Here is a hilarious link to a hilarious video (yes, as you may have noticed both the link and the video are very funny). The funny link given takes you to a clip from the TV show "Flight of the Conchords", an extremely funny comedy.
In this clip they discuss, teach and learn the art of birding (the other type of birding). Here is the link to the clip.
PS Although I find this clip very funny some people may not and, be warned, it is blunt.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Monday, July 11, 2011
June 27, 2011 Sunny 80` Mount Greylock, North Adams MA
Later that day we went for a hike up Mt. Greylock - at least we tried to hike up Mt Greylock-but ended up taking the longest route starting at the base of Mt Williams one mountain over. When we reached the summit of Williams we decided to walk back to the car and drive up Mt Greylock instead.
As we started our hike I easily found all the commonest species of the area: Veeries, Ovenbirds, Wood Thrushes and the like. On a tree a little way up we discovered bear claw marks stretching all the way up the trunk. It was a thrilling find.
About half way up we discovered probably the most exciting species of the hike. A stunning male Blackburnian Warbler which we found singing its high pitched song at the top of an oak tree. It was kindly, every 30 (or so) seconds, hopping out onto randomly selected exposed branches, showing off it's stunning flame colored throat. The throat was so flame colored that I bet that if you got close enough you could smell smoke wafting from its throat! We watched it for a little while longer before continuing up the mountain.
When we reached the summit of Williams we were disappointed to find the stunning lack of a stunning vista. We ate our lunch then started hiking back down the mountain.
We were almost at the very bottom when we scared up a flock of small bobwhite-like birds. My mother said she saw one with the tail pattern of a Ruffed Grouse though the ones I saw didn't seem too have any field marks on the tail. My father said that they were Forest Pigeons. If they were they would be both a year bird and a new species to science! They were perfectly hidden among the leaves, only showing themselves once they took flight because one of us got too close. Their alarm calls were high pitched whinnies. Their size was that of bobwhites, but I think the birds we saw were fledgelings which could explain that. Due to range and habitat I expect that they were Ruffed Grouse though I cannot positively rule out the much smaller Northern Bobwhite (incidentally, a flock of bobwhites is called a "name-dropping") or the Forest Pigeon.
When we got back to the car we drove up Mt Greylock. At the top we had an amazing view. A ranger told us that this was the only place in Massachusetts with a sub-alpine ecosystem that has nesting Bicknell's and Swainson's Thrush along with another species which I can't think of at the present moment. He was wrong about the Swainson's Thrush which nests all along the western most edge of Massachusetts.
We climbed to the top of the rickety-staired lookout tower towering a good fifty feet above the ground. After we climbed the extremely scary and shaking, rusty, spiral tower stairs we had a fantastic view stretching away for countless miles. The map they gave to name the hulking mountains off in the distance was completely screwed up putting mountains in New Hampshire next to the mountains in Connecticut!
To end the hike I was treated with a lovely view of a stunning male Yellow-rumped Warbler.
A nice finishing touch to the lovely hike!
As we started our hike I easily found all the commonest species of the area: Veeries, Ovenbirds, Wood Thrushes and the like. On a tree a little way up we discovered bear claw marks stretching all the way up the trunk. It was a thrilling find.
About half way up we discovered probably the most exciting species of the hike. A stunning male Blackburnian Warbler which we found singing its high pitched song at the top of an oak tree. It was kindly, every 30 (or so) seconds, hopping out onto randomly selected exposed branches, showing off it's stunning flame colored throat. The throat was so flame colored that I bet that if you got close enough you could smell smoke wafting from its throat! We watched it for a little while longer before continuing up the mountain.
When we reached the summit of Williams we were disappointed to find the stunning lack of a stunning vista. We ate our lunch then started hiking back down the mountain.
We were almost at the very bottom when we scared up a flock of small bobwhite-like birds. My mother said she saw one with the tail pattern of a Ruffed Grouse though the ones I saw didn't seem too have any field marks on the tail. My father said that they were Forest Pigeons. If they were they would be both a year bird and a new species to science! They were perfectly hidden among the leaves, only showing themselves once they took flight because one of us got too close. Their alarm calls were high pitched whinnies. Their size was that of bobwhites, but I think the birds we saw were fledgelings which could explain that. Due to range and habitat I expect that they were Ruffed Grouse though I cannot positively rule out the much smaller Northern Bobwhite (incidentally, a flock of bobwhites is called a "name-dropping") or the Forest Pigeon.
