This quiz bird is not that difficult. I'm in the process of organizing all of my "throw-away" shots, which encompasses about 90% of my photos :)
Tip for the day: Always take as many pictures of a bird as possible. Photos of a bird in all positions, including flying away, add to the knowledge we have of that species. Perfectly posed photos might lead to magazine covers, but only do so much to increase knowledge. It's those other photos that depict what we really see in the field!
A simple bird, yes, but one that holds onto it's bright plumage much later than other species. This was taken at IBSP North Unit while looking for migrating shorebirds.
For some reason, I have time to write another small blog. Just a few weeks ago, I was at 10,000 ft. enjoying the beautiful birds of the Colorado Front Range. My aunt and uncle have a condo up there that, when you cross the road from their place, dumps you straight into Eagles Nest Wilderness Area. Needless to say, I've become quite familiar with the bird life there over the years.
As a younger kid, I always loved crossing the street and immediately entering a pine forest. It was place filled with the song of Swainson's Thrush, the "chuk-chuk-chuk" of Steller's Jays and the hoarse Black-capped call of Mountain Chickadees. Yet, when I showed up with my friends, bragging about how awesome my childhood trail was, I was nearly floored when I saw that they had clear cut nearly all of the beginning of the trail. I couldn't even find the original trailhead.
These pictures don't even come close to doing it justice. Especially how I remember it. I was so upset.
Apparently, the trees had to be cut down, as there was a massive beetle infestation taking over the pines that needed to be contained. The dead trees were chopped down and as an earlier post shows, most were piled up in large stacks.
I understood it was necessary and many of the areas I loved to bird were still in tact. It was just that the original "wow!" moment was lost; a piece of my childhood wonder taken from me. To get to the areas I wanted to bird, I had to hike through this "wasteland." And the first morning, I grumbled, head down, just trying to get to the creek and what I thought was better habitat.
Yet, as the days went by, I began to realize that the birdlife in this section was still pretty good. In fact, this clear cut had created a new, open habitat that was supporting a lot of birds! I even saw a life bird, a Sage Thrasher, in this burnt and cut down area! It would be one of two life birds, so it was a real shocker, considering I have seen most birds you could see in the Colorado Rockies. It was like God himself was reminding me that, where I might see destruction, the world sees opportunity for new life and I shouldn't complain, but explore and learn.
Sage Thrasher at 10,000 feet?!
After my grumbling was over, I began to spend more time hiking off trail in this area. I was pleasantly surprised! First, because Aspen weren't infected by the beetles, there were a few stands left, where I found a Hairy Woodpecker.
They were guarding a nest, so I left ASAP...or should I say I was chased out.
I also heard many "Gray-headed" Dark-eyed Juncos, the soft downward tapping of Red-naped Sapsuckers and Dusky Flycatchers singing on the newly created edges. But, the coolest was to come...
The second to last morning, I was out near dawn, exploring around the area, when I heard an unfamiliar call flying over. I looked up just in time to see 4 Red Crossbills fly in and land on a long-dead pine snag. I hurried over and even caught one singing!
Even when I was going to Colorado every year, this bird was always one of my favorites and one of the harder to find, so I was satisfied with that look. On the way back to the condo through the clear cut area again, I heard the now familiar chirping coming not from overhead, but on the ground!
Suddenly, I realized that all around me were Red Crossbills! I heard them flying overhead and singing in trees, and foraging on the ground. I had never seen this behavior before. I finally realized what was going on...
The felled trees had left a large pine cone crop on the ground and the crossbills saw it was easy pickin's. I must have sat for an hour just watching them. They were skittish, so I had to sit still, but when they got used to me, they didn't seem to mind my presence.
Went out looking for shorebirds at Rollins Savanna. Whiffed on them as there still aren't any open flats, but did find a good looking Henslow's Sparrow. The Henslow's Sparrow is still an Illinois Endangered Species , but definitely growing in abundance thanks to growth in conservation.
These aren't DSLR quality, but I can't get over how well one can do with a Panasonic Lumix FZ-35 and a teleconverter lens. This is from a good distance.
For the money, it can't be beat! Too many words...more photos.
Tis-lick!!!
Obviously not a Henslow's.....a juvenile Red-winged Blackbird.
Today I went out to Almond Marsh a little late in the morning for birds (9 AM...geez!) hoping to find a Common Moorhen. Common Moorhens are a threatened bird out here in Illinois and last year a pair bred successfully at Almond Marsh. A very good and local photographer, Carol Freeman, is hoping to photograph all of the threatened and endangered species in Illinois! What an amazing project! One look at her photos and you'll understand why I'm excited about her finding this bird.
Well, today I went out to find the pair in hopes that Carol can get some photos. Of course they weren't there! I know someone reported them early in the month, so I hope they'll show up soon.
