Jill
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Viewing 6 posts - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)
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I just love this course! I used eBird to find local hotspots and decided to try birdwatching at Hamlin Beach State Park in New York. When I was exploring the variety of species spotted at Hamlin Beach by previous birdwatchers, I noticed an interesting bird-the Red-breasted Merganser. I was determined to find that bird! When I arrived at Hamlin Beach along Lake Ontario, I spotted Ring-billed Gulls, Canada Geese, Mallards, Swallows, Robins, Warblers, and Red-winged Blackbirds-but no Merganser. I continued to hike along the shore line, determined not to give up. Then I spotted three small bird heads, bobbing in the waves. I lifted my binoculars and, behold, three Red-breasted Mergansers (two females and one male). I enjoyed watching them float on the waves and dive for dinner. Success!
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Activity 4: My new favorite bird is the Yellow-rumped Warbler. It is about the same size and shape as a sparrow. The Yellow-Rumped Warbler has a bright yellow rump, a yellow patch under its wings, a black mask, white belly, and black and gray markings. It flits quickly about in trees and bushes, perching briefly before flying off again.
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Activity 3: I observed several birds searching for food in different ways. All images from allaboutbirds.org. The Barn Swallow skimmed across Irondequoit Bay, eating insects. The Downy Woodpecker pecks in dead tree trunks to find insects. The Bufflehead dives underwater to eat aquatic creatures.
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Activity 1: Two birds I can tell apart just by shape are the Mallard duck and the Mute Swan. While both are waterfowl, the swan is a larger bird with a longer neck. Activity 2: I was quite proud to use my newly-acquired binocular skills to identify three similarly-colored birds by their patterns and markings. While these three birds share the same colors (yellow, black, and white), their markings helped me identify them using my Paterson field guide. The Yellow Warbler is almost entirely yellow with some gray and black colorings on its back and wings. The Yellow-Rumped Warbler has a bright yellow rump, a yellow patch under its wings, a black mask, white belly, and black and gray markings. The American Goldfinch is bright yellow with black forehead and wings. (Images from allaboutbird.org) Yellow Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler American Goldfinch
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This course is amazing! Thank you all for sharing photos of your local birds. My favorite birds live near the water. I took photos of a Canada Goose, Red-Winged Blackbird, and a Mute Swan on a walk by the Genesee River in Rochester, New York.
This course is amazing! Thank you all for sharing photos of your local birds. My favorite birds live near the water. I took photos of a Canada Goose, Red-Winged Blackbird, and a Mute Swan on a walk by the Genesee River in Rochester, New York.
Viewing 6 posts - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)