Andy's "Green Birding" Big Year

Albino squirrel at my feeders. The dogs HATE it. The weather has continued to stay mild here since my last post. Last weekend on November 16th, I headed over to Spring Lake with hopes of finding something different. I got there and scanned it thoroughly, but there wasn't very much going on. Most of the ducks that were there were all huddled into a cove out of the wind, which was a little stiff from the southwest. A Greater Scaup was the highlight. It was a relatively pleasant ride though, and you can't get something every time. However, I later saw with great interest a report of a Townsend's Solitaire at Richard T. Anderson - which is on my way to work. Biking into work is a long ride - about 38 miles round trip and lots of hills, but I figured I'd wait for a day with minimal wind and give it a go. They are regular, but rare - and getting one by bike would be really cool.  Wednesday was that day. The ride in was great. I got up bright and early and rode through the pre...

Amazing Aurora Borealis Since my last post, I've taken another couple of trips back to Spring Lake in hopes of finding a new gull or duck for my green list. I left early in the morning with the thought of catching gulls on the water before they leave for feeding during the day. Both trips were chilly morning rides - which I guess I should get used to now!  My first ride late last week did not produce anything on the water itself, despite my hopes being high that day - a cold front really had ducks and geese moving around and I was optimistic I'd see something new out floating on the lake that morning. The species and numbers had indeed changed - there were more loons and diving ducks overall. Nothing new on the water...but...while I was scanning the lake I heard a familiar call note overhead - Redpoll! I never saw the birds but enough to count it! Hopefully they will show up at the feeders for pictures once things REALLY get cold later - it's warmed up now, again.  Our firs...

  Pied-billed Grebe cruising the cove behind the house Yesterday through early this morning brought more west and southerly winds. Not great for bringing in new things, at least species that would be coming from the north. However, a recent report of two White-winged Scoters (never relocated, sadly) from a lake in a neighboring county got me itchy to ride. I also wondered whether west winds might push some stuff over that normally have more western migration pathways - like maybe a Common Raven, or a Western or Red-necked Grebe, perhaps. I wanted to get out to Spring Lake early to see if I could catch gulls again and maybe sift out an Iceland or Glaucous Gull at dawn before they leave to feed for the day as well. I set the alarm for 05:30 and left just as the sun was getting up. A little later than I'd hoped - but leisurely sipping coffee felt good.  I arrived to find all kinds of commotion - the park workers were taking the docks out of the water for the winter. Lots of loud ...

You can't beat maples for fall colors This late fall seems to be continuing, despite our fourth longest growing season on record "ending" last week. As I write this, we've got strong, blustery south winds and above average temperatures forecasted for the next several days, which means there likely won't be much for me to really look for. However, we did have a short stretch of mostly gentle north winds the last few days, and I took advantage of them!  I've been mostly focusing on Spring Lake - a nearby 580-acre body of water that is relatively deep (maximum depth of 37 feet). It's easy to bike to and most importantly you can see pretty much the whole lake from a good viewing deck on the north side of it. As I mentioned in my last post, my focus is - and will continue to be - on waterbirds for the rest of the year, with a few notable exceptions (Redpoll, American Goshawk, and Long-eared Owl).  Ruddy Ducks on Spring Lake My first trip last week wasn't re...

  I've been trying to visit Spring Lake as much as I can over the last week or so. Winds from the north have started to become steadier and more frequent; and temperatures are seasonal/dropping, so that means - diving ducks! Well, hopefully. As my "found" species total racks up, my success rate gets lower with new species for the year with each ride. There just aren't that many more species that I can get as the last two months of the year approach. However, as you well know, a common migrant diving duck - Canvasback - has been my nemesis for much of the year. Not anymore! A Pied-billed Grebe surfacing briefly between dives After an unsuccessful search on Wednesday, I decided to try again on Thursday, keeping with my strategy of hitting close by spots frequently. I different cast of characters at my bird feeder that morning raised my hopes for something different - my first American Tree Sparrow of the fall showed up. I couldn't wait to get on the bike.  I arrived...

White-throated Sparrows continue to push through I've managed to get out a few more times over the last several days. My first ride was to Spring Lake to look for scoters and grebes, and whatever else I could dig up. It was a cloudy day with winds from the north. Would this be the day for finding my first scoter of the year? I was cautiously optimistic as I biked along the road.  Upon arrival, I was happy to see a lot of birds on the water. Lots of American Coots and Ruddy Ducks were in rafts on the water, and hundreds of gulls - mostly Ring-Billed and Franklin's - were circling overhead. We started scanning to see if anything unusual was in the mix.  A few distant Ruddy Ducks There were some grebes along the far eastern shore of the lake. I sifted out two Horned Grebes from the Pied-billed Grebes, which were pretty numerous. Then another small grebe with a upturned bill came into view - Eared Grebe! Unexpected, but welcome! Unfortunately it stayed far away, and I lost it afte...

Another great hike on a beautiful day The much-anticipated cooler weather finally arrived, and I got out on the bike as soon as I could to take advantage of the nice weather and hopefully increased bird movement. A report on eBird of Harris's Sparrow AND Winter Wren at Blue Lake (where I went a few times last winter/early spring) made my choice of destination easy. I still needed both of those! The ride over was a delight - much, much nicer than my last wind-battered slog to Marsh WMA (minimal headwinds and less weight on the bike made a world of difference). It was a beautiful morning also - one of those days that makes you so grateful to be able to be outside to enjoy it. I pulled into the parking lot and immediately heard lots of call notes from the brush. A good sign, I hoped. Lots of sparrows on the move now, including this Song Sparrow I sifted through the flocks of White-throated Sparrows around the parking lot. Dark-eyed Juncos have arrived and were there in good numbers. A...