When we got back to the car we drove up Mt Greylock. At the top we had an amazing view. A ranger told us that this was the only place in Massachusetts with a sub-alpine ecosystem that has nesting Bicknell's and Swainson's Thrush along with another species which I can't think of at the present moment. He was wrong about the Swainson's Thrush which nests all along the western most edge of Massachusetts.
We climbed to the top of the rickety-staired lookout tower towering a good fifty feet above the ground. After we climbed the extremely scary and shaking, rusty, spiral tower stairs we had a fantastic view stretching away for countless miles. The map they gave to name the hulking mountains off in the distance was completely screwed up putting mountains in New Hampshire next to the mountains in Connecticut!
To end the hike I was treated with a lovely view of a stunning male Yellow-rumped Warbler.
A nice finishing touch to the lovely hike!
Saturday, July 9, 2011
June 26-27, 2011 Savoy Mountain State Forest, Savoy Massachusetts
We arrived at the campground in the late afternoon and in ten minutes had seen and heard: Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers (found the nest of this pair ten feet up a dead tree - the nestlings gave themselves away with there constant squeaking), Red-eyed Vireos, Wood Thrushes, Swainson's Thrush, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Veeries, American Redstarts (I also found the nest of this pair), Chestnut-sided Warblers and a Common Yellowthroat. It was going to be a good weekend.
I awoke the next day to the sound of countless Veeries with a few warblers and vireo mixed in. When it was light enough to see I arose and went for a walk. Western Massachusetts at sunrise is dazzling, the pink clouds stretched away for countless miles lighting the towering mountains in a rosey glow - it was a stunning sight.
I got lucky with the find of a life bird Least Flycatcher. I easily identified by the call, a quick "Che-Beck che-beck". This species is usually a fairly challenging bird to identify, it being in the genus empidonax, but because we heard the call it was a piece of cake.
After that we went down to the nearby swimming pond, only to find that it was swarming with overly large and extra hungry leaches!
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Steve Martin "Rare Bird Alert"
Here's a link to an animated music video of "Jubilation Day" recently made by banjo player Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers on their new album titled "Rare Bird Alert".
In the video I saw Tufted Titmouse, Gray-crowned and Black Rosy Finches, American and European Robins and a species of juvenile finch (?) which I was unable to identify. It is a fun video and worth checking out.
Steve Martin along with Jack Black and many other famous actors are currently working on a comedy version of "The Big Year", the great book that relates the details of the famed 1998 birding competition. This is one of the few birding movies which is not a documentary. I can't wait for it to come out. October 14th... only a few months more to wait...
Sorry for not posting recently, I have a few posts I am currently working on.
In the video I saw Tufted Titmouse, Gray-crowned and Black Rosy Finches, American and European Robins and a species of juvenile finch (?) which I was unable to identify. It is a fun video and worth checking out.
Steve Martin along with Jack Black and many other famous actors are currently working on a comedy version of "The Big Year", the great book that relates the details of the famed 1998 birding competition. This is one of the few birding movies which is not a documentary. I can't wait for it to come out. October 14th... only a few months more to wait...
Sorry for not posting recently, I have a few posts I am currently working on.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Borderland State Park, Mansfield Massachusetts June 24, 2011 10:30-12:40 am cloudy 68`
Today we went for a 7 mile run at Borderland State Park, the best of all our running spots. We heard three or four thrush species (Hermit(?), Wood, Veery and American Robin); their ghostly songs were constantly ringing through the woodlands. White-breasted Nuthatch (seen), Scarlet Tanager (heard), Great Blue Heron (smelled), and Barn Swallows (touched) along with many other birds were all enjoyed on this moist and soggy run. I was considering tasting a Tufted Titmouse but that would go against my vegetarian diet.
But by far the best find of the outing was the exciting discovery of a Vesper Sparrow! A lifer! Vesper Sparrows are much commoner in the West than in the East. Besides it being uncommon they also aren't supposed to be found in moist woodlands. But just the same this was a Vesper Sparrow we found hanging about on the path.
