Just An Easy Summer Stroll Around A Field

Once we get into the heart of the  summer I like to find easy and relaxing ways to get a bit of birding in. This past weekend I went to Haddam Meadows and slowly circled around the field with my windows down. 

I had some nice views of a family of Eastern Kingbirds working out their daily food rations.

I also had a 10 second view of an Indigo Bunting but you can see a lot in 10 seconds.

No field is complete without a butterfly. 

Childhood Places That Still Exist

There's something comforting about seeing places from your childhood that still around today. Vecchitto's Italian ice has been open for business at the same location since 1930. I remember their delivery trucks circling my neighborhood in the  1960's selling their Italian ice when I was just a kid. It amazes me their business has survived all these years. I preferred the ice cream truck when I was a child but recently tried their lemon ice and it was refreshingly good on a hot day!

I used to live right down the road from Wadsworth Park. I returned there last week with my binoculars and camera. The wide paths bordered by stone walls are just as I remembered them. I was able to see pileated woodpeckers and some noisy Red-shouldered Hawks.

Back when I was a kid bird identification was simple. Birds were birds and ducks were ducks.

Seeing a deer would have been a real thrill back then! I don't think they were as plentiful. Childhood memories are bittersweet. It's nice to indulge in nostalgic recollections but sad to know that you can't go back even to visit.

Watching Birds From A Single Stretch Of Track

One of the things that can detract from a bird watching experience is moving around too much. Sometimes you can see more birds sitting in one spot than you can walking through miles of trail. I made a compromise this morning by confining my birdwatching to a single 100 yard stretch of railroad track. 

 I moved around a little bit to get different views of the marsh but was able to keep my focus on observing, not walking. 

There were plenty of birds to be seen in the marsh including cormorants,blackbirds, Wood Ducks, and Great Blue Herons (above).

There was also several Belted Kingfishers, with this female being the noisiest of the bunch.

 I could hear more birds in the woods than I could see but there were plenty to be heard. I believe this mystery bird which was perched quietly in the woods is a young cowbird. I don't feel like double-checking it so correct me if I'm wrong.

 It's always worth looking up too. I caught an eagle and hawk in the midst of airplay. 

Memo to self: Make sure that you spend more time observing birds than just walking around looking for birds to observe!

Indecision, Procrastination, And Birdwatching

  One of the things I struggle with at times is making a quick decision. Sometimes it is necessary to analyze things carefully in order to make a decision but when you spend more time thinking than doing it can lead to missed opportunities and procrastination.

Lately I've been trying to get out early with my camera and binoculars before I have time to think about it. 

I remember a poem which I can relate to titled: "When Thomas Takes His Pen" that I found in an old book. I got a big chuckle when I first read it. I found a copy of the Poem by Elsie Hill on HistoryProfessor.Org