink - Only the third time I’ve seen Bobolinks on the XC course in five years.
* Vesper Sparrow - Only the third Vesper Sparrow on the XC course in three years.
* Dickcissel - Fewer than ten sightings over five years.
* Blue Grosbeak - Fewer than ten sightings over five years.
* 21 warbler species for the week.
* Eight sparrow species for the week.
* Five vireo species.
Finally, here are the two dozen new BIGBY birds recorded during the first week of May:
Green Heron – BIGBY species #123 for 2010 (first recorded on 5/3)
Blue Grosbeak #124 (5/3)
Orchard Oriole #125 (5/3)
Summer Tanager #126 (5/3)
Veery #127 (5/3)
Tennessee Warbler #128 (5/3)
Acadian Flycatcher #129 (5/3)
Gray-cheeked Thrush #130 (5/3)
Swainson’s Thrush #131 (5/3)
Cattle Egret #132 (5/4)
Canada Warbler #133 (5/6)
Philadelphia Vireo #134 (5/6)
Eastern Wood-pewee #135 (5/6)
Least Flycatcher #136 (5/6)
Yellow-billed Cuckoo #137 (5/6)
Chestnut-sided Warbler #138 (5/6)
Dickcissel #139 (5/7)
Vesper Sparrow #140 (5/7)
Bobolink #141 (5/7)
Purple Martin #142 (5/7)
Ruby-throated Hummingbird #143 (5/7)
American Redstart #144 (5/7)
Cape May Warbler #145 (5/7)
Yellow-breasted Chat #146 (5/7)
May is a great month for birding on the Indiana University cross country (XC) course! Seems like you see interesting birds left and right, like they’re crawling out of the woodwork.
I thought I’d had a decent month in April, with 108 total species recorded for the month (see: http://bit.ly/9J7M9y for my April summary). But I’ve already topped that in the first seven days of May, with 110 species recorded for the week! I think I’ll throw all caution to the winds and declare May as a Big Green Big Month, with a goal of 150 total species recorded during the month (probably not likely, but it gives me something to shoot for).
And I thought I did really well in April with 40 new BIGBY species for the month. But in the first week of May I’ve already tallied 24 new BIGBY birds! (See list at bottom of this posting).
With the addition of these 24 new species, my BIGBY count now stands at 146 species within walking distance of home for 2010. That leaves me a little behind last year’s pace, when I ended up with 153 BIGBY species by the end of the first week of May 2009.
Here are some highlights from the week:
* Cattle Egret – Without a doubt THE highlight of the month, if not the year. The egret put in an appearance as an IU mowing crew was mowing the golf course driving range. According to BNA Online, these birds are sometimes attracted to “fields where fire, tractors, or cutting/mowing machinery are used.” This was also a new BIGBY life bird for me!
* Bobolink - Only the third time I’ve seen Bobolinks on the XC course in five years.
* Vesper Sparrow - Only the third Vesper Sparrow on the XC course in three years.
* Dickcissel - Fewer than ten sightings over five years.
* Blue Grosbeak - Fewer than ten sightings over five years.
* 21 warbler species for the week.
* Eight sparrow species for the week.
* Five vireo species.
Finally, here are the two dozen new BIGBY birds recorded during the first week of May:
Green Heron – BIGBY species #123 for 2010 (first recorded on 5/3)
Blue Grosbeak #124 (5/3)
Orchard Oriole #125 (5/3)
Summer Tanager #126 (5/3)
Veery #127 (5/3)
Tennessee Warbler #128 (5/3)
Acadian Flycatcher #129 (5/3)
Gray-cheeked Thrush #130 (5/3)
Swainson’s Thrush #131 (5/3)
Cattle Egret #132 (5/4)
Canada Warbler #133 (5/6)
Philadelphia Vireo #134 (5/6)
Eastern Wood-pewee #135 (5/6)
Least Flycatcher #136 (5/6)
Yellow-billed Cuckoo #137 (5/6)
Chestnut-sided Warbler #138 (5/6)
Dickcissel #139 (5/7)
Vesper Sparrow #140 (5/7)
Bobolink #141 (5/7)
Purple Martin #142 (5/7)
Ruby-throated Hummingbird #143 (5/7)
American Redstart #144 (5/7)
Cape May Warbler #145 (5/7)
Yellow-breasted Chat #146 (5/7)
Indiana BIGBY Count Nears 150 Species!
(What's a BIGBY? See: http://bit.ly/bGUVxi).
With the addition of eight new species yesterday (May 7) the count now stands at 146 BIGBY species for the year within walking distance of my southern Indiana residence.
Here's a list of the 146 species. The species are arranged chronologically by the date I first recorded them (in cases where there is more than one entry on a given date, the species are listed in the order that I encountered them on that day).
