San Jose, CA
Bird of the Day: American Robin
San Jose, CA
North American birds
Bird of the Day: American Robin (Boylston, MA)
Photo Credit: Stephen Crafts
Bird of the Day: Northern Cardinal (Boylston, MA)
Photo Credit: Stephen Crafts
Bird of the Day: North American Robin (Boylston, MA)
Photo Credit: Stephen Crafts
Places to Bird: Part 6*, Point Pelee
Blackburnian Warbler
When I was just starting out as a birder, I bought a small book to help me learn about the warblers that were migrating through my home state of New Jersey. The booklet was called “The Warblers of Point Pelee.” Filled with great pictures and useful identification tips, it became my constant companion that spring. However, I had no idea where Point Pelee was or what made it so special. Only later did I discover that Point Pelee is probably one of the best and possibly the most famous spring migration birding location in North America.
Places to Bird: Part 5*, Magee Marsh
Chestnut-sided Warbler
On our spring trip to Point Pelee in Ontario we visited some amazing birding locations, and the birds we saw were absolutely incredible. We had 12+ species of sparrow and 10 species of Flycatcher, but the real kickers were the warblers. On our way back from Pelee, we decided to stop at a place I had only heard of in passing…Magee Marsh. After only one day there, I understand why this site is becoming so famous.
Places to Bird: Part 4*, Algonquin Provincial Park
Gray Jay
The thermometer read six degrees below zero Fahrenheit. Within five minutes of stepping outside I had lost all feeling in my face. We were three hours north of Toronto in the middle of nowhere in the middle of February. We had arrived at Algonquin Provincial Park with high expectations and would not be disappointed. Algonquin is thus far my favorite winter birding destination. The species are incredible and the scenery might be even more impressive.
Places to Bird: Part 3*, Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge
Shorebirds feeding on the Mudflats at Edwin B. Forsythe NWR
A mid-summer early morning drive down the Garden State Parkway generally equates to a weekend at the Jersey shore. For me, though, it means birding in one of New Jersey’s top birding locations. Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, commonly known as Brigantine, is located in Oceanville, NJ near Atlantic City. There are many factors that give “Brig” its reputation: the flies, the smell, the heat, but also, most importantly, the birds. Continue reading
Places to Bird: Part 2*, The Salton Sea
Yellow-footed Gull
Driving in California’s Imperial Valley, you come across something completely unexpected. On the horizon in the middle of the Californian desert, you can faintly see what appears to be the ocean.
Places to Bird: Part 1, Bentsen State Park
Red-crowned Parrots
With this entry, I begin a series describing some of the places I have been birding in North America that I think anyone with an interest in birds would enjoy visiting. Not only are these places incredibly birdy, they are also often wild, usually beautiful, and always memorable.
Little Brown Birds
Sprague's Pipit
When you ask someone why they are not a birder nine times out of ten they will say, “birds are awesome, but I don’t know how you tell those little brown birds apart”. To be completely honest, trying to distinguish between a Cassin’s and a Botteri’s Sparrow in the American southwest can be rather tedious and challenging; and when visiting the lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas birds like Green Jay seem a lot more appealing than a Clay-Colored Robin. But those boring, pass over in the field guide, birds can be some of the most rewarding as they often times are even rarer and harder to find.
Birding in North America
Black-footed Albatross
A voice rang out from the stern of the boat, “Black-footed Albatross, nine o’clock”. Dreams from the night before were coming true as an Albatross, the hermit of the sea, sailed past me and onto my life list…Number 600. A journey that began five years ago had reached a major milestone. The day before I reached 600, my dad and I arrived at our Monterey hotel anxiously awaiting our pelagic trip. I was four species short of my milestone, and I wanted to reach it in California.
The Dry Tortugas
Nesting Brown Noddies
The sun rose on a beautiful spring day in southern Florida. After a week and a half of birding with my dad across the state, our trip was coming to a close. During this time we had seen some amazing species: Mangrove Cuckoo, Snail Kite, Swallow-tailed Kite, Snowy Plover, Black-whiskered Vireo, Short-tailed Hawk, and so much more. However, we had saved the best for last.
Organikos 