Bird 2013
As 2012 comes to a close and retirement from my "day" job is just around the corner I've decided to take my Birding up a notch. Throughout 2013 I plan on recording all of my bird sightings to see what I am capable of achieving. I am hoping this will improve my birding skills that have suffered some from lack of use over the years. Along the way I am going to try and photograph as many of my sightings as possible. Watch for updates and photos throughout the year on the page!
January 01 2013
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Great way to start out the New Year! I was on the trail at the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge just after sunrise and walked 5 1/2 miles. Temperature started at a brisk 19 degrees and rose to a blistering 26 degrees by the time I returned to the car. Overcast sky with a few flurries falling. And the birds! I saw a total of 23 different species to start out my year long count! Very nice for a winter morning!
Today's new birds... Mourning Dove American Crow Herring Gull Ring-billed Gull Black-capped Chickadee Canada Goose Northern Cardinal Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Red-tailed Hawk Tundra Swan American Tree Sparrow Hairy Woodpecker Pileated Woodpecker Bald Eagle Mallard Blue Jay Rock Pigeon House Sparrow Red-breasted Nuthatch Wild Turkey Song Sparrow |
January 05 2013
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Today, I met my brother Jeff at the Maple River State Game Area around 9:30am. Another cold morning with the temperature starting at about 21 degrees. It did warm up to around 35 degrees by the time we finshed our 7 mile walk along the Maple River. The sun was out on my drive over but it decided to hide behind some clouds for the first part of the day. Still not much snow on the ground but we were able to see some tracks down on the ice. Otters, rabbits, deer, mink and turkeys use the frozen river as a highway. And many voles were crossing the trail as we walked. We saw fifteen different bird species along the trail. I was able to add five more new birds to list. Another good day!
Today's birds... European Starling American Goldfinch Brown Creeper American Kestrel White-breasted Nuthatch |
January 12 2013
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Wandered the trails at the Flushing Township Nature Park today. The day started out overcast with a few showers but it quickly cleared up. Beautiful blue skies with temperatures climbing to nearly 60 degrees. I even saw a Woolly Bear Caterpillar crossing the trail in front of me. Far warmer then it should be for this time of year! I'm missing the snow! I saw 19 different species of birds including five new birds for my list.
Today's new birds... Common Merganser Eastern Bluebird House Finch Mute Swan Belted Kingfisher |
April 01 2013
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I haven't updated lately. Been a little busy and so I haven't been out to much. But I have been seeing birds and adding them to my list. Since my last entry I have added 23 more species to it.
Bufflehead Hooded Merganser Common Goldeneye Tufted Titmouse Redhead Mute Swan Swamp Sparrow Turkey Vulture Red-Winged Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird American Robin Sandhill Crane Great Blue Heron Killdeer Tree Swallow Common Redpoll Horned Lark House Finch Northern Pintail Wood Duck Chipping Sparrow Sharp-Shinned Hawk Fox Sparrow |
April 03 2013
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Well I was able to get out for another hike at a local refuge. Saw many of the species I have already recorded - but I was able to add 6 new ones for the year. Looks like the birds are starting to move!
Eastern Phoebe Ring-necked Duck Lesser Scaup Green-winged Teal American Wigeon Pied-billed Grebe |
April 11 2013
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Picked up a couple more this week. The birds are starting to move now so I am hoping to add many more soon!
Common Raven Osprey |
April 27 2013
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The last week has seen many migratory birds moving through the area. I've been fortunate enough to see a few of the smaller ones....along with some of the bigger easier to see birds.
Common Grackle Red-breasted Merganser Yellow-rumped Warbler Northern Flicker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Ring-necked Pheasant Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet Eastern Meadowlark Cedar Waxwing Brown-headed Cowbird Purple Finch |
April 28 2013
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I headed out to the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge today to see how bad the recent flooding was. Some of the trail system was closed but I was able to pick up a few new species.
Barn Swallow Double-crested Cormorant Great Egret Killdeer Rose-breasted Grosbeak American Coot Blue-winged Teal Greater Yellowlegs Bonaparte's Coot Yellow Warbler Field Sparrow Northern Shoveler Caspian Tern |
May 04 2013
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I made a couple more trips back to the Shiawassee National Willife Refuge. It is amazing how fast things change in the spring. Trees start buding and turn into leaves quickly. I've now broke the 100 species mark. I am at 104 today!
Palm Warbler Hermit Thrush Solitary Sandpiper White-throated Sparrow Common Yellowthroat Nashville Warbler House Wren Least Flycatcher Warbling Vireo Bobolink Baltimore Oriole American Redstart Spotted Sandpiper Eastern Towhee |
May 20 2013
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I haven't made it out much the last couple of weeks. I am preparing a trip to Alaska by way of Canada. But I figured I'd better add the few I have seen to my list before I forget.
Brown Thrasher Chimney Swift Green Heron |