Birding With Kyle

Welcome!

Hey, welcome to my nest. Glad you could land here for a bit. This is a place where we will explore the world of birds. Are you new to birding and need help? Are you looking for a place to submit your sightings? This is the place for you. Join me as we search the avian world, bird by bird.

Ross's Gull- Quebec, 11/19/13

Hey everyone, this is the first post of many that are 'catching up' to the current time. I figured I would start with last November, as that was a good month for some excellent birds. 

As the title of the post notes, in mid-November I traveled to Quebec to chase a continuing rarity at the time, a Ross's Gull. This species can be found in certain parts of the north, such as Manitoba area, during the summer months with a handful of pairs breeding on the continent. But seeing a Ross's Gull in the winter is a much more rare event. And if a Ross's does show up in the winter, it is usually in random areas such as in the Northeast or midwest. So needless to say, a Ross's Gull in Quebec in November was causing quite a stir among the birding community. In fact, at the time this was the only known individual of the species on the ENTIRE continent!! It was found at a wastewater treatment plant at Chambly--bassins d'épuration, Quebec and periodically moved from here to the large lake north of the treatment plant and back to forage. I believe that this gull remained in Quebec for around three weeks.

With such a rare bird only a few hours away from my school in Hanover, NH, I woke up early one morning on a day with no classes and drove north, crossing into Canada, until I reached the wastewater treatment plant. I arrived around 8:30 a.m.; there were already several birders on site so I soon joined them, braving the extreme cold and high winds. The wastewater treatment plant was divided into four 'treatment cells', with many Bonaparte's Gulls sitting on the water and flying around.

I did not have to wait long before we had success. Around 9:15 am one of the other birders said outloud that he thought he had the gull sitting on the back mound of the second treatment cell; he noted that he could see some pink on the bird (a key characteristic of winter adults). I quickly found the bird he was talking about with my scope and sure enough, it was the Ross's Gull!! While it was sitting with its back to us, you could clearly see the pinkish underside of the bird. The bird then started flying when the other gulls it was sitting with became airborne, and I saw the pinkish underside of the bird as well as its smaller shape. The gull flew to the third cell and disappeared behind the front mound; however it did not take long before the Ross's and some Bonaparte's flew above the mounds, allowing everyone to observe the bird in flight and see the the pinkish breast and dark gray underwings. Over the next hour we observed the bird frequenting different portions of the treatment area; it reappeared in the back of the first cell (the cell closest to the observation area) before flying to the second and then third cells. On the water the Ross's was easy to distinguish from the other gulls, due to its smaller size, grayish/pinkish breast (depending on light), lack of prominent earspot, unmarked wings, and different posture and shape, with its head appearing more dove-like compared to the Bonaparte's.

It was a spectacular, frigid morning at the treatment plant with us getting multiple and sometimes fairly close views of the Ross's Gull. A lifer experience that I certainly will not forget! Below are a couple pics of the gull. For more pics and some videos, see my flickr set: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hawk-eagle/sets/72157637862180776/#. Enjoy!

Bonaparte's Gull (left) and Ross's Gull

Ross's Gull (you can sort of make out some of the pinkish breast)

 

Next post will be of another Arctic wanderer, but that one appeared in my home state North Carolina.

Revamping the Blog

Its been a while since I have posted anything to the blog. I've been so busy but have made it one of my New Year's resolutions to begin to post stuff again on my blog. I have lots of cool things to share, many spectacular animals and some great photos.

I have been posting all my pics to my Flickr (www.flickr.com/photos/hawk-eagle/), so definitely check that out. And I just came back last month from an amazing birding trip to the Dominican Republic, and have seen some spectacular birds recently too.

Expect to see some new posts soon as I update my blog in the coming weeks. I'm also in the process of updating my life list on the blog and the recent new birds I had. In the meantime, check out my flickr and take care!

Here is a little tease of what's to come. This is my most recent birding adventure, seeing this majestic Northern Hawk Owl, a lifer for me, in Waterbury, VT.

Florida, June 2012

For a week in June I went on a road trip to southern Florida, the Keys in particular. Along the way and in the area I did much birding, and also went to the Dry Tortugas. I had 3 lifers: Common Myna, Sooty Tern, and, best bird of the trip, Black Noddy. I also had a number of Florida specialties that were ABA birds for me: Masked Booby, Brown Booby, Roseate Spoonbill, Limpkin, Brown Noddy, White-crowned Pigeon, Mangrove Cuckoo, Antillean Nighthawk, Gray Kingbird, and Black-whiskered Vireo.

Black Noddy of course was the best find I had on the trip. This rarity for the country is mainly only encountered in the Dry Tortugas, hanging out with the hundreds to thousands of Brown Noddies. Before I went to the Tortugas, Black Noddy had not been reported for a few weeks. But as I was scanning the Brown Noddies I found exactly what I was looking for: Black Noddy! And I was able to get some pretty decent pics. And I also had a Merlin on the Dry Tortugas, another pretty exceptional find for that time of year.

