If you were stymied last Monday, now can you name this bird? This photo, showing the other side of the same bird, was taken in Florida. The answer, along with an even more helpful photo of the bird, will appear at the end of next Monday’s post.
Category: Birds
March Bird Quiz
Often, all we get to see is the underside of the bird. This bird was photographed in Florida last month. Can you name it? I will post another photo on Saturday, giving you one more chance. The answer will appear at the end of next Monday’s post.
Savannah NWR
One of my favorite parts of any road trip is stopping at the national wildlife refuges along the route. In this case, we were heading from Columbia, South Carolina, where we’d visited family, to a vacation with friends on the east coast of Florida. And it just so happens that there is a series of refuges running from Pinckney Island NWR near Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, to Wolf Island NWR near Darien, Georgia. As we only had time to stop at one of those, we chose Savannah NWR, on the South Carolina – Georgia state line.
Florida Offers A Mid-winter Reprieve
I admit it—sometimes I’m spoiled. It’s mid-winter here in Colorado, but we just returned from a road trip to Florida, courtesy of an invitation from some much-appreciated friends. Even on the coldest days, the beach was so much nicer than the snow arriving at home! (more…)
Flickers Come Bearing Valentines
In honor of this coming Thursday being Valentine’s Day, I decided to present you with some hearts, courtesy of the Northern Flicker.
I’ve long known that flickers are easily identified by their black bibs and spotted chests. But have you ever gotten a look at the feathers further down their bodies, such as on the side near the rear, or the rump just above the tail? It can be hard to see them, as they’re usually hidden by the position of the bird, or obscured by the folded wings.
February Bird Quiz, Uncropped Photo
If you were stymied on Monday, now can you name this bird? The photos were taken in California. The answer will appear at the end of Monday’s post.
February Bird Quiz
Here’s another bird from warmer climes. It was photographed near Half Moon Bay, California, in March, 2013. Can you name it? I will post the uncropped photo on Saturday, along with some more photos of this species, giving you one more chance. The answer will appear at the end of next Monday’s post.
Birding Hamden Slough NWR
I hadn’t really planned to spend time birding in Minnesota. We were on a road trip around the Great Lakes, and we had finally turned toward home. But my high expectations for Whitefish Point, in northeastern Michigan, had been squelched by high winds, and we decided to cut and run, saving the time to spend someplace more accommodating and birdy. That someplace turned out to be Hamden Slough NWR.
Anticipating Florida
Pete and I have been invited to visit friends in Florida next month. Of course, we accepted the invitation! I’ve arranged time off from work, I’ve made my packing list, and our house sitter is all lined up (with instructions on keeping the feeders filled). Now I’m eagerly counting the days until we leave.
While there are plenty of logistics involved in escaping winter for a couple of weeks, I’m also trying to prepare for birding in a relatively unfamiliar location. Yes, I’ve been to Florida before—twice, in fact—but it’s not my usual birding location, and those aren’t my usual birds.
January Bird Quiz, Uncropped Photo
If you were stymied on Monday, now can you name this bird? The photos were taken in North Carolina on December 30, 2013. The answer will appear at the end of Monday’s post.