Bald Eagle
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
European Starling
House Finch
Winter Wren
Merlin
Ring-billed Gull
Turkey Vulture
White-crowned Sparrow
Pine Siskin
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Eastern Bluebird
Northern Harrier
Wild Turkey
House Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Downy Woodpecker
Fox Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Blue Jay
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
American Goldfinch
Carolina Wren
Common Grackle
Cooper’s Hawk
Hairy Woodpecker
Canada Goose
Mallard
Rock Pigeon
American Tree Sparrow
Mourning Dove
White-throated Sparrow
White-breasted Nuthatch
Song Sparrow
Eastern Meadowlark
Cedar Waxwing
American Robin
Brown Creeper
American Crow
Red-tailed Hawk
Great Blue Heron
Sandhill Crane
Red-shouldered Hawk
Great Horned Owl
American Kestrel
Brown-headed Cowbird
Red-headed Woodpecker
Killdeer
Northern Flicker
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Northern Mockingbird
Purple Finch
Field Sparrow
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Peregrine Falcon
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Brown Thrasher
Eastern Towhee
Horned Lark
Red-winged Blackbird
Screech Owl
Hermit Thrush
Belted Kingfisher
Barred Owl
Eastern Phoebe
Northern Bobwhite
Rough-legged Hawk
Black Vulture
Gray Catbird
American Woodcock
Rusty Blackbird
Savannah Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Osprey
Wilson's Snipe
Louisiana Waterthrush
Tree Swallow
Blue-headed Vireo - BIGBY species #83 for 2010 (4/1)
House Wren #84 (4/1)
Great Egret #85 (4/2)
Barn Swallow #86 (4/2)
Northern Parula #87 (4/2)
Pine Warbler # 88 (4/2)
Yellow-throated Warbler #89 (4/6)
Worm-eating Warbler #90 (4/6)
Palm Warbler #91 (4/7)
Black-and-white Warbler #92 (4/7)
Northern Rough-winged Swallow #93 for 2010 (4/11)
Chimney Swift #94 (4/11)
Prairie Warbler #95 (4/12)
Broad-winged Hawk #96 (4/12)
White-eyed Vireo #97 (4/13)
Black-throated Green Warbler #98 (4/14)
Ovenbird #99 (4/14)
Common Yellowthroat #100 (4/16)
Red-eyed Vireo #101 (4/16)
Yellow-throated Vireo #102 (4/16)
Nashville Warbler #103 (4/16)
Indigo Bunting #104 (4/17)
Prothonotary Warbler #105 (4/19)
Solitary Sandpiper #106 (4/19)
Rose-breasted Grosbeak #107 (4/20)
Henslow’s Sparrow #108 (4/22)
Eastern Kingbird #109 (4/22)
Blue-winged Warbler #110 (4/22)
Horned Lark #111 (4/22)
Northern Waterthrush #112 (4/24)
Cerulean Warbler #113 (4/24)
Wood Thrush #114 (4/24)
Kentucky Warbler #115 (4/26)
Hooded Warbler #116 (4/26)
Grasshopper Sparrow #117 (4/27)
Baltimore Oriole #118 (4/28)
Common Nighthawk #119 (4/28)
Scarlet Tanager #120 (4/28)
Great Crested Flycatcher #121 (4/28)
Blackburnian Warbler #122 (4/28)
Green Heron #123 (5/3)
Blue Grosbeak #124 (5/3)
Orchard Oriole #125 (5/3)
Summer Tanager #126 (5/3)
Veery #127 (5/3)
Tennessee Warbler #128 (5/3)
Acadian Flycatcher #129 (5/3)
Gray-cheeked Thrush #130 (5/3)
Swainson’s Thrush #131 (5/3)
Cattle Egret #132 (5/4)
Canada Warbler #133 (5/6)
Philadelphia Vireo #134 (5/6)
Eastern Wood-pewee #135 (5/6)
Least Flycatcher #136 (5/6)
Yellow-billed Cuckoo #137 (5/6)
Chestnut-sided Warbler #138 (5/6)
Dickcissel #139 (5/7)
Vesper Sparrow #140 (5/7)
Bobolink #141 (5/7)
Purple Martin #142 (5/7)
Ruby-throated Hummingbird #143 (5/7)
American Redstart #144 (5/7)
Cape May Warbler #145 (5/7)
Yellow-breasted Chat #146 (5/7)
With the addition of eight new species yesterday (May 7) the count now stands at 146 BIGBY species for the year within walking distance of my southern Indiana residence.
Here's a list of the 146 species. The species are arranged chronologically by the date I first recorded them (in cases where there is more than one entry on a given date, the species are listed in the order that I encountered them on that day).
