Birds I Saw on my Trip to New York

June, 2009

My parents have a Willow Flycatcher nesting under their porch -- my Mom was able to identify it by its call. They also have a Belted Kingfisher nesting in a burrow on the hillside overlooking their pond.

We saw huge Osprey nests on the drive to Vermont, saw at least one Great Blue Heron (maybe it's the one that puts his big old beak through the trout in Dad's pond, only to leave them belly-up because they're too big to eat), and passed a few Ring-necked Pheasants along the roadside.

Oh, and let's not forget the Ruby-throated Hummingbird that visits my parents' feeder.

Birds I Saw on my Trip to Vermont

June, 2009

Probably I saw other birds, too, but the ones I noted were: Double-crested Cormorant (on the shore of Lake Champlain near the ECHO center), Killdeer (in a field at Shelburne Farms), and Wild Turkey (also at Shelburne Farms).

Birds I've Seen Around Arizona - Killdeer

Killdeer
Originally uploaded by J Gilbert

I was surpirsed to see this guy on my way home from the in-laws' house last night. He was right along the same stretch of road where I see all the burrowing owls -- near a canal at the edge of a field of some kind of crop that I don't recognize... alfalfa maybe?

At any rate, I noted the two stripes across his chest and recognized him as some kind of lanky shorebird. For whatever reason, I always think "sandpiper" when I see this bird. I've never, to my knowledge, actually seen a sandpiper, though. Looked him up to be sure... yup. A killdeer.

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Killdeer/id

Birds I've Seen Around Arizona - Red-winged Blackbird

Red-winged Blackbird
Originally uploaded by nancyjwagner

Another bird familiar from home. When I lived in Mecklenburg, NY, I loved sitting on Dave & Kim's porch, watching red-winged blackbirds chase a red-tailed hawk, swooping and diving at him above the field across the road. Apparently, this was nest-protecting behavior. Here in AZ, I mostly see them congregating in corn fields.

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-winged_Blackbird/id

Birds I've Seen Around Arizona - Northern Cardinal

Northern Cardinal: A Perfect Pair
Originally uploaded by MLK6615

Speaking of birds that are easy to recognize, here's the Northern Cardinal. I'm always happy to see them because they remind me of home. Usually I see them at the Desert Botanical Garden, but I've seen them at Apache Lake, too.

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Cardinal/id

Birds I've Seen Around Arizona - Phainopepla

Phainopepla 001 ed 01.jpg
Originally uploaded by oc14me

Ah, the Phainopepla. This bird is the reason my father-in-law thinks I'm such a great birder. To me, his profile is hard to mistake. If you've seen him once, you'd recognize him again. I first saw one on my first bird walk with Nancy at the Desert Botanical Garden. She spotted it, much to the delight of everyone in our group!

My second sighting was while riding in the truck with my Dad and FIL (and probably others) at Apache Lake. I said with confidence that it was a Phainopepla. Jeff was skeptical, but fortunately, my Dad had a good camera to hand. He snapped the photo and we took it home and zoomed in. Black bird, crested head, red eye. Yup. Phainopepla. Thanks, Nancy!

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Phainopepla/id

Birds I've Seen Around Arizona - Inca Dove

Inca Dove
Originally uploaded by tomyris95

I learned about the Inca Dove during a project for work two years ago, but I had never seen one. Then Friday last week, I was walking on campus with co-workers when I spotted a pair. My co-workers made fun of me, but I was pretty excited.

I mean, when I learned of the Inca Dove, it was through an illustration on a traveling display we designed. I thought maybe the real thing didn't look as scalloped as the illustration, and that maybe I'd seen one but hadn't recognized it. But then, when I saw one, I knew for sure what it was and there was no mistaking it. So, yay, Inca Doves!

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Inca_Dove/id

Birds I've Seen in my Yard - White Winged Dove

White Winged Dove
Originally uploaded by pauly4560

I first recognized this bird at a wedding in Tucson in spring 2008. I've seen them a bunch of times since, including occasionally in my back yard.

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/White-winged_Dove/id