Nature Before Birds

This month I decide to step away from trying to count birds and chase after rare birds. Instead, I've focused on trying to immerse myself in nature. It's been a couple of years since I've climbed to the top of a hill just for the view.I wondered when was the last time I hike out into the woods just to find out just what mica ledges are?People visit art galleries to appreciate art but isn't nature the greatest art galley of all?That didn't mean I was going to ignore birds altogether! I can I ignore a bluebird?

Or a Brown Creeper working its way up the side of a dead tree?

There was just enough time to catch a Bald Eagle before sunrise ready to take off when I got a little too close.

I've set aside this month to explore and appreciate instead of making goals which can detract from that. Then again, I guess setting aside time to explore and appreciate is just another type of goal?!

Thanks For Hanging A Bag Of Seed!

During the Christmas count we covered a section near the state forest. Someone had set a feeder in the middle of the woods which allowed us to have a nice view of a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.

15 Minute Pink-footed Goose

A birding friend alerted me that there was a Pink-footed Goose spotted near Lyman's Orchard which is right down the road from me. I only had 15 minutes to drive the 5 miles and spot the goose. There wasn't enough  time for me to get into the perfect viewing position. I  shielded my eyes from the sun so I could get the goose into my camera's viewfinder. 

They are common over in Greenland but considered rare around here. It was first time I've seen one so I was lucky it was still around when I got there! 

Birder Hibernation Ends On Sunday

I've been in a state of birder hibernation for the last month. Life decided that other things needed to take priority. I decided to at least upload the last 3 bird pictures that were on my camera. 

I was being mocked by this mockingbird as I passed through the neighborhood on my bike. 

American Robins flocked to our crabapple trees all day long until there were crabapples no more!

I went to a local pond to find ducks but instead found a male Purple Finch which is a nice bird for me. It would have been nicer if the sun wasn't behind him though. 

I haven't picked up binoculars for about a month but the Christmas bird counts have already started. I am going on the annual Salmon River circle bird count tomorrow. It's a fun event because suddenly every species of bird seen becomes important again. Everyone works as a team to find as many species of birds as the can in their territory.

Of course, you do need to withstand the cold and unless you are working the shoreline, you won't see as many species as you would during migration. Nevertheless, I am looking forward to it!