Joy of Birdwatching

Activity 1: Went to a park nearby my house. I saw three different birds. I saw 2 canada Geese, 3 northern flickers, and 1 blue jay. We also saw a large flock of birds on an island in the middle of the lake. However, at the time we did not yet have binoculars so we were not able to fully see what they were.

Activity 1: Merlin detected a Bald Eagle, the resident Red-tailed Hawk dropped in, cleverly disguising themselves as part of a power pole. Merlin also detected my first Cape May Warbler today, which was a success! And couple of American Robins were singing nearby the old shed.

Activity 3:  I checked out the birds at a small pond by my place of employment.  There have been four separate sandpiper species found there, which blew me away.  I never would've guessed that these birds would be found at such a small pond in an urban area, I imagined that sandpipers would want large marshy muddy places to roam.  Listening to their calls was interesting too.  The Pectoral Sandpiper makes a deep whirring sound that I wouldn't have even credited to a bird had I heard it previously.

Activity 1: In the nearby park yesterday I saw 10 Canada geese, 2 wood ducks, 7 mallards, 1 ruby-throated hummingbird, 2 ring-billed gulls, 2 double-crested cormorants, 4 great blue herons, 3 green herons, 1 black-crowned night heron, 1 great egret, 1 Cooper's hawk, 5 American crows, 15 barn swallows, 3 gray catbirds, 10 house sparrows, and 3 American goldfinches. Activity 2: Apparently the 10 overall most likely birds right now are the ring-billed gull, American goldfinch, mallard, northern cardinal, house sparrow, Canada goose, American robin, barn swallow, black-capped chickadee, and chimney swift. American goldfinches are somewhat seasonal, barn swallows and chimney swifts are strongly seasonal, and the rest are very common throughout the year. Activity 3: Common goldeneyes are very abundant in winter, semipalmated sandpipers are common from early summer to early autumn, snowy owls are moderately abundant in the winter, yellow-billed cuckoos are relatively common in late spring through mid-autumn, and Swainson's thrush is very common in late spring and early autumn but not during the summer.

2 American Robins where spotted on my walk, 1 cedar waxwing, 1 Northern Flicker woodpecker, 1 Pilleated Woodpecker?, a black capped chickadee responded to my whistle, 1 Brown Creeper making its way up a tree, I spotted a few smaller (between sparrow and robin sized) birds flying by with a forked tail and long wings.  They wizzed by pretty fast but they looked relatively dark however this could very easily have been a trick of the light too so I have no idea what species they actually where.  Many of these where actually on my Merlin list however some of them where not as well and there are also clear limits to my knowledge as I could not actually ID many of the birds that I saw and heard on my outing.  I am looking forward to the day that I can ID the bird in my region and feel comfortable learning about birds in other regions as well. Birds That I didnt know passed through my area are actually more common than birds I did know passed through my area if im being honest so finding 5 of them was not too hard LOL. 1 - Eurasian Collared - Dove 2 - Common Merganser 3 - Bullocks Oriol 5 - Vaux's Swift It is really awesome to learn more about the places I have grown up.

Activity 3: I have not seen these birds in my area, but according to ebirds, they are there! Barn Swallow Chimney Swift Cedar Waxing Willow Flycatcher Indigo Bunting

Activity 2- I’m traveling and staying in Annapolis MD. I browsed Merlin’s most likely list for the area. On my morning walk by sight I identified many American Robins, a Northern Mockingbird, a few Northern Cardinals. Using the app sound ID, it identified a blue jay, common grackle, and some others that I didn’t have a chance to see. Hoping to actually spot a beautiful blue jay. I was so excited to use the bird sound feature. It’s awesome!!!

