It comes and goes

Missing Ohio.

I've always said, no matter where I ended up in my life, that Ohio would be home. I grew up there. My love for birding started there. I have traveled the state for numerous things: dog shows, rabbit shows, and birding. I know it like the back of my hand. When I think of Ohio, I think of comfort. I think of being home.

Moving here is quite an adjustment. Luckily, as a birder... the opportunities for new birds and new adventures has helped to quell that lingering to go back home. It's helped me transition to a new place with new people and new experiences.

But the one thing missing down here that Ohio was able to give me was fellow birders. I'm not saying people aren't birding down here, because they are. However, the networking is definitely a far cry from the networking in Ohio. When I go to Wheeler, it's rare I run into someone birding. Mostly people fishing, horseback riding, or canoeing. I would love to meet other birders, but where are they?

So, even though I love the birding down here so far, it's lonely. Sometimes, I do like to bird by myself. It gives me a break, helps bring me clarity when I'm stressed or there's a lot on my mind. But, on the same token, I'm a pretty social person. I like to be able to share my experiences with others. I really enjoy the company of someone out in nature. Plus, birding always seems to be more productive when there's at least two sets of eyes looking for them.

So, I miss Ohio. I miss the birding, the places I knew like the back of my hand, I miss the birders. I miss my friends. Feeling a little homesick today.

This next week cannot approach quickly enough. I need a day out by myself in a new place with the potential for new birds. I need to once again celebrate the new path my life has taken.

Until next time.
Happy birding to all of you.

So...

I was hoping to have a nice, well-thought-out, and elegantly written blog post for all of you today, but frankly, I am just too tired! Been wrangling children all morning, then took my sister for a walk at the Beaverdam Swamp Boardwalk at Wheeler.

There wasn't anything all that notable for me to report. The water levels were up though, and it actually looked like a swamp!

Was able to spot a couple Prothonotary Warblers and American Redstarts. Actually, saw my first male Redstart for the year. Heard two Wood Thrushes singing along the gravel path that leads to the boardwalk, but never spotted them. Carolina Wrens, a lone Louisiana Waterthrush, Carolina Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, and White-breasted Nuthatches were certainly making a racket also.

The number of Skinks we encountered on the boardwalk was very small compared to the last visit before the rain came. I kept scanning the trees for any signs of a Barred Owl, but no luck.

On the walk back out, got a nice shot of a Silver-spotted Skipper. Unfortunately, none of the birds wanted to give me a good enough photo op. Maybe next time.

My trip to The Sinks is a little over a week away. I am pretty excited about hitting the areas over there and having something awesome to report. Stay tuned, my friends.

Until next time...

Happy birding to all of you.

A Birding Bust....

Made a quick trip to Blackwell Swamp at Wheeler this morning. It's been raining off and on, so I figured I'd see something at the very least. Unfortunately, birds were in short supply today.

The rain from previous days had filled the swamp, almost too much. I didn't see a single heron or egret at the north end. Lots of dragonflies, and tadpoles. Heard some Cooper's Hawks calling. Otherwise, it just seemed pretty dead.

Driving back through, I did see several snakes crossing the gravel road. Even saw a turtle which proceeded to RUN from me. I have never in my life seen a turtle move that quickly on dry ground. Who says they're slow?

Occasionally, I would spot a Carolina Wren or Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. Cardinals were singing their little hearts out, and in a field bordering the forest, I caught sight of a Blue Grosbeak pair. Indigo Buntings were not in short supply though, making up 90% of the birds I saw today.

However, getting to the south side of the swamp, I drove right up and was able to snap a few shots of this Prothonotary Warbler taking a bath in the road. She cooperated for a couple of minutes, then flew up into the trees.

On the south end, I saw one lone Great Egret; A far cry from the twenty-one Egrets that graced the swamp just days prior. I stayed for about 20 minutes, shooting dragonflies and keeping an eye out for any birds to make an appearance. None did. However, I did hear Carolina Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, and Common Yellowthroats singing around the swamp. 

Then, I heard an odd call... something I'd never heard before, so I walked through the brush to go investigate. As soon as I got close to it, the bird took off. It was a large bird- most likely a hawk or owl (my first impression was owl). I've seen Barred Owls several times at the swamp already, but it certainly didn't sound like any Barred Owl I'd ever heard. Once I can identify the call, I can identify the bird.  Though, I am a bit disappointed I couldn't get a better look before it took flight.

Other than a lone female Summer Tanager on the drive out of the swamp, that was pretty much all I saw. Next trip out, I think I'll hit the Beaverdam Swamp Boardwalk since water levels are up. 

Stay tuned.

Until next time....

Happy birding to all of you.

*Update* The bird calls I heard were chattering of a Great Horned Owl. I may go back and try to relocate the bird for photos sometime next week. 

Anhingas, Wood Storks, and Rails....

Oh my!

So, I relocated to the Huntsville area from Ohio about three weeks ago. Here's the great thing about Huntsville, and it's four words long: Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge. Let me tell you why this place is so great, shall I?

