The Long Way Around

Something radical has really come over me.  For years I have always been a keener about time, fuel consumption and wear and tear on my car. Now... I never go anywhere that I don't go the long way around in the hope of seeing some birds.  I have to leave earlier than necessary, plan my route and hope that I don't see anything that will cause me to arrive late at my destination.

Such was the case two weeks ago when I was on my way to my youngest granddaughter's christening.  Just can't walk up to the front of the church late, it's not right.

I cruised the back roads on my way and noticed a small bird flying across the road. I always stop for that. I pulled over and opened my window to look around. Just overhead was this awesome perched adult Bald Eagle. I would have missed that if the little bird hadn't appeared.

This was on November 27th and it has taken me ten days to see another. Today I spotted an adult eagle soaring above Quidi Vidi. When the light caught it's head and tail it glistened. No matter how many of these I see they always create a "stop and stare" moment.

Other birds of note that I saw today were the LINCOLN'S Sparrow.  I caught sight of it twice at quite close range but it hid so quickly that I didn't get any pictures. I will have to keep trying for that. Also, there were at least three, possibly four, Surf Scoters visable from the Cape Spear lookout. The male was quite stunning.  Around nearby were also about four White-winged Scoters, a Common Loon and a Black Guillemot. I will have to check out the Red-throated Loon tomorrow.

Anything not anchored down....

 Over the last 18 hours we have had very high winds. Power outages have been reported on the West Coast, an 18 wheeler flipped in Central and here in St. John's anything that wasn't actually anchored down was likely in flight.  I thought that all adds up to a good time to post my blurry flight shots that have just been sitting in a folder.

 To make today's post a little more interactive I will not be naming the birds.  Most of them are quite familiar and will be recognized right away, despite the blur.

 It makes good sense to spend a little time studying birds in flight because it is often in that circumstance that we first see the birds, especially those that fly so quickly in front of the car while at top speed.

With the season in mind the wing pattern, body and wing shape, color and flying pattern all help to make an ID on the "fly."

 Sometimes birds in flight create an eloquent pattern.  Even the most common European Starling creates a "stop and stare" moment when they begin creating their masterful waves in the sky.

It almost always seems that is is the uncommon bird that takes to wing and quickly disappears somewhere among the leaves or brush.  I don't think my mind - eye coordination will ever reach a point where I might recognize a bird that I am not expecting when I am only given a flash of moment.

These days the sky is filled with flocks of birds moving around.  Among the most common flocks are finches, all kinds of finches.  Although I have seen several flocks of Robins and one flock of Common Grackle.

This image provides a full-on view of the underneath of this bird.  The white tips on the tail help contribute to a speedy ID when this bird flies by.

Then there is the lift-off.  I get this a lot as little birds do not often sit right in front of me for long periods of time.

I must say though that the most stunning flight action came last week when I was standing near Quidi Vidi Battery high above Quidi Vidi Lake. All was quiet and then suddenly in the distance hundreds of sea gulls lifted off the rooftops of several buildings in the distance.  The sky shimmered with white and flecks of black. It seems endless.  The sky was already full and they were still launching from the runway.

There are so many spectacular moments that I cannot adequately document but the pictures do serve to trigger the memory of the actual event.

Look up.... a lot but if you do today, be sure to hold on!

Pine Warbler

 It's really not fit to be outdoors today but when is rain, drizzle and fog enough to keep a birder indoors.  I checked several spots today and found the area near Stick Pond to be very busy but I didn't see anything unusual.

The intent was to head out to Cape Spear but before we (Margie and me) could leave town we checked several areas where the likelihood of seeing birds was high.  In the process we saw Purple Finches, American Goldfinches, House Sparrows, a Song Sparrow and the highlight of my day was to get a look at the Pine Warbler.

On Strawberry Marsh Road there were more birds than you can imagine, mostly finches.  We parked the car off the road and walked back to Strawberry Marsh Road and just at the corner of Smithsville Crescent, there was a yellow bird.  I stopped and pointed my camera right away.

At first I could only see the rear of the bird and I was battling the natural darkness of the day, the tree cover and rain drops. I just kept shooting despite the conditions and the little Pine Warbler turned sideways.  I actually could see the bird much better than the pictures suggest.

I called Margie to come but by the time she reached the area the bird was gone.  I didn't see it fly out of the tree and thought it had to be close by. We looked and looked and couldn't see it again.  That doesn't mean it wasn't there.  The back light was so harsh that it was impossible to see the red on the many male Purple Finches.  It was more like birding for silhouettes than anything else.

This was actually my second time to see the Pine Warbler but if I hadn't known the bird was in the area I would never have known what this three-second flash of yellow was as seen in this picture.  It was far, overcast and hidden behind numerous branches.  At least today I have recognizable record shots.  I would love to have to opportunity to see this bird in better light and for a longer time as it is a life bird for me.

Rare Is All About Time and Place

It wasn't too long ago when the Yellow-rumped Warbler was about the most common bird in the woods. Then the days and months on the calendar flip by and the common birds of summer are gone, all except a few that is.

Three days ago I detoured from another trip into the road to Stick Pond.  When I turned the corner into the turnaround, there was a swarm of birds of so many species, lots of finches and both species of chickadees and more. It was like the Avalon Mall on discount day!

 I could hardly contain myself until I could pull over with the sun behind me to watch all of the activity and check out the many species. Time dissolves like sugar in hot coffee when in this type of activity. I must have been sitting there close to half an hour when in flew a different bird. Moments like this are fleeting so it was the camera I grabbed first to get some shots to review later.  It was a Yellow-rumped Warbler and it only stayed about five minutes before it flew off into the unknown.

Once gone I checked my pictures and to my delight I confirmed that it was a YRW which is a rare sight at this time of the year.  As far as I know this is the second Yellow-rumped Warbler found int he St. John's area over the last ten days. The other was found by Jared Clarke at Kelly's Brook.

As I reflect on the species of birds that I have seen recently including the Northern Mockingbird, this YRW, the Snowy Owl, I just know that there are so many special birds out there that are not found. It is pure luck, happen chance and perhaps a little serendipity that brings a birder in contact with a special bird. 

It strikes me as unusual that special birds like a Pine Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat, Baltimore Oriole and a White-breasted Nuthatch land in the yards of birders.  How many more show up in yards of people who love looking at birds but have no idea how special it is to find one of these? If a cast net could be thrown over the island and all the rare birds here right now could be collected in one spot, I think it would be astounding.  In stead I think the vast majority of these rare birds will escape to warmer zones or succumb to the elements without their visit ever being recorded.

Every birder can expand this cast net by encouraging all of their contacts to watch for anything that flies and looks different to let them know.