Xray the Enforcer Posted May 24, 2018 Share Posted May 24, 2018 Birding has been SO GOOD these last couple of weeks. Got my mom 3 lifers in one 10-minute jaunt across the street from her house. I got one -- Townsend's Warbler. Plus I almost got my ass kicked by a turkey that was displaying like whoa. Today I barely missed another lifer: Mourning Warbler. Saw it fly, but didn't get a good enough look for it to count (it was positively ID'd by the people I was birding with). This weekend I'm going to try to knock another lifer off the list: Golden-winged Warbler. Gotta travel upstate a bit to do that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yukle Posted May 25, 2018 Share Posted May 25, 2018 We went to a park over the weekend, a bit out of our normal way. We saw lyrebirds! We heard them well before we saw them because they were making the sounds of traffic! They're completely amazing imitators, they can make pretty much any sound. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xray the Enforcer Posted May 26, 2018 Share Posted May 26, 2018 On 5/23/2018 at 8:08 PM, Xray the Enforcer said: This weekend I'm going to try to knock another lifer off the list: Golden-winged Warbler. Gotta travel upstate a bit to do that. And mission accomplished. Went to Sterling Forest state park and got three Golden-winged Warblers. Also got Mr. X another lifer in the form of a Prairie Warbler. And we saw two Yellow-billed Cuckoos, which is always a gas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tears of Lys Posted May 27, 2018 Share Posted May 27, 2018 Congrats on the sightings, Xray! One question, though: What's a "lifer"? Is this a birding term? We've had people working on the back of our house for the last several weeks, which has disrupted the feeding of our birdies tremendously. And our ducks haven't been around either. :cry: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hereward Posted May 27, 2018 Share Posted May 27, 2018 2 hours ago, Tears of Lys said: Congrats on the sightings, Xray! One question, though: What's a "lifer"? Is this a birding term? It’s when you see a bird you’ve never seen before in your life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lily Valley Posted May 28, 2018 Author Share Posted May 28, 2018 Birding has been frustrating since I've been home. 1. The fledgling / juveniles are to learn all over again. 2. The FROGS. OMG, The young frogs sounded like cat-sheep-ducks for about two weeks. We have standing water that starts two blocks away regularly, but creeps towards us when it's very, VERY rainy. I thought I had some crazy new birds. The juvie frog voices were NUTS. I do love the frogs, now that I know what they are, and the water is attracting lots of crows, gulls, starlings and the odd egret. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xray the Enforcer Posted May 29, 2018 Share Posted May 29, 2018 If you would like some serious birb-envy, look at this eBird checklist from yesterday. This team saw more than 700,000 warblers in a single day. https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S46116491 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ljkeane Posted September 25, 2018 Share Posted September 25, 2018 I was in Boston a couple of weeks ago and I saw a red tailed hawk eating a pigeon in the street, apparently completely unconcerned by all the people within a few feet of it. I did think it might be domesticated and being used for pest control or something but it didn't seem to have anything on it's legs that would indicate that (or a handler). I saw another one really close to me in Canada last year so that makes two red tailed hawks I've had really close encounters with in the space of less than 3 weeks actual time spent in North America compared to no other close sightings of birds of prey the entire rest of my life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xray the Enforcer Posted September 25, 2018 Share Posted September 25, 2018 Red-tailed Hawks are generally not used for pest control -- the bird you saw was just your average urban raptor who does not give a damn about the humans in its midst. But glad you got to experience some proper American birdlife! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry of the Lawn Posted December 12, 2018 Share Posted December 12, 2018 There are so many damn ducks and waterfowl cruising past my place right now, going to get out there early tomorrow before work and see if I can ID anybody. Ice is starting to show up in the river and riverwise, it's one of my favorite times of the year. Other than the whole living in darkness deal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xray the Enforcer Posted December 13, 2018 Share Posted December 13, 2018 Please report back! I love winter ducks. I am betting you have some Hooded Mergansers, Buffleheads, maybe some Gadwall and Wood Duck? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry of the Lawn Posted December 15, 2018 Share Posted December 15, 2018 On 12/12/2018 at 8:01 PM, Xray the Enforcer said: Please report back! I love winter ducks. I am betting you have some Hooded Mergansers, Buffleheads, maybe some Gadwall and Wood Duck? Cool thanks for the heads up! Unfortunately was unable to get out there due to doggy medical issue (under control now) but will be out there Monday and Tuesday - will definitely report back afterward. I did see some buffleheads last week! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xray the Enforcer Posted December 17, 2018 Share Posted December 17, 2018 for sure! Let us know what you find. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maarsen Posted January 3, 2019 Share Posted January 3, 2019 While in Cuba over the holidays, I went horseback riding and saw a crested caracara. It had a fish in its claws and dropped it as it flew away. That was a new one for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A True Kaniggit Posted May 13, 2019 Share Posted May 13, 2019 Today, my brother called me and told me he accidentally killed a mourning dove when a different bird chased it in front of his car (probably a starling, little bastards). RIP poor little dove. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lady narcissa Posted May 14, 2019 Share Posted May 14, 2019 RIP little dove, indeed Well I saw a female cardinal today which was for me pretty exciting. I live in downtown Chicago. I tend to just see crows and pigeons and those little brown birds on a day to day basis. But every so often...maybe only once every couple of years I spot a cardinal on my street. I've only ever seen a male cardinal before so this was different. I wonder if its jut the pair? Because if there was more I would think I'd see them more often. But it would have to be multi generations over the years because I spotted the first one over 10 years ago. I think if they live anywhere its behind one of the older buildings which I believe has a little garden with some trees which would afford more shelter. But I wonder what they do in the winter and how they manage to keep coming back to my block as they do. Anyway it made me so happy when I came home tonight and spotted that splash of color on the grass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maarsen Posted May 14, 2019 Share Posted May 14, 2019 9 hours ago, lady narcissa said: RIP little dove, indeed Well I saw a female cardinal today which was for me pretty exciting. I live in downtown Chicago. I tend to just see crows and pigeons and those little brown birds on a day to day basis. But every so often...maybe only once every couple of years I spot a cardinal on my street. I've only ever seen a male cardinal before so this was different. I wonder if its jut the pair? Because if there was more I would think I'd see them more often. But it would have to be multi generations over the years because I spotted the first one over 10 years ago. I think if they live anywhere its behind one of the older buildings which I believe has a little garden with some trees which would afford more shelter. But I wonder what they do in the winter and how they manage to keep coming back to my block as they do. Anyway it made me so happy when I came home tonight and spotted that splash of color on the grass. Cardinals stay over for the winter. I have a pair that I see in my backyard all the time. The females are hard to spot as they are a dull brown colour. I love seeing them also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lady narcissa Posted May 15, 2019 Share Posted May 15, 2019 15 hours ago, maarsen said: Cardinals stay over for the winter. I have a pair that I see in my backyard all the time. The females are hard to spot as they are a dull brown colour. I love seeing them also. Thanks for that information. Although now I will forever be worrying about them in the winter and wondering how they are doing and continuing to worry if I don't spot them sometime in the spring! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maarsen Posted May 15, 2019 Share Posted May 15, 2019 Cardinals are shy birds and when I do see them the are in a tree rather than on the outermost branches. They eat seeds and such that are available year round. I suspect that someone near to you may have a feeder set up so that they are hanging around it during the winter. Woodpeckers are one of my faves. I just saw a pileated woodpecker in a tree next to my cottage and just yesterday I had a red headed woodpecker bang away at my eavestrough. I thought my place was under attack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ljkeane Posted June 10, 2019 Share Posted June 10, 2019 I just saw a red kite in Spain. I seem to have a knack for encountering red birds of prey while abroad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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