Bald Eagle
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
European Starling
House Finch
Winter Wren
Merlin
Ring-billed Gull
Turkey Vulture
White-crowned Sparrow
Pine Siskin
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Eastern Bluebird
Northern Harrier
Wild Turkey
House Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Downy Woodpecker
Fox Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Blue Jay
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
American Goldfinch
Carolina Wren
Common Grackle
Cooper’s Hawk
Hairy Woodpecker
Canada Goose
Mallard
Rock Pigeon
American Tree Sparrow
Mourning Dove
White-throated Sparrow
White-breasted Nuthatch
Song Sparrow
Eastern Meadowlark
Cedar Waxwing
American Robin
Brown Creeper
American Crow
Red-tailed Hawk
Great Blue Heron
Sandhill Crane
Red-shouldered Hawk
Great Horned Owl
American Kestrel
Brown-headed Cowbird
Red-headed Woodpecker
Killdeer
Northern Flicker
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Northern Mockingbird
Purple Finch
Field Sparrow
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Peregrine Falcon
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Brown Thrasher
Eastern Towhee
Horned Lark
Red-winged Blackbird
Screech Owl
Hermit Thrush
Belted Kingfisher
Barred Owl
Eastern Phoebe
Northern Bobwhite
Rough-legged Hawk
Black Vulture
Gray Catbird
American Woodcock
Rusty Blackbird
Savannah Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Osprey
Wilson's Snipe
Louisiana Waterthrush
Tree Swallow
Blue-headed Vireo - BIGBY species #83 for 2010 (4/1)
House Wren #84 (4/1)
Great Egret #85 (4/2)
Barn Swallow #86 (4/2)
Northern Parula #87 (4/2)
Pine Warbler # 88 (4/2)
Yellow-throated Warbler #89 (4/6)
Worm-eating Warbler #90 (4/6)
Palm Warbler #91 (4/7)
Black-and-white Warbler #92 (4/7)
Northern Rough-winged Swallow #93 for 2010 (4/11)
Chimney Swift #94 (4/11)
Prairie Warbler #95 (4/12)
Broad-winged Hawk #96 (4/12)
White-eyed Vireo #97 (4/13)
Black-throated Green Warbler #98 (4/14)
Ovenbird #99 (4/14)
Common Yellowthroat #100 (4/16)
Red-eyed Vireo #101 (4/16)
Yellow-throated Vireo #102 (4/16)
Nashville Warbler #103 (4/16)
Indigo Bunting #104 (4/17)
Prothonotary Warbler #105 (4/19)
Solitary Sandpiper #106 (4/19)
Rose-breasted Grosbeak #107 (4/20)
Henslow’s Sparrow #108 (4/22)
Eastern Kingbird #109 (4/22)
Blue-winged Warbler #110 (4/22)
Horned Lark #111 (4/22)
Northern Waterthrush #112 (4/24)
Cerulean Warbler #113 (4/24)
Wood Thrush #114 (4/24)
Kentucky Warbler #115 (4/26)
Hooded Warbler #116 (4/26)
Grasshopper Sparrow #117 (4/27)
Baltimore Oriole #118 (4/28)
Common Nighthawk #119 (4/28)
Scarlet Tanager #120 (4/28)
Great Crested Flycatcher #121 (4/28)
Blackburnian Warbler #122 (4/28)
Green Heron #123 (5/3)
Blue Grosbeak #124 (5/3)
Orchard Oriole #125 (5/3)
Summer Tanager #126 (5/3)
Veery #127 (5/3)
Tennessee Warbler #128 (5/3)
Acadian Flycatcher #129 (5/3)
Gray-cheeked Thrush #130 (5/3)
Swainson’s Thrush #131 (5/3)
Cattle Egret #132 (5/4)
Canada Warbler #133 (5/6)
Philadelphia Vireo #134 (5/6)
Eastern Wood-pewee #135 (5/6)
Least Flycatcher #136 (5/6)
Yellow-billed Cuckoo #137 (5/6)
Chestnut-sided Warbler #138 (5/6)
Dickcissel #139 (5/7)
Vesper Sparrow #140 (5/7)
Bobolink #141 (5/7)
Purple Martin #142 (5/7)
Ruby-throated Hummingbird #143 (5/7)
American Redstart #144 (5/7)
Cape May Warbler #145 (5/7)
Yellow-breasted Chat #146 (5/7)
My 100th Illinois BIGBY Species for 2010
(What's a BIGBY? See: http://bit.ly/bGUVxi).
My 2010 Illinois BIGBY species list hit 100 species on May 2 with the sighting of a Worm-eating Warbler in Urbana's Busey Woods park. My Illinois BIGBY total now stands at 103 species.
Here's a list of the 103 species, in taxonomic order:
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Blue-winged Teal
Mallard
Ring-necked Pheasant
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Northern Goshawk
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk (Eastern)
American Kestrel
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
American Coot
Killdeer
American Woodcock
Wilson's Snipe
Greater Yellowlegs
Spotted Sandpiper
Willet
Ring-billed Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Eastern Screech-Owl
Barred Owl
Common Nighthawk
Chimney Swift
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Red-headed Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Phoebe
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
White-eyed Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Philadelphia Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Tree Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Barn Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Carolina Chickadee
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
House Wren
Winter Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Eastern Bluebird
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
Brown Thrasher
European Starling
Worm-eating Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-throated Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Palm Warbler
Pine Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Ovenbird
Northern Waterthrush
Louisiana Waterthrush
Common Yellowthroat
Scarlet Tanager
Eastern Towhee
American Tree Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Henslow's Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Dickcissel
Indigo Bunting
American Pipit
Red-winged Blackbird
Eastern Meadowlark
Rusty Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Baltimore Oriole
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow
My 2010 Illinois BIGBY species list hit 100 species on May 2 with the sighting of a Worm-eating Warbler in Urbana's Busey Woods park. My Illinois BIGBY total now stands at 103 species.
Here's a list of the 103 species, in taxonomic order:
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Blue-winged Teal
Mallard
Ring-necked Pheasant
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Northern Goshawk
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk (Eastern)
American Kestrel
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
American Coot
Killdeer
American Woodcock
Wilson's Snipe
Greater Yellowlegs
Spotted Sandpiper
Willet
Ring-billed Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Eastern Screech-Owl
Barred Owl
Common Nighthawk
Chimney Swift
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Red-headed Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Phoebe
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
White-eyed Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Philadelphia Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Tree Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Barn Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Carolina Chickadee
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
House Wren
Winter Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Eastern Bluebird
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
Brown Thrasher
European Starling
Worm-eating Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-throated Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Palm Warbler
Pine Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Ovenbird
Northern Waterthrush
Louisiana Waterthrush
Common Yellowthroat
Scarlet Tanager
Eastern Towhee
American Tree Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Henslow's Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Dickcissel
Indigo Bunting
American Pipit
Red-winged Blackbird
Eastern Meadowlark
Rusty Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Baltimore Oriole
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow
Feast to famine: what a difference a day makes!
