LRGV Hit List

Which ones do we get first??

Current ABA list list: 561
Last one seen: Common Redpoll, 12/28/2014

I will be visiting south Texas for the next week and get to relax, eat some cheese, catch some rays and of course see some #lifebirds.  #Bigyear2015 begins


Lifers needed:

• Red-Crowned Parrot, code 2, easiest to get
• Alpomado Falcon, code 3, second time a charm?
• Tropical Parula, code 3, got two good places,
• Prairie falcon, code 1, recent sightings in a small area
• White-Throated Thrush, code 4, very hard to get but at Estero Llano Grande
• Snowy Plover, code 1, just reported at a place I know
• Brownsville Dump--reported/pictured Thayers/Slaty-Backed Gulls, I'm not your gull man

Year Birds:
 Tons of them down there, since I only have 30-40 Ohio/NJ birds for the year, I'm basiclly going to start in Texas at ZERO, then after the trip add up my balance.

Goals:
130 birds for the trip
4 life birds

Next up:  The star are bright . . . to late at night . . . deep in the heart of TEXAS!!

Blendon Woods Bird Walk

It has been so snowy and cold in February this year, that birding has been a real chore. That the sub zero tempatures and wind chill have limited you ability to stand outside, and that's what birding is about--being outside. Lucky, the monthly bird walk at Blendon Woods Metro Park on Februray 8th wasn't cold, in fact, it was warm enough in the 30's to snow 7 inches that day. Check out this great pics of the snow in the pine trees.

zoom in some

zoomed in some more

The best place to view the birds on a snowy and cold day is at the Nature Center and out at the blinds by Thoreau Lake. It's nice to set up your scope and view the waterfoul. No wind either.

Green-winged Teal, front, American Black Duck, rears

Redheaded duck

Canvasback Duck female back, AMB duck front

Blind from a ducks view at us

On the way back to the Nature Center, make sure you stop at the pipeline/cut area and look up at the oak tree. The Red-Headed Woodpecker is making it thru winter, and starting to turn into full male plummage. Let's hope we get to see more of him this spring.

Red-Headed Woodpecker

“flying checkerboard”

So with that, that's about it for 2015 so far. I've been to Blendon twice, Chesire Rd once, and my NY/NJ trip.

 Now I'm think I'm rested up enough for some SUN and WARM temperatures . . . .
off to the Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas.  Where & What winter birding is all about!!

No Pink-footed or Barnacle

My goose hunting trip planned for early Jan 8th-9th got pushed back to Jan 29th-30th. But I still made the 1200 mile round trip safely and got another goose along the way!  Early January, both Pink-footed Goose and Barnacle Goose(code 4s) where seen in Wall township and Mercer, New Jersey respectfully. But by the time I got there, after the Blizzard 15' up the east cost from Monday Jan. 26th. storm, no one had re-spotted the either rarity--and either did I.

Duck, Duck, Goose!!

I did stop by South Amboy, New Jersey-- a waterfront park, Raritan Bay, and saw about 200 Brandt geese.

Medium to small goose; Amer. Wigeon scale

White, partly broken collar

Black head, neck, and chest

An abundant small goose of the ocean shores, the Brant breeds in the high Arctic tundra and winters along both coasts. The Brant along the Atlantic have light gray bellies, while those off the Pacific Coast have black bellies and were at one time considered a separate species.

Sometimes when birding is slow, or you just aren't getting that lifer blood flowing, it's best just to sit back and take it in. Just enjoying the moment and location. So included are pictures of "Bridges and Sunsets"  . . . which after all, what CAN you take pictures of when your driving ALL the time?!?

GW Bridge into NY . . How much is the toll sir?

$17.50 WTF?!?!$%&

 

 

 

Throngs Neck Bridge 295S, Toll -- How much?

$7.50 . . Thank you please drive thru

Verrazano Bridge 278 West out of Long Island

How much is the toll sir?   $15.00 !! Greeaatt

Thank you, please drive thru

Pennsylvania Turnpike 76West

Pull the ticket . . . 276 miles later

A sunset worth . . . $33

Praise the Lord I made it. The Subaru saved my life. I am now a fan.

Next up: Snowing at Blendon Bird walk

2015 Subaru Crosstrek XV

BIGBOARD --80 East to NY, then 76 West to OH