Activity 1 I watched the Cornell Feeder Watch Cam for some time today and saw the following birds:

• 2 blue jays
• 2 mourning doves
• 1 common grackle
• 2 redwing blackbirds
• 1 hairy woodpecker

Activity 2 While walking my dog in a park near my house, I saw three birds that are on my local "Most Likely" Merlin species list. Those birds were a turkey vulture, a blue jay, and a black-capped chickadee. While walking pasted a wooded area, I heard a lot of bird songs that I could not identify. I used Merlin Sound ID and identified the following birds:

• Song sparrow
• Northern cardinal
• Tufted titmouse
• Blue jay
• Carolina wren
• American goldfinch
• Northern cardinal
• Gray catbird

Activity 3 Five bird species that live in my area during at least part of the year are: 1) Belted Kingfisher 2) Eastern Wood-Pewee 3) Northern Flicker 4) Double-crested Cormorant 5) Eastern Phoebe

Activity 1 -  I went to a small Lake called Lodi Lake in Lodi California on July 3, the day before the 4th of July.   It was late afternoon and a local group was having a party and the birds hid.   I ,however, saw Canada Goose about 30, 1  Great Egret and a beautiful swallow, Barn Swallow.  The blue on the Swallow was so vivid.   The Canada Geese had bars on their necks which I had never seen before (Sooooo striking ). Activity 2  -There is a checklist for Lodi Lake, San Joaquin County, California, USA.  I attempted to record the birds I saw but I could not figure out the process.  How do I order a check list? Activity 3 - The Black Phoebe and the Coot are two I did not know used the Lodi Lake as a place of Habitat.   Ruth Bates

Yesterdy evening, I had 3 male rose-brested grosbeaks at my feeders. I’m lerning through watching the variety of birds. I can’t rave enough about Merlin, and am usually fortunate enough to attract over half the birds that Merlin identifies to my feeders. Merlin recorded 19 birds over a 10 minute period yesterday.

Activity #3: I did not know that there are brants, white-throated swifts, yellow rails, killdeer, and red-naped sapsuckers in my county!

Activity 1:  I am fortunate to have a beautiful mature yard that is alive with birds. Just this weekend I have seen; hummingbirds, orioles, goldfinches, cedar waxwings, robins, blue jays, house wrens, downy woodpeckers, red and white breasted nuthatches, flickers, and I know we have a red eyed vireo, I can hear him....but I can never find him!

Activity 3: After looking at the bar charts and range maps, I'm excited to explore more of my region. I did not know I could see: Wood Ducks, Wild Turkeys, Great Egrets, Red-Headed Woodpeckers, and Prothonotary Warblers.

I've noticed as spring turns to summer that a previously unseen bird, the Gambel's Quail, has decided to venture into my backyard. I've noticed usually two males and one female, feeding on the ground from seeds that fall from my feeder. More recently, I have noticed the quails traveling in larger family groups, with the chicks between mother and father. However, because my backyard is walled, I have yet to see the chicks in my yard, only the adults.

Activity 3: I explored the bar charts on eBird and not only did I learn about birds I didn't know passed through my area, I learned some birds I didn't even know existed! Some I would be excited to see are: the Barnacle Goose, Gadwalls, Canvasbacks, Red-necked grebes, and gallinules. I'm excited to keep exploring the lake by my home and see more of these birds!

Activity 3: The five birds I learned about this week that pass through my area that I didn’t know were near but  would love to see are:  Yellow-Cedar Waxwing (listed as rare but I’d love to see one), Yellow-billed cuckoo,  Eastern Phoebe and two I’d like to find in a wetland area a short drive away would be:     Great Blue Heron and a Common Loon (rare but may pass this way).  I will be on the lookout and hope I spot some of these this spring.

Activity 2: It was great to use Merlin’s “Most Likely” species feature. I was so pleased they have the birds picture as well as various bird songs and calls.  I was on my porch so was not close enough to make a recording of any but when I heard one I was able to listen to a couple possibilities and identify the correct bird to match what I heard.  This will really help with my goal to know what birds in my area I am hearing.    For example. I see Cardinals often but did not know for sure what their sound was. One learned . . . hundreds to go!   