Yesterday, Friday, May 7, I tallied 62 species on the Indiana University cross country course, including eight new BIGBY species. Today I counted only 24 species!!. I'm thinking the front passing through last night, and this morning's strong WNW winds (20-25mph, with higher gusts) probably have something to do with it.
Speaking of wind, during one particularly strong gust I watched an Eastern Kingbird fly backwards! Interesting. By the way, kingbirds were the most common birds on the XC course today. I counted 11 of them.
The winds have kept the birds hunkered down and quiet. Even some of the reliable regulars were conspicuous by their absence: no Blue Jays, Eastern Towhees, Field Sparrows, Song Sparrows, or Common Yellowthroats. But the feisty Prairie Warbler was still perched up high and singing lustily.
Speaking of wind, during one particularly strong gust I watched an Eastern Kingbird fly backwards! Interesting. By the way, kingbirds were the most common birds on the XC course today. I counted 11 of them.
The winds have kept the birds hunkered down and quiet. Even some of the reliable regulars were conspicuous by their absence: no Blue Jays, Eastern Towhees, Field Sparrows, Song Sparrows, or Common Yellowthroats. But the feisty Prairie Warbler was still perched up high and singing lustily.
Friday, May 7, 2010
April 2010 – A BIGBY month in review
(What's a BIGBY? See: http://bit.ly/bGUVxi).
I recorded 108 species within walking distance of home during the month of April, the bulk of those species being on or adjacent to the Indiana University cross country (XC) course. For a list of these 108 species, see my blog post at: http://bit.ly/de3WkC.
I averaged seeing/hearing 39.5 species per day over the course of the month. My lowest species count was 28 species on April 8. My highest count was 54 species on April 1, which seems sort of counter-intuitive since migratory activity increases over the month. During April, I added 40 new walking BIGBY species to my BIGBY list for 2010. For a list of those 40 new BIGBY species, see my blog post at: http://bit.ly/b1tVrd.
Here are some BIGBY highlights from April:
* As the month began, I set a goal of trying to beat my personal record for earliest date to reach 100 BIGBY species in a given year. My previous record for earliest date to 100 BIGBY species was April 29 (2009). This year I recorded my 100th BIGBY species of the year on April 16, beating my old record by nearly two weeks! If you’re curious to know what the 100th species was, see: http://bit.ly/a83iUT.
* Wild Turkey – heard gobbling off in the woods on a crisp clear spring morning. One of my favorite sounds in the birding world. And it always reminds me of the two years I spent following an urban Wild Turkey flock (see: http://bit.ly/cDEHIU).
* Bald Eagle – not a first-of-year bird in April, and not entirely uncommon here in southern Indiana, but a rare bird for the IU XC course, and always a treat to see there (or anywhere).
* Osprey – I only see these birds maybe once a year, so it was really cool to see two of them in the same month!
* Merlin – another very occasional raptor visitor.
* Peregrine Falcon – not a first-of-year bird but it’s still pretty neat to see one soaring over the XC course. Two sightings in April!!
* Great Crested Flycatcher – these birds are relatively common on the XC course in the summer, but I eagerly await their calls each spring. I usually spend a couple of weeks hearing towhee calls and thinking I’ve found my first bird. But eventually the real deal comes around and I find myself wondering how I could ever have thought a towhee sounds like a Great Crested Flycatcher. :-)
* Eastern Kingbird – another bird I eagerly wait for each spring!
* Five vireo species.
* Horned Lark – a rare visitor to the XC course.
* Eighteen warbler species.
* Eleven sparrow species, including Savannah, Grasshopper, and Henslow’s.
* Rusty Blackbird – an uncommon bird on the XC course. Four birds seen during the first week of the month.
* And last, but not least, I saw what will probably be my last-of-season Dark-eyed Junco on April 29!! That's more than three weeks past the departure date for this species here, but nowhere near the record late date (June 10).
I recorded 108 species within walking distance of home during the month of April, the bulk of those species being on or adjacent to the Indiana University cross country (XC) course. For a list of these 108 species, see my blog post at: http://bit.ly/de3WkC.
I averaged seeing/hearing 39.5 species per day over the course of the month. My lowest species count was 28 species on April 8. My highest count was 54 species on April 1, which seems sort of counter-intuitive since migratory activity increases over the month. During April, I added 40 new walking BIGBY species to my BIGBY list for 2010. For a list of those 40 new BIGBY species, see my blog post at: http://bit.ly/b1tVrd.
Here are some BIGBY highlights from April:
* As the month began, I set a goal of trying to beat my personal record for earliest date to reach 100 BIGBY species in a given year. My previous record for earliest date to 100 BIGBY species was April 29 (2009). This year I recorded my 100th BIGBY species of the year on April 16, beating my old record by nearly two weeks! If you’re curious to know what the 100th species was, see: http://bit.ly/a83iUT.