Close to home. In Ohio, I had ONE close to home mega-awesome birding spot. But the habitat there was riparian woodland, so I was limited to certain species. It never disappointed, got several first year warblers there for 2013. However, I like a place with a bit of diversity. My favorite place was Killdeer Plains, but it was 65 miles from my home, so I couldn't go as often as I wanted to. Wheeler is fifteen minutes from my current residence, and I absolutely love having a place so close.

Also, the diversity of habitat is fantastic. You can find prairie, since it's located in the valley. Also tupelo swamps, cypress swamp, marsh, and of course, the Tennessee River.

In three weeks, I have chased two rarities (and found them!), and gotten several lifers. It's helped me to really get into birding down here, not knowing anybody or anywhere to go... I was concerned on whether or not I would like this move. However, nowhere in Ohio I birded compares to Wheeler, hands down.

So, I don't know about you, but I watch ebird like a hawk. (Pun intended) I noticed Anhingas and a Wood Stork had both been reported on the Wheeler eTT. If you don't know what the eTT is, it's a "public ebird terminal" type thing. Anybody who birds at the refuge can stop into the visitors center and log their sightings right to ebird.

The unfortunate thing is, there's no information on where these species were seen. So, it's like searching for a needle in a haystack. This might discourage some birders, but not me! I welcome the challenge!

I made two trips to the Blackwell Swamp area the first week I was here. While I picked up Brown-headed Nuthatch, Blue Grosbeak, and Kentucky Warbler for my lifers... there were NO Anhingas or Wood Storks in sight. It had been a couple days, and I won't pretend like I wasn't a tad bit disappointed. However, I knew that this is the risk you take when blindly searching for rarities.

The next week, I decided to check out the visitor's center. There's a trail over by there, leading to a Wildlife Observation Building, which overlooks a marsh area. I figured, why not check it out? I've been needing Little Blue Herons since I got down here. So, I make the hike. No birds along the trail, but I did find these little guys:

1/80- f/5.6-3200 ISO

While I love birding, I also love all baby animals. I had to stop and shoot several photos. However, the lighting was terrible in the woods, and this was the only clear image I got. Perfect little face though, don't you agree?

Anyways, the Wildlife Observation Building was incredible. Floor to ceiling glass overlooking a large marsh area. The worker told us over the winter, thirteen thousand Sandhill Cranes resided here, along with a few Whooping Cranes. Anybody who knows me knows that my favorite birds back in Ohio to go see were the Sandhill Cranes. This made my heart soar, knowing I wouldn't be missing these magnificent birds down here in the south.

As soon as I walk up to the glass, I notice a bird flying in the sky. White body, dark head/neck, and black flight feathers. Immediately I called out, "WOOD STORK!" I started dancing and celebrating, completely forgetting that maybe I should snap a photo so I could get the sighting confirmed on ebird. So, with no time to change my settings from the dark forest, I got a very grainy, but still ID-able photo of the Wood Stork:

I rushed back to the visitor's center, camera in hand, and reported the sighting. The women working were very thankful, as they pay attention to the Wheeler eTT, and nobody had seen the stork since the initial sighting. 

That day was a long one, as I walked several trails, took lots of photos, and didn't return home until the afternoon. I wouldn't get out for a few more days. At this point, I really really needed to find that Anhinga. I was determined.

So, let's move ahead a few more days. It had rained briefly, and if there's anything I've learned while birding it's that birds come out after the rain. I know it's my best time for birding, especially in the hot southern summer time.

I decided to hit Blackwell Swamp. No walking trails, but plenty of birding by car. I didn't have any bug spray and figured birding by car would be my best bet. Little did I know, it would also be my lucky day.

At first I arrived at the swamp, and I saw a bird I swore was an Anhinga. He was a little too far off for me to get a clear photo, so I wrote it off as a Double-crested Cormorant. My excitement crushed, I decided to drive back through the woods, in the hopes to find the Barred Owl I'd spotted the week before.

Driving back through gave me plenty of Summer Tanagers and Indigo Buntings- probably the two most prevalent passerine species I find over at Blackwell Swamp. (Followed closely by Great Crested Flycatchers) I circled around the swamp, not finding any Anhingas at the other end. A little bummed, I made the decision to make one more round to the other side, to see if the "Cormorant" had perched a little closer for better photos.

What I found when I got back to the other side made my entire week. I saw, in flight, a male Anhinga. Unfortunately the photos were not ID-able, so I started scanning the swamp. That's when I saw her pop out of the swamp and perch. A female Anhinga!

Though my photo wasn't the best, it was definitely ID-able. I'd not even been in Alabama for two weeks and already chased down two rarities! I was feeling pretty good at this point, and maybe on top of the world (for birding, at least). I would return the next day to find the male Anhinga perched, though too far for good photos. I am certain that they may be nesting at the swamp.

Since chasing these two rarities, Blackwell Swamp has given me even more lifers. Notably: Bachman's Sparrow, and King Rail. Now you can understand why I love this place so much, right?

Next week, I plan on hitting a spot out near Muscle Shoals called "The Sinks". It seems to be a great place for shorebirds and waders, and Roseate Spoonbills were reported this week in the area along with Little Blue Herons. Cross your fingers that I find what I am looking for, and then some more!

Until next time.

Happy birding to all of you.