Migration is well underway. I took a quick trip to Oakwoods Nature Preserve this afternoon with Jeff (Mon.). It was mostly quiet, but a few of the early migrants were present. Seen or heard were Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers (2+), Fox Sparrows (6), Eastern Towhee, Golden-crowned Kinglets (several), plus many, many Song Sparrows some of which must have been migrants.
Later in the day I took a quick trip to the Findlay Reservoirs to check on waterfowl. The water was glass-smooth and fairly quiet. Red-breasted and Common Mergansers, Common Loons, Lesser Scaup and Redheads were present.
All in all not exciting, but it's always good to get out and get birding.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Sunday Banding at Springville Marsh
Hi all,
This is a late post, but the 2009 bird banding season started on Sunday March 15 at Springville Marsh Nature Preserve in Seneca County.
If you have never been to a banding operation, I highly recommend it. I've been to perhaps a dozen different operations, and the SMNP is easily my favorite, but all of the banding operations were highly interesting.
I will try to do a more complete write-up of an average banding day in the future, but to summarize last Sunday, Tree Sparrows and Song Sparrows were in abundance in the nets. The best banded bird was a Fox Sparrow, and the best birds in the marsh were about 35 Rusty Blackbirds.
This is a late post, but the 2009 bird banding season started on Sunday March 15 at Springville Marsh Nature Preserve in Seneca County.
If you have never been to a banding operation, I highly recommend it. I've been to perhaps a dozen different operations, and the SMNP is easily my favorite, but all of the banding operations were highly interesting.
I will try to do a more complete write-up of an average banding day in the future, but to summarize last Sunday, Tree Sparrows and Song Sparrows were in abundance in the nets. The best banded bird was a Fox Sparrow, and the best birds in the marsh were about 35 Rusty Blackbirds.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Waterfowl starting to move
Friday after brought strong winds, warmer weather, and me to the Findlay Reservoirs to look for waterfowl.
Present on reservoir #2 (the large one) was three rafts of ducks: a small flock of Canada Geese (around 20), a flock of about 50 lesser scaup, and one raft of around 300 mixed divers. This mixed flock contained Lesser Scaup, Canvasbacks, and Ring-necked Ducks. There could have been more species, but viewing conditions were poor, mostly because of the gusty winds making it difficult to keep any piece of optics or persons steady.
The Findlay Reservoirs, for those who don't know, are found a couple miles SE of Findlay. Any half-decent map will show them. If you are new to birding it, I recommend starting at #1's boat ramp, which is on the southern side of the reservoirs about 1/4 mile west of the Blanchard Rivers. From there, walk around reservoir #1 (the small reserevoir). It's an easy walk and gives you good views of both reservoirs.
Present on reservoir #2 (the large one) was three rafts of ducks: a small flock of Canada Geese (around 20), a flock of about 50 lesser scaup, and one raft of around 300 mixed divers. This mixed flock contained Lesser Scaup, Canvasbacks, and Ring-necked Ducks. There could have been more species, but viewing conditions were poor, mostly because of the gusty winds making it difficult to keep any piece of optics or persons steady.
The Findlay Reservoirs, for those who don't know, are found a couple miles SE of Findlay. Any half-decent map will show them. If you are new to birding it, I recommend starting at #1's boat ramp, which is on the southern side of the reservoirs about 1/4 mile west of the Blanchard Rivers. From there, walk around reservoir #1 (the small reserevoir). It's an easy walk and gives you good views of both reservoirs.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)