This summer was hot. It was way beyond hot, with temperatures 100+ for more than 38 days. Add outrageous fuel prices and a very productive business schedule and it
was very apparent that my birding adventures were going to be even more limited than usual. So I hatched a plan! If my chances of photographing new birds were low, I would shift gears and make this the summer for finding and photographing young birds of familiar species. Today then, I look back on this year’s breeding and nesting season with a sense of accomplishment. I’ve added 13 juveniles to my
Photo Gallery! Here’s the “new kids” list:
- Piping Plover
- Snowy Plover
- Semipalmated Plover
- Caspian Tern
- Marbled Godwit
- Stilt Sandpiper
- Tricolored Heron
- Franklin’s Gull
- Great Egret
- Cattle Egret
- Eastern Meadowlark
- Common Nighthawk
I was fortunate to photograph adult and juvenile Piping Plovers, a new species for me this year and one of special interest because it’s listed as Threatened. The Tricolored Heron was another new species for 2006. I saw my first adult in the spring, with a juvenile (pictured right) showing up in September. I’m looking forward to seeing what birds show up this fall. Gas prices have fallen, the temperatures are comfortable, and I’m determined to structure my business so I can have some time to chase birds!
Hi Pat
Nice pictures, wonder if your terns
and Gulls ever see the sea.
You have the link for the Cattle Egret
pointing at the Meadowlark picture.
Off to Spain tomorrow so hope to see some more exotic birds than we get here in the UK.
Regards
Les
Thanks for letting me know about the incorrect link to the cattle egret. Les, have a wonderful trip to Spain! I look forward to hearing about the new birds you see. Pat
Hi Pat. I stumbled upon your site quite a few months back when I was searching for pictures of a bird I can’t even remember now. Glad to see the new post. And babies, at that! Great photos. With Project Feederwatch starting up in less than a month, maybe that will drive you to photograph more birds. I know my own bird watching and photography has waned this summer, but I’m looking forward to counting birds again this winter. There is a heron rookery within 30 minutes of my house that I hear is a busy place come April, so I will also look forward to checking that out in the spring. Happy birding!
Hi Pat
I have just found your birdcams and blog. You are doing a great job and I am going to pass the link to the folks on the Dennis Puleston Osprey Fund website message board. They are always interested to find interesting new bird sites. Your photographs are lovely. I live in England by the way. Like you, we have birdfeeders in the garden but our English birds are not quite as exotic as yours. We do have a Sparrow Hawk fly in from time to time, we have an occasional lesser spotted woodpecker, lots of small sparrows, bluetits, blackbirds, thrushes, robins etc. along with the usual pigeons and magpies. We hear owls at night but don’t usually see them. Most of my own birdwatching is done on the internet, eagles, ospreys, loons etc. and I found your webcam via the “View Nesting Birds” website. I shall be a regular visitor from now on. Many thanks for sharing your enthusiasm with us. Pam