Activity 1: I found the Merlin App to be very helpful as I watched and listened to birds in my back yard this morning.   I saw / heard the following: American Robin, Northern Cardinal, Tree Swallow, Carolina Chickadee (I think), sparrow, Pine Warbler, American crow, Purple Martin – Pretty good for 30 minutes!

Activity 1: Today, in my backyard in 15 minutes, I saw many Black-capped and Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Dark-eyed (Oregon) Juncos, American Goldfinches and House Finches as well as 1 or 2 of each; Anna's Hummingbirds, Song Sparrows, Spotted Towhees, Bushtits, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Northern Flickers, Downy Woodpeckers, Bewick's Wrens, and Steller's Jays. Pretty typical! I can identify 10-15 species in any similar timeframe with others jumping into the mix at different times. I heard but did not see a Merlin!

Activity #1: Today on my birdwatch at my feeder in Eastern Ontario I saw the following birds: Canada Geese, Mourning Dove, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Blue Jays, American Crows, Black-capped Chickadees, White-breasted Nuthatch, European Starlings, American Robins, House Sparrows, Red-winged Blackbirds, Common Grackles and Northern Cardinals.

Activity 1: A pair of osprey are working on building a nest on a channel marker in the Currituck Sound. Several Canada geese in the area. A few Black Ducks and Double Crested Cormorants. Red-winged Blackbird on another platform. Lots of American Robins.

Activity 3 Using Merlin - Explore Birds I was delighted to see a quite a few birds that  I have never seen, showing up as in my area!   Wood Ducks, Tundra Swan, Pine Grosbeak, Snow Bunting, Bohemian Waxwing, and long tailed duck.  How exciting.  I wish Merlin would tell me where they are!

Activity 2 Just in my neighbourhood, Merlin suggested that the following birds were out and about: Starlings, nuthatch, crow, blue jay, Mourning dove, robin, chickadee and gold finch.  While I didn't see them all I did get to see some. Blue Jay, Starlings (lots), Mourning dove and chickadee. From my hood:  The European  Starling Mourning Dove   Blue Jay

Activity 1: This past weekend I partcipated in a waterfowl outing with our local naturalist group.  It was very informative and interesting as the only water fowl that I really see are Canada Geese and Mallards.  The day showed us that there is indeed many other type of ducks out there!  Oh and the birds that are starting to follow through. It was a great day for viewing. As I really am not all that familiar with the duck-clan, while editing my pictures I found myself turning to Merlin and my pocket field guide to confirm the type of bird that I was viewing. The American Black Duck - which was amongst the other Mallards and hard to decipher.  The look the same, are the same size, but colouring is slightly different and the bill is yellow. The Hooded Meganser - Wow what do you say about these guys!  Not quite as colourful as a Wood Duck, but oh so pretty.   Once again it is the size of a mallard and by the colours on these two, they are males.   I once again used my pocket guide and confirmed the ID by uploading the picture to Merlin. Trumpeter Swan Apparently we  host  different swans here in Ontario--tundra, (which I have never seen), Mute and Trumpter that I know of.  I always get confused between the Mute and Trumpeter swans and it was no difference here as I had to go online to remind me which was which.  I tend to refer to them as the good and bad swan. Mutes are regarded  to be more graceful and beautiful with their curved necks and black and orange bills, but their aggressive behavior and voracious appetites  can often damage local ecosystems--hence by bad swan reference.  The Trumpeter swan is now making a come back from  it's almost extinct status and can be identified by it's black beak and loud trumpeting.  Beautiful elegant birds. If you're lucky to see them taking off or landing, it is amazing to note the size of the wings when fully out stretched that the noise the wings make as they pick up air. We were so lucky as well to view as well, common golden eye, common mergansers, canada geese, a bald eagel, pileated woodpecker, robins, downy woodpecker, chickadee and mourning doves.  We even had the chance to see a mink up-close-and-personal as he ran across the ice in a partially open bay. It was a great day for birding.