It is an averaged sized sparrow and such a drab bird that at a distance we couldn't see any field marks on its body. In fact the only two ways that we positively identified it was 1. the distinctive white edges to the tail and 2. the fact that we didn't recognize it. Juncos also have white on the edges of the tail but this bird was too light for an immature junco. This leaves Vesper Sparrow as the only possibility. If there was another explanation for this bird then I would definitely take it but there is none as far as I can see.
I really enjoyed the large numbers of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds coming to the Hummingbird Feeder which they had cleverly positioned inches from the window. I got some nice photos of them which will post on my flickr page soon. We all enjoyed watching the hummingbirds (including Theo). They are very agile little birds constantly chasing each other away from the feeders chattering wildly sounding like slightly bewildered Spider Monkeys that being poked in the ears with pokey sticks (at least I think that is what they sounded like).
The only other really exciting find of the day was the nest of a Potter Wasp clinging to the under leaf of a Milkweed plant. It was small pot like structure about half an inch in diameter with a little entrance hole making it into a "pot". Beautifully constructed out of mud it something that I have always wanted to see.
But by far the best find of the outing was the exciting discovery of a Vesper Sparrow! A lifer! Vesper Sparrows are much commoner in the West than in the East. Besides it being uncommon they also aren't supposed to be found in moist woodlands. But just the same this was a Vesper Sparrow we found hanging about on the path.
It is an averaged sized sparrow and such a drab bird that at a distance we couldn't see any field marks on its body. In fact the only two ways that we positively identified it was 1. the distinctive white edges to the tail and 2. the fact that we didn't recognize it. Juncos also have white on the edges of the tail but this bird was too light for an immature junco. This leaves Vesper Sparrow as the only possibility. If there was another explanation for this bird then I would definitely take it but there is none as far as I can see.
I really enjoyed the large numbers of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds coming to the Hummingbird Feeder which they had cleverly positioned inches from the window. I got some nice photos of them which will post on my flickr page soon. We all enjoyed watching the hummingbirds (including Theo). They are very agile little birds constantly chasing each other away from the feeders chattering wildly sounding like slightly bewildered Spider Monkeys that being poked in the ears with pokey sticks (at least I think that is what they sounded like).
The only other really exciting find of the day was the nest of a Potter Wasp clinging to the under leaf of a Milkweed plant. It was small pot like structure about half an inch in diameter with a little entrance hole making it into a "pot". Beautifully constructed out of mud it something that I have always wanted to see.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Petersham MA June 17-21, 2011
We recently went running at Trout Brook Conservation Area where we found among other things: 1 Veery (heard), 1 Scarlet Tanager (heard), 1 Prairie Warbler (heard), 2 Barred Owls and best of all a LIFE BIRD Northern Goshawk.
We got a very quick glimpse of the goshawk flying low over head calling! Although the lighting was bad we could just see the gray on it's belly. The other main factor of the identification was the call which perfectly matched recordings of goshawks on our ipods.
The Barred Owls were the only other highlights of the run. I spotted both of the owls. The first one I saw fly to and land on a branch close to the path while chickadees angrily scolded it. It provided great views and even our dog saw it! We could still hear chickadees chattering at it somewhere deeper in the woods when we ran by the spot again. The other owl we found thirty minutes later. This one was much harder to see and not all of us saw it. It flew off soon after we spotted it.
A few days ago we visited our grandparents in Petersham, Massachusetts. There were many really nice bird species, the best being a Barred Owl which I heard hooting while hanging out in the backyard.
The best day of the five day visit was when Theo (our dog) and John (me) went for a walk down into the wet grass, mist and Bobolinks of the North Common Meadows Reservation. The mist was so thick that we couldn't even see the far side of the meadows.
If you study the photo that I took there I bet that you can't see the far side either!
There was grass (not surprisingly, don't forget that it was a meadow) and Bobolinks every where: fluttering about in loose flocks, swaying slowly back and forth (the grass was swaying not the Bobolinks), males chasing the females back and forth, singing their luxurious, bubbling song (this was also the grass) and generally being lazy.
Bobolink
Theo studying a Bobolink
Down by the pond we found: Alder Flycatcher (heard), Eastern Kingbird, Swamp Sparrow and Common Yellowthroat among other things. Both me and Theo saw the Swamp Sparrow; it was the first one I have ever seen in Petersham.