* Wild Turkey – heard gobbling off in the woods on a crisp clear spring morning. One of my favorite sounds in the birding world. And it always reminds me of the two years I spent following an urban Wild Turkey flock (see: http://bit.ly/cDEHIU).
* Bald Eagle – not a first-of-year bird in April, and not entirely uncommon here in southern Indiana, but a rare bird for the IU XC course, and always a treat to see there (or anywhere).
* Osprey – I only see these birds maybe once a year, so it was really cool to see two of them in the same month!
* Merlin – another very occasional raptor visitor.
* Peregrine Falcon – not a first-of-year bird but it’s still pretty neat to see one soaring over the XC course. Two sightings in April!!
* Great Crested Flycatcher – these birds are relatively common on the XC course in the summer, but I eagerly await their calls each spring. I usually spend a couple of weeks hearing towhee calls and thinking I’ve found my first bird. But eventually the real deal comes around and I find myself wondering how I could ever have thought a towhee sounds like a Great Crested Flycatcher. :-)
* Eastern Kingbird – another bird I eagerly wait for each spring!
* Five vireo species.
* Horned Lark – a rare visitor to the XC course.
* Eighteen warbler species.
* Eleven sparrow species, including Savannah, Grasshopper, and Henslow’s.
* Rusty Blackbird – an uncommon bird on the XC course. Four birds seen during the first week of the month.
* And last, but not least, I saw what will probably be my last-of-season Dark-eyed Junco on April 29!! That's more than three weeks past the departure date for this species here, but nowhere near the record late date (June 10).
Thursday, May 6, 2010
New BIGBY Species Seen During April 2010
(What's a BIGBY? See: http://bit.ly/bGUVxi).
Following is the list of new first-of-year BIGBY species I recorded while walking from my home during April 2010. Altogether, I added 40 new BIGBY species for the month.
The species are arranged chronologically by the date I first recorded them (in cases where there is more than one entry on a given date, the species are listed in the order that I encountered them on that day).
Each entry lists the species name, the BIGBY count for that species for 2010, and the date recorded. For example, the Blue-headed Vireo was the 83rd BIGBY species I recorded during the year, and it was first seen on April 1, 2010.
Blue-headed Vireo - BIGBY species #83 for 2010 (4/1)
House Wren #84 (4/1)
Great Egret #85 (4/2)
Barn Swallow #86 (4/2)
Northern Parula #87 (4/2)
Pine Warbler # 88 (4/2)
Yellow-throated Warbler #89 (4/6)
Worm-eating Warbler #90 (4/6)
Palm Warbler #91 (4/7)
Black-and-white Warbler #92 (4/7)
Northern Rough-winged Swallow #93 for 2010 (4/11)
Chimney Swift #94 (4/11)
Prairie Warbler #95 (4/12)
Broad-winged Hawk #96 (4/12)
White-eyed Vireo #97 (4/13)
Black-throated Green Warbler #98 (4/14)
Ovenbird #99 (4/14)
Common Yellowthroat #100 (4/16)
Red-eyed Vireo #101 (4/16)
Yellow-throated Vireo #102 (4/16)
Nashville Warbler #103 (4/16)
Indigo Bunting #104 (4/17)
Prothonotary Warbler #105 (4/19)
Solitary Sandpiper #106 (4/19)
Rose-breasted Grosbeak #107 (4/20)
Henslow’s Sparrow #108 (4/22)
Eastern Kingbird #109 (4/22)
Blue-winged Warbler #110 (4/22)
Horned Lark #111 (4/22)
Northern Waterthrush #112 (4/24)
Cerulean Warbler #113 (4/24)
Wood Thrush #114 (4/24)
Kentucky Warbler #115 (4/26)
Hooded Warbler #116 (4/26)
Grasshopper Sparrow #117 (4/27)
Baltimore Oriole #118 (4/28)
Common Nighthawk #119 (4/28)
Scarlet Tanager #120 (4/28)
Great Crested Flycatcher #121 (4/28)
Blackburnian Warbler #122 (4/28)
Following is the list of new first-of-year BIGBY species I recorded while walking from my home during April 2010. Altogether, I added 40 new BIGBY species for the month.
The species are arranged chronologically by the date I first recorded them (in cases where there is more than one entry on a given date, the species are listed in the order that I encountered them on that day).
Each entry lists the species name, the BIGBY count for that species for 2010, and the date recorded. For example, the Blue-headed Vireo was the 83rd BIGBY species I recorded during the year, and it was first seen on April 1, 2010.