I'm going to continue to check and will keep you guys updated with regular posts of the bird sightings around Almond Marsh.
Until Moorhen mania, here is a small clip I shot this morning at Almond. Can you ID all the birds that are singing?
Well, it's been a while since me and the internets hung out. Between then and now, I've birded my way through almost an entire year and survived one of the worst birding winters I've seen up here in Chicago land.
Onto to more pertinent matters. I got my hands on a camera.
Finally.
I'm now a proud owner of the Panasonic DMC-FZ35. The FZ35 is Panasonic's newest and top of the line "ultra-zoom" camera. Sure, it's not a DSLR, but college debt won't let me get near one of those. This camera is super lightweight and to me is a perfect birding companion, which is just what I wanted. I think me and the internets will be hanging out more often now. I promise some more birding adventures/pontifications in the future. Pinkie swear....
Anyways...a few test shots. Enjoy!
-Sell
Red-headed Woodpecker
Song Sparrow
This shot of a Louisiana Waterthrush is really cropped, but shows you what the camera can do from some distance. This was taken from the top of a pretty deep ravine in not-so-adequate lighting
For the month of September I will be doing a BIBGY.
What's a BIGBY you ask?
BIGBY is short for Big Green Big Year. However, I'll be doing a Big Green Big Month. The whole concept is to see as many birds as possible while leaving the combustible engine at home. In Chicago, September is the month for fall warblers and I can't wait to get and see what I can see by foot, bike, skateboard, shopping cart...you name it!
This is going to be a great chance for me to appreciate the birds seen close to my house. I hope to have a good list to show you guys filled with surprises that might inspire enough to leave the car in the garage and take a walk outside your front door. We waste enough fuel taking planes to exotic locations or the car on twitches.
I'm not saying that taking trips are inherently bad....it's just a sobering thought that a lot of birders (including myself) care so much about the environment and the birds that live there, but haven't really stepped out to how global warming and our dependence of fossil fuels might be effecting our avian friends.
still no camera yet...but pictures of this September BIGBY are to come!!
However, my interests in birds has taken a new turn: photography. It's not that I'm bored with just looking at birds and observing them. It's just that I'm always looking for that new thrill; that new adventure within the world of birding. Photography could be the ticket.
Though I know little about photograhy right now (shutter speed is about girls, right?) I want to become skilled at it. My idea of bird photography isn't getting that blurry photo of some state record yellow-billed loon that was taken with a camera phone and a pair of bins. I'm talking about the hunt....getting that one. perfect. shot. The kind of shot that takes patience and knowledge of where the birds are.
Yet, I'm reluctant. I have heard of many a good birder becoming a photographer. Then it all changes.......I never want to become that guy who will tromp through any habitat just to get that great photo. I want to be someone who can champion both photography and birding.
I guess I've been birding long enough and have had too many moments where I've said, "Damn, I wish I had a camera with me right now." I'm sick of saying that. I want to have great photos to look over as memories...not simply a list of checkmarks, but I want to be satistifed as well at just looking at bird instead of always saying, "can we get closer, please. I want that photo."
So, here's to a new adventure. May I be a birder who has a camera with him. Not a bird photographer.
-Sell
August 3, 2009
Rio Grande Musings
A little late. I went on a trip with my dad out to the Rio Grande Valley and the Hill County of Texas in early June for all of the specialties….and specialties did I find.
First stop: Texas Hill Country
Went in search of the Golden-Cheeked Warbler and Black-capped Vireo. Got both of them on a very steep hike up to the top of a plateau at Lost Maples State Park .
The hike offered some amazing views of the Hill County and the only thing that kept us from searching out the gray vireo was a huge thunderstorm threatening us.
After the Hill Country, we started the somewhat long drive in our terrible rental down to the Lower Rio Grande Valley.
Did I mention that car sucked?
Me “Whoa, what was that?”
Dad “Sounds like something is wrong with the tire.”
Me “Nah, let’s just wait it out.”
We were stuck in the “sticks” without a town for miles. The lug nut wrench was too small and tensions were beginning to rise. That is, until we started looking at our surroundings.
All of a sudden, waiting for help wasn’t too bad. Picked up a few species. We got Painted Bunting, Crested Caracara, and Northern Mockingbird. I hadn’t seen a mockingbird since I was a little kid growing near Dallas. I forgot how common they were. Soon, I’d be saying “just another Mockingbird.”
Thanks to whoever that ranger was that found us.
The rest of the ride down was quite desolate as we entered prime farming habitat. The ride down was unbelievably flat and boring compared to the beauty of cruising the Hill Country. A few birds were seen though, rising our spirits as we neared our next destination. The best bird was definitely a White-tailed Hawk that swooped down into a field to pick up a rat snake. The gray back, white breast and chestnut shoulders of this buteo were striking in contrast the green field it was resting in with the snake in beak. It was a great start to our trip.