The only other really exciting walk we did was when we visited the nearby town of Amherst where I spotted a probable life bird Louisiana Waterthrush. Although I didn't get a photo of the bird I got a video of it, which clearly shows the main field marks: the pure white eye stripe (the Northern Waterthrush has a dull brown white eye stripe) and the habitat. This bird which we discovered at Amethyst Brook Conservation Area was searching for food along the rocky shores bordering the fast flowing water of Amethyst Brook. I am fairly certain that this is a Louisiana opposed to Northern Waterthrush.
Other highlights of the visit included a probable Snowshoe Hare which would be a life bunny and a life butterfly Harris' Checkerspot which we found in large numbers in the Bobolink field.
Snowshoe Hare?
Harris' Checkerspot note unusual blotch of green on the wing
It was a somewhat extremely exciting vacation!
We got a very quick glimpse of the goshawk flying low over head calling! Although the lighting was bad we could just see the gray on it's belly. The other main factor of the identification was the call which perfectly matched recordings of goshawks on our ipods.
The Barred Owls were the only other highlights of the run. I spotted both of the owls. The first one I saw fly to and land on a branch close to the path while chickadees angrily scolded it. It provided great views and even our dog saw it! We could still hear chickadees chattering at it somewhere deeper in the woods when we ran by the spot again. The other owl we found thirty minutes later. This one was much harder to see and not all of us saw it. It flew off soon after we spotted it.
A few days ago we visited our grandparents in Petersham, Massachusetts. There were many really nice bird species, the best being a Barred Owl which I heard hooting while hanging out in the backyard.
The best day of the five day visit was when Theo (our dog) and John (me) went for a walk down into the wet grass, mist and Bobolinks of the North Common Meadows Reservation. The mist was so thick that we couldn't even see the far side of the meadows.
There was grass (not surprisingly, don't forget that it was a meadow) and Bobolinks every where: fluttering about in loose flocks, swaying slowly back and forth (the grass was swaying not the Bobolinks), males chasing the females back and forth, singing their luxurious, bubbling song (this was also the grass) and generally being lazy.
Down by the pond we found: Alder Flycatcher (heard), Eastern Kingbird, Swamp Sparrow and Common Yellowthroat among other things. Both me and Theo saw the Swamp Sparrow; it was the first one I have ever seen in Petersham.
The only other really exciting walk we did was when we visited the nearby town of Amherst where I spotted a probable life bird Louisiana Waterthrush. Although I didn't get a photo of the bird I got a video of it, which clearly shows the main field marks: the pure white eye stripe (the Northern Waterthrush has a dull brown white eye stripe) and the habitat. This bird which we discovered at Amethyst Brook Conservation Area was searching for food along the rocky shores bordering the fast flowing water of Amethyst Brook. I am fairly certain that this is a Louisiana opposed to Northern Waterthrush.
Other highlights of the visit included a probable Snowshoe Hare which would be a life bunny and a life butterfly Harris' Checkerspot which we found in large numbers in the Bobolink field.
It was a somewhat extremely exciting vacation!
Monday, June 6, 2011
Petersham MA May 28-31, 2011
A few days ago we visited our grandparents up in Petersham Massachusetts.
We found all the usual species along with a new one. An Alder Flycatcher, the identical twin to the Willow Flycatcher (both species are Empidonax Flycatchers). We found this life bird down by the pond where we had recently spotted the (possible) Least Flycatcher which was also an Empidonax and a life bird.
Empidonax Flycatchers are by far the hardest birds to identify in North America due to similarities in feather patterns and colors. Generally the only way that birders are able to put a name to these tricky little devils is by voice alone (unless you manage to get inches away from it and get an extremely good look at the lower mandible).
There were two of them down by the pond I suspect that they are nesting in the area; it being perfect habitat for them. I managed to get some fairly good photos of them and took a video recording of the song. At the time we weren't positive that they were Alders but when we got home I put the song recording on the internet and some other birders confirmed my suspicion.
Other highlights included: Barred Owls heard hooting late at night, Wood Duck, Indigo Bunting, Chestnut-sided Warbler and Pileated Woodpecker. Later that day at a local Audubon we heard another Alder Flycatcher. It was a great few days.
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