Blue-headed Vireo - BIGBY species #83 for 2010 (4/1)
House Wren #84 (4/1)
Great Egret #85 (4/2)
Barn Swallow #86 (4/2)
Northern Parula #87 (4/2)
Pine Warbler # 88 (4/2)
Yellow-throated Warbler #89 (4/6)
Worm-eating Warbler #90 (4/6)
Palm Warbler #91 (4/7)
Black-and-white Warbler #92 (4/7)
Northern Rough-winged Swallow #93 for 2010 (4/11)
Chimney Swift #94 (4/11)
Prairie Warbler #95 (4/12)
Broad-winged Hawk #96 (4/12)
White-eyed Vireo #97 (4/13)
Black-throated Green Warbler #98 (4/14)
Ovenbird #99 (4/14)
Common Yellowthroat #100 (4/16)
Red-eyed Vireo #101 (4/16)
Yellow-throated Vireo #102 (4/16)
Nashville Warbler #103 (4/16)
Indigo Bunting #104 (4/17)
Prothonotary Warbler #105 (4/19)
Solitary Sandpiper #106 (4/19)
Rose-breasted Grosbeak #107 (4/20)
Henslow’s Sparrow #108 (4/22)
Eastern Kingbird #109 (4/22)
Blue-winged Warbler #110 (4/22)
Horned Lark #111 (4/22)
Northern Waterthrush #112 (4/24)
Cerulean Warbler #113 (4/24)
Wood Thrush #114 (4/24)
Kentucky Warbler #115 (4/26)
Hooded Warbler #116 (4/26)
Grasshopper Sparrow #117 (4/27)
Baltimore Oriole #118 (4/28)
Common Nighthawk #119 (4/28)
Scarlet Tanager #120 (4/28)
Great Crested Flycatcher #121 (4/28)
Blackburnian Warbler #122 (4/28)
April 2010 BIGBY Species List
(What's a BIGBY? See: http://bit.ly/bGUVxi).
Following is a list of the 108 species I recorded while walking from my home during April 2010. The species are arranged in the order that they appear on eBird reports (http://ebird.org/).
Canada Goose
Mallard
Wild Turkey
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Cooper's Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
Killdeer
Wilson's Snipe
American Woodcock
Ring-billed Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Eastern Screech-Owl
Great Horned Owl
Barred Owl
Chimney Swift
Belted Kingfisher
Red-headed Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Eastern Phoebe
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
White-eyed Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo
Blue-headed Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Horned Lark
Tree Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Barn Swallow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
House Wren
Winter Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Eastern Bluebird
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
Brown Thrasher
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Nashville Warbler
Northern Parula
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Yellow-throated Warbler
Pine Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Palm Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Ovenbird
Northern Waterthrush
Louisiana Waterthrush
Kentucky Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Hooded Warbler
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow
Henslow's Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Red-winged Blackbird
Eastern Meadowlark
Rusty Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Baltimore Oriole
Purple Finch
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow
Following is a list of the 108 species I recorded while walking from my home during April 2010. The species are arranged in the order that they appear on eBird reports (http://ebird.org/).
Canada Goose
Mallard
Wild Turkey
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Cooper's Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
Killdeer
Wilson's Snipe
American Woodcock
Ring-billed Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Eastern Screech-Owl
Great Horned Owl
Barred Owl
Chimney Swift
Belted Kingfisher
Red-headed Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Eastern Phoebe
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
White-eyed Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo
Blue-headed Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Horned Lark
Tree Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Barn Swallow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
House Wren
Winter Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Eastern Bluebird
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
Brown Thrasher
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Nashville Warbler
Northern Parula
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Yellow-throated Warbler
Pine Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Palm Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Ovenbird
Northern Waterthrush
Louisiana Waterthrush
Kentucky Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Hooded Warbler
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow
Henslow's Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Red-winged Blackbird
Eastern Meadowlark
Rusty Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Baltimore Oriole
Purple Finch
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
My Big Green Big Day
I decided to do Monday (May 3) as a “Big Green Big Day”. Basically, this involves trying to record as many species as I can in one day within walking distance of my home. (For more on the BIGBY movement, see: http://bit.ly/bGUVxi). The Big Green Big Day differs from my usual local birding walk in that I bird more intensively and make sure to hit all the local micro-habitats.
My previous BIGBY high species count for one day was 74 species on 5/7/09. My goal for Monday was to top this prior record, and try to reach 100 species for the day. My species count for Monday fell in between these two goals. I recorded 88 species on the day. So I beat my old record by 14 species, but fell 12 species short of my ultimate goal of 100 species for the day.