To view my pictures and video, please see my flickr album: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hawk-eagle/sets/72157630148160930/

Black Noddy and Brown Noddy
Merlin

Wyoming- May 2012

For the last part of May I interned in WY, assisting with an Umbrella Species Project to determine what species, specifically birds, would benefit from protecting habitat for Sage-grouse. While in WY I saw lots of great wildlife, including 5 lifer birds: White-faced Ibis, Lark Bunting, Greater Sage-grouse, Prairie Falcon, and Sage Sparrow. A great 10 days in Wyoming!

To view my pictures and video, please see my flickr album: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hawk-eagle/sets/72157629990419746/

 

Greater Sage-grouse

Andros Is., Bahamas- April 2012

Had a great spring vacation on north Andros, Bahamas, where we stayed at Small Hope Bay Lodge. I found many great birds, including 10 lifers: Bahama Woodstar, Bahama Mockingbird, Bahama Yellowthroat, Cuban Emerald, Bahama Swallow, Greater Antillean Bullfinch, Bahama Oriole, Key West Quail-Dove, Great Lizard-Cuckoo, and Cuban Pewee. I also found a number of ode, butterfly, and reptile species.

Best find was the Bahama Oriole, a critically endangered species with no more than a couple hundred or so birds in the wild. This species was once part of the Greater Antillean Oriole complex; it is the rarest species I have ever seen.

To view my pictures and video, please see my flickr album: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hawk-eagle/sets/72157629800776671/

Bahama Oriole

Great Lizard-Cuckoo

The Ammodramus Challenge: March 2012

On March 18, John Fussel, John Voigt, Jack Fennel, Mona Bearor, and myself beat the Ammodramus challenge, to see all 6 Ammodramus species found in NC in a single day. We started out at North River Farms where we got killer looks at a Henslow's Sparrow, and also Le Conte's Sparrows (lifer) and Grasshopper Sparrow. We then went to North River Marsh where we found the other 3 sparrow species. We were the first birders to have completed this challenge in North Carolina!

Please see this link to view images of all 6 Ammodramus species that we saw that day: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hawk-eagle/sets/72157629616644133/

Henslow's Sparrow

Puerto Rico, February 2012

I was in Puerto Rico from February 18th to the 23rd with my family for winter break. I birded on my own and then with a guide, Gabriel Lugo. Had a great time, many great birds. I had 35 lifer birds and many other new animals, including the endangered Yellow-shouldered Blackbird and critically endangered Puerto Rican Nightjar (and heard the critically endangered Puerto Rican Parrot). My favorite bird though was the Puerto Rican Tody; a very cute species.

To view my pictures and video, please see my flickr album: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hawk-eagle/sets/72157629379210911/

Puerto Rican Tanager

Puerto Rican Tody

NC Pelagic Birding, Feb. 11, 2012

Feb. 11 Pelagic trip off of Cape Hatteras, NC with Brian Patteson. A fantastic day, probably one of the best winter pelagic trips Patteson has done in some time (though the trip after mine had a Black-browed Albatross!). Two lifers: about 10 Northern Fulmar and atleast 1 Great Skua!; 1 ABA bird: Red Phalarope; and other great marine life: Loggerhead Sea Turtles, Hammerhead Sharks, and Portuguese Man-o-war.

To view my pictures and video from the trip, please see my flickr album: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hawk-eagle/sets/72157629285860093/

Northern Fulmar
Great Skua

Pea/Bodie Island and Mattamuskeet CBCs: December 28-29, 2011

On December 28 Brian Bockhahn and myself traveled down to the coast for two days of intense christmas birding. We started at Pea Island, covering the Wanchese area. Just as it was starting to get light out, we had a Short-eared Owl fly over the marsh, a state bird for me. Other great birds seen at Pea/Bodie Island included American White-Pelican, Red-necked Grebe, Great Cormorant, and Peregrine Falcon (a state bird for me). We lucked out on my lifer Sora. But the best bird of the count, and the best bird of the trip, was an immature Pacific Loon found by Brian Bockhahn, myself, and Scott Winton. The three of us enjoyed observing this bird for an hour and a half, probably seeing it over a hundred times. This was a state bird for me. We tried for Long-eared Owl and Northern Saw-whet Owls that night, but had no luck with these.

At Mattamuskeet, we covered Gull Rock Gamelands and part of the lake, with our best birds being 5 Seaside Sparrows and 6 Nelson's Sparrows in the sound at the Gamelands. All in all, it was a great two days of birding. Below are some of the pictures I took.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hawk-eagle/6607563243/in/photostream- Great Cormorant video

Great Cormorant
Pacific Loon

Greater White-fronted Goose- December 19, 2011

On December 19, during the Durham CBC, Brian Bockhahn found a Greater White-fronted Goose on a pond with many Canada Geese. Being only 25 minutes away from me, I quickly drove over to the goose. This was a state bird (#301) for me, and the first time I have seen this species since 2004. When I went to see the goose it had already moved farther out into the pond for various reasons, and it was spending most of its time with its head tucked under its wings, appearing to 'sleep'. It did though thankfully swim around and lift its head up, and I got some great looks at it, able to see the white face, orange bill, etc. Attached are a couple pics that I took, one of which shows the bird curiously looking up at the sky (not sure why). I also attached a video of the goose swimming and 'sleeping'.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hawk-eagle/6535747053/in/photostream- video