Wildness Photos by Gary O'Boyle
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                                                                 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
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