During the day I had nine first-of-year (FOY) species. Each was also a new BIGBY species for the year, bringing my 2010 BIGBY count to 131 species! These new species were, in order of sighting:
Green Heron - BIGBY species #123 for the year
Blue Grosbeak - #124
Orchard Oriole - #125
Summer Tanager - #126
Veery - #127
Tennessee Warbler - #128
Acadian Flycatcher - #129
Gray-cheeked Thrush - #130
Swainson’s Thrush - #131
Here's the eBird report that lists all 88 species for the day:
Location: Indiana University--Cross Country Course
Observation date: 5/3/10
Number of species: 88
Canada Goose X
Mallard X
Great Blue Heron X
Green Heron X
Turkey Vulture X
Cooper's Hawk X
Red-shouldered Hawk X
Red-tailed Hawk X
American Kestrel X
Killdeer X
Wilson's Snipe X
American Woodcock X
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Great Horned Owl X
Barred Owl X
Chimney Swift X
Red-bellied Woodpecker X
Downy Woodpecker X
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) X
Pileated Woodpecker X
Acadian Flycatcher X
Eastern Phoebe X
Great Crested Flycatcher X
Eastern Kingbird X
White-eyed Vireo X
Yellow-throated Vireo X
Warbling Vireo X
Red-eyed Vireo X
Blue Jay X
American Crow X
Tree Swallow X
Northern Rough-winged Swallow X
Barn Swallow X
Carolina Chickadee X
Tufted Titmouse X
White-breasted Nuthatch (Eastern) X
Carolina Wren X
House Wren X
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher X
Eastern Bluebird X
Veery X
Gray-cheeked Thrush X
Swainson's Thrush X
Hermit Thrush X
Wood Thrush X
American Robin X
Gray Catbird X
Brown Thrasher X
European Starling X
Tennessee Warbler X
Nashville Warbler X
Yellow Warbler X
Yellow-rumped Warbler X
Blackburnian Warbler X
Yellow-throated Warbler X
Prairie Warbler X
Palm Warbler X
Blackpoll Warbler X
Cerulean Warbler X
Worm-eating Warbler X
Ovenbird X
Louisiana Waterthrush X
Kentucky Warbler X
Common Yellowthroat X
Hooded Warbler X
Summer Tanager X
Scarlet Tanager X
Eastern Towhee X
Chipping Sparrow X
Field Sparrow X
Savannah Sparrow X
Song Sparrow X
White-throated Sparrow X
White-crowned Sparrow X
Northern Cardinal X
Rose-breasted Grosbeak X
Blue Grosbeak X
Indigo Bunting X
Red-winged Blackbird X
Eastern Meadowlark X
Common Grackle X
Brown-headed Cowbird X
Orchard Oriole X
Baltimore Oriole X
House Finch X
American Goldfinch X
House Sparrow X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
My previous BIGBY high species count for one day was 74 species on 5/7/09. My goal for Monday was to top this prior record, and try to reach 100 species for the day. My species count for Monday fell in between these two goals. I recorded 88 species on the day. So I beat my old record by 14 species, but fell 12 species short of my ultimate goal of 100 species for the day.
During the day I had nine first-of-year (FOY) species. Each was also a new BIGBY species for the year, bringing my 2010 BIGBY count to 131 species! These new species were, in order of sighting:
Green Heron - BIGBY species #123 for the year
Blue Grosbeak - #124
Orchard Oriole - #125
Summer Tanager - #126
Veery - #127
Tennessee Warbler - #128
Acadian Flycatcher - #129
Gray-cheeked Thrush - #130
Swainson’s Thrush - #131
Here's the eBird report that lists all 88 species for the day:
Location: Indiana University--Cross Country Course
Observation date: 5/3/10
Number of species: 88
Canada Goose X
Mallard X
Great Blue Heron X
Green Heron X
Turkey Vulture X
Cooper's Hawk X
Red-shouldered Hawk X
Red-tailed Hawk X
American Kestrel X
Killdeer X
Wilson's Snipe X
American Woodcock X
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Great Horned Owl X
Barred Owl X
Chimney Swift X
Red-bellied Woodpecker X
Downy Woodpecker X
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) X
Pileated Woodpecker X
Acadian Flycatcher X
Eastern Phoebe X
Great Crested Flycatcher X
Eastern Kingbird X
White-eyed Vireo X
Yellow-throated Vireo X
Warbling Vireo X
Red-eyed Vireo X
Blue Jay X
American Crow X
Tree Swallow X
Northern Rough-winged Swallow X
Barn Swallow X
Carolina Chickadee X
Tufted Titmouse X
White-breasted Nuthatch (Eastern) X
Carolina Wren X
House Wren X
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher X
Eastern Bluebird X
Veery X
Gray-cheeked Thrush X
Swainson's Thrush X
Hermit Thrush X
Wood Thrush X
American Robin X
Gray Catbird X
Brown Thrasher X
European Starling X
Tennessee Warbler X
Nashville Warbler X
Yellow Warbler X
Yellow-rumped Warbler X
Blackburnian Warbler X
Yellow-throated Warbler X
Prairie Warbler X
Palm Warbler X
Blackpoll Warbler X
Cerulean Warbler X
Worm-eating Warbler X
Ovenbird X
Louisiana Waterthrush X
Kentucky Warbler X
Common Yellowthroat X
Hooded Warbler X
Summer Tanager X
Scarlet Tanager X
Eastern Towhee X
Chipping Sparrow X
Field Sparrow X
Savannah Sparrow X
Song Sparrow X
White-throated Sparrow X
White-crowned Sparrow X
Northern Cardinal X
Rose-breasted Grosbeak X
Blue Grosbeak X
Indigo Bunting X
Red-winged Blackbird X
Eastern Meadowlark X
Common Grackle X
Brown-headed Cowbird X
Orchard Oriole X
Baltimore Oriole X
House Finch X
American Goldfinch X
House Sparrow X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Birdwatching movie begins production with star-studded cast
Who would have guessed that birding would ever be the subject of a major Hollywood film? And a comedy, no less.
According to Variety, the Fox birding comedy The Big Year finally began production yesterday, featuring a star-studded cast. The film is based on Mark Obmascik’s book The Big Year: A Tale of Man, Nature, and Fowl Obsession.
The cast includes Steve Martin, Jack Black, Owen Wilson, Rosamund Pike, JoBeth Williams, Brian Dennehy, Dianne Wiest, Anthony Anderson, Tim Blake Nelson, Rashida Jones, Anjelica Huston and Jim Parsons.
Additionally, Kevin Pollak and Joel McHale are considering joining the cast.
