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BrassNuts
Trad climber
Save your a_s, reach for the brass...
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Apr 22, 2016 - 06:47pm PT
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CG and I enjoyed some great migration birding in High Island TX this last week - incredible warblers and birds like Scarlet Tanagers and Indigo Buntings numbered in the hundreds! Spring is here! :-)
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Crimpergirl
Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
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Apr 22, 2016 - 07:40pm PT
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Amazing week at High Island. Some sketchy weather (and big floods), but the birds generally didn't care. Here is the post by a guide with Tropical Birding at High Island. His description is exactly what we experienced (although we birded sans guides). It's hard to believe we'll ever top this experience. He used the word 'staggering' and it was absolutely on point!
With torrential rain, severe thunderstorms, and flooding, it was no surprise that our morning tour in Boy Scout Woods, and our noon shorebird tour were a washout. However, by 3 pm the rain had subsided and a major influx of migrants arrived in High Island, meaning our 4 pm walk around Smith Oaks was pumping with literally thousands of birds. The most obvious increase in numbers were the warblers with the highest diversity for the season so far. Some of the new arrivals for the season include; BAY-BREASTED, BLACKPOLL, MAGNOLIA, and YELLOW WARBLERS. Other clear highlights were the scarce CERULEAN and GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLERS, many BLACKBURNIAN, BLUE-WINGED, TENNESSEE, BLACK-AND-WHITE, KENTUCKY, and HOODED WARBLERS, and a massive influx of AMERICAN REDSTARTS!
We also experienced huge numbers of INDIGO BUNTINGS and even a few brilliantly colored male PAINTED BUNTINGS. The tanager numbers were simply staggering with hundreds of SUMMER and SCARLET TANAGERS, as well as ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS, gorging on any Mulberry Tree they could find. The same could be said for the hundreds of RED-EYED VIREOS around, with some YELLOW-THROATED VIREOS mixed in. Thrush numbers were also high this afternoon with many WOOD and SWAINSON’S THRUSHES, but also a couple VEERY, and a single GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH.
Two SWALLOW-TAILED KITES were perched in a large dead tree near the parking lot of Smith Oaks, possible the same 2 seen flying over Boy Scout Woods. We were also lucky in having a brief view of a MISSISSIPPI KITE flying high over Don’s Drip.
All in all it was the best afternoon of birding yet this season. With rain still in the forecast it is likely that these new arrivals will remain in High Island into tomorrow morning. You might just have to get rained on while you are looking at them. The Tropical Birding guides will be off tomorrow and Wednesday from our scheduled bird walks, but you may still see us out there if the birding was as good as it was this afternoon!
Scott Watson
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SteveW
Trad climber
The state of confusion
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Apr 22, 2016 - 07:56pm PT
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I hope we'll see some of your photos from Tejas, mr BN!!!!
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Bob D'A
Trad climber
Taos, NM
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Apr 23, 2016 - 10:25am PT
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Great stuff above, thanks.
Looking forward to seeing all of BN warblers photos.
Not a bird but saw him while birding.
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little Z
Trad climber
un cafetal en Naranjo
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Apr 23, 2016 - 10:51am PT
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BN and CG, sounds like you hit it just right at High Island. Every birder should witness a migration spectacle like that at least once in their lives.
The next wave of migrants will have one less Barn Swallow thanks to this Bat Falcon that just landed outside my window.
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drljefe
climber
El Presidio San Augustin del Tucson
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Apr 23, 2016 - 05:11pm PT
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Hey bird people!
I look at this thread with a different eye now- after Brassnutz gave me a nice introduction to birding.
We spent the day cruising Mt Lemmon and identified 38 different species.
My favorites were a nesting pair of Virdens and some Painted Redstarts.
I've always been atuned to my surroundings but now I'm way more aware of birds.
In fact, my patio seems to be a great place for birding in the morning. Now my binocs and field guide (not app guy yet) are almost as essential as my coffee.
I'm totally jazzed!
I won't be investing in a gnarly lens......yet.
I'll leave that up to you guys. Amazing captures!
I did capture Dave capturing the Virden nest, and an Acorn Woodpecker!
Thanks again Dave- and if you got any nice shots that day I'd love to see them.
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cyndiebransford
climber
Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
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Apr 23, 2016 - 08:12pm PT
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Took an afternoon drive to look at birds. Saw a Harrier hunting at the Kenai Flats, along with Greater Yellowlegs, Pintails and Green-winged Teal. Pintails at Cannery Road. Sandhill Cranes, Canada Geese, Greater White-fronted Geese, more Pintails, American Wigeon, and Green-winged Teal at the ponds at Kasilof Beach. We also saw an eagle being harassed by a Harrier at Kasilof Beach. It was a good day to bird.
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Bob D'A
Trad climber
Taos, NM
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Apr 25, 2016 - 10:16am PT
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A few from the last few days.
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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Apr 28, 2016 - 05:33am PT
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Starling bringing home the bug bacon.
The hole in the wall for the fire-fighting hoses is the cozy home for generations of these squawky speed merchants. Must be really high-octane bugs.
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flatlandermcjack
Ice climber
South Dakota
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Apr 28, 2016 - 07:33am PT
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Meadowlark singing in front of Eldorado canyon.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Apr 28, 2016 - 07:34am PT
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^^^^ Western or Eastern?
Mouse, even illegal immigrants need a good home.
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sween345
climber
back east
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Apr 28, 2016 - 03:54pm PT
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Or Lemon?
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little Z
Trad climber
un cafetal en Naranjo
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Apr 28, 2016 - 04:34pm PT
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or Lemon? very funny. Always Nice to see new faces checking in on the birds.
Nighthawk
Common or Lesser?
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Apr 28, 2016 - 04:43pm PT
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Lemon! HaHaHa! Gud one!
OK, Z, you trollin' or holdin'? I'm thinkin' you can tell
from that angle. Just about time for me to make a run to the border
for that bloomin' Buff-collared Nightjar that has skunked me twice. :-(
edit:
I went back and realized you can see the white wing bar, although it looks
too far forward, the wings look longer, and the breast looks more mottled
so I'm goin' with COMMON!
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Bob D'A
Trad climber
Taos, NM
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Apr 28, 2016 - 06:52pm PT
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BrassNuts
Trad climber
Save your a_s, reach for the brass...
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Apr 29, 2016 - 08:57am PT
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A few desert birdies from travels last month...
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flatlandermcjack
Ice climber
South Dakota
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Apr 29, 2016 - 09:06am PT
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Reilly, I believe western, but not really sure.
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MH2
Boulder climber
Andy Cairns
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Apr 29, 2016 - 09:34am PT
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Many great images here. I especially like the way the White-winged dove is casting its image on (or taking its image from) the Organ mountain backdrop.
Something it is like to be a raven
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SteveW
Trad climber
The state of confusion
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Apr 29, 2016 - 08:03pm PT
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Great shots, Mr. BN!!!
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