Here’s a link to the Variety article: http://bit.ly/cbOLCW
According to Variety, the Fox birding comedy The Big Year finally began production yesterday, featuring a star-studded cast. The film is based on Mark Obmascik’s book The Big Year: A Tale of Man, Nature, and Fowl Obsession.
The cast includes Steve Martin, Jack Black, Owen Wilson, Rosamund Pike, JoBeth Williams, Brian Dennehy, Dianne Wiest, Anthony Anderson, Tim Blake Nelson, Rashida Jones, Anjelica Huston and Jim Parsons.
Additionally, Kevin Pollak and Joel McHale are considering joining the cast.
Here’s a link to the Variety article: http://bit.ly/cbOLCW
Cattle Egret!! A BIGBY life bird!!!
This morning was beautiful, but the birding was pretty slow on the Indiana University cross country course...only 39 species total. Even some of the daily regulars were conspicuous by their absence (no Common Yellowthroats, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, flyover Canada Geese, Turkey Vultures, House Finches, etc.)
But I had a big highlight that made up for an otherwise uneventful morning: a Cattle Egret!! That's the first time I've ever had a BIGBY Cattle Egret, so it's a BIGBY lifer for me!! The first new BIGBY life bird since the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher graced the XC course for a couple of days last fall. It's been a long time since I've seen a Cattle Egret anywhere.
I was in the north section of the XC course, where it borders the IU golf course, looking for some Savannah Sparrows that I'd seen in the past. I found a few Savannahs, and figured that would be the high point of my outing, since I was ready to head home. Suddenly my attention was drawn to a large white bird circling low over the golf course driving range. It landed, foraged for a bit in the grass, and then took off, flying low over the golf course to the north.
The interesting thing is that two large mowers were out cutting the grass on the driving range. The mowers were disturbing the grass sort of like a herd of cattle might, which probably is what attracted the egret. BNA Online notes: "Generally forages in close association with grazing cattle or other livestock, but may glean elsewhere, especially around margins of aquatic areas and fields where fire, tractors, or cutting/mowing machinery are used."
It was a great finish to what otherwise had been a slow morning.
But I had a big highlight that made up for an otherwise uneventful morning: a Cattle Egret!! That's the first time I've ever had a BIGBY Cattle Egret, so it's a BIGBY lifer for me!! The first new BIGBY life bird since the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher graced the XC course for a couple of days last fall. It's been a long time since I've seen a Cattle Egret anywhere.
I was in the north section of the XC course, where it borders the IU golf course, looking for some Savannah Sparrows that I'd seen in the past. I found a few Savannahs, and figured that would be the high point of my outing, since I was ready to head home. Suddenly my attention was drawn to a large white bird circling low over the golf course driving range. It landed, foraged for a bit in the grass, and then took off, flying low over the golf course to the north.
The interesting thing is that two large mowers were out cutting the grass on the driving range. The mowers were disturbing the grass sort of like a herd of cattle might, which probably is what attracted the egret. BNA Online notes: "Generally forages in close association with grazing cattle or other livestock, but may glean elsewhere, especially around margins of aquatic areas and fields where fire, tractors, or cutting/mowing machinery are used."
It was a great finish to what otherwise had been a slow morning.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Followup on historic Sandhill Crane breeding activity in east central Illinois
Sharon and I were heading east from Urbana, IL, on I-74 towards Indiana when we decided to take a detour at Danville, IL, to see if we could locate the Sandhill Crane pair at Heron County Park. We weren't disappointed!
When we got to Heron Park, we stumbled onto Heron Park regulars Bob Schifo, Jessica Runner, and Bud Lewsader. They were there for the monthly Middlefork Audubon Society birdwalk on the boardwalk. Bob Schifo immediately pointed us to an adult Bald Eagle flying off in the distance to the east. Very cool!
As the Middlefork Audubon group entered the boardwalk at the east entrance to look for Soras, we started at the west entrance. Sharon immediately located the Sandhills, camoflauged by some cattails near the boardwalk entrance. I went over to Bob's birdwalk group and told them about the Sandhills. Eventually everyone in the birdwalk group got good looks as the cranes moved out onto the open shallows of Heron Pond. Some folks even got to watch a crane break open a goose egg, eat the protein rich contents, and then toss the shell fragments into the pond.
It was really fascinating to watch the Sandhill Crane pair interact. It was great to witness a truly historic event...Sandhill Cranes *trying* to nest in east central Illinois for the first time in 140 years!!!
When we got to Heron Park, we stumbled onto Heron Park regulars Bob Schifo, Jessica Runner, and Bud Lewsader. They were there for the monthly Middlefork Audubon Society birdwalk on the boardwalk. Bob Schifo immediately pointed us to an adult Bald Eagle flying off in the distance to the east. Very cool!
As the Middlefork Audubon group entered the boardwalk at the east entrance to look for Soras, we started at the west entrance. Sharon immediately located the Sandhills, camoflauged by some cattails near the boardwalk entrance. I went over to Bob's birdwalk group and told them about the Sandhills. Eventually everyone in the birdwalk group got good looks as the cranes moved out onto the open shallows of Heron Pond. Some folks even got to watch a crane break open a goose egg, eat the protein rich contents, and then toss the shell fragments into the pond.
It was really fascinating to watch the Sandhill Crane pair interact. It was great to witness a truly historic event...Sandhill Cranes *trying* to nest in east central Illinois for the first time in 140 years!!!
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