Feeder Warning

I went out to my backyard this morning and found a little chickadee fluttering around inside a feeder. It was a long cylindrical feeder with holes and perches around the bottom half. The food level was just below the top hole, which allowed the little bird to enter. Too late, I now know not to let the food level drop that low. .

I immediately dumped the bird, and all the feed, onto the yard and ran inside for a shoebox and rubber gloves. I was back out within a very few minutes, but it was already dead. Nevertheless, I put grass in the box and placed the chickadee on the grass. I also dripped a few drops of water onto its open bill. After all, perhaps it was only in a coma. But I am quite sure now that it is dead. I'll give it a nice burial later this afternoon when the blazing sun sinks behind the trees. In the meantime, the box is in the shade.

Birds and Butterflies

After days in the upper 90s and severe lightning storms, I welcomed the surprisingly low temperature Tuesday morning. I found my Audubon sweatshirt, grabbed my backpack with bins packed inside, and started off to meet my fellow adventurers for our trip to a horse farm in central New Jersey. I congratulated myself on being so well prepared that I’d arrive at the meeting place a good ten minutes early. Then a half mile from home, I realized I’d forgotten my camera. A quick u-turn to retrieve it, and I made it to the parking area on the dot.

For this trip, someone else was driving. I relaxed in the back seat and watched the scenery change as we entered the Pine Barrens. This time of year the road was dotted with blueberry stands, and I hoped to buy some on our return trip. 

Soon we entered the farm country of the Garden State. I had envisioned that we'd be birding on a small farm, but once we turned onto the property, I was astounded at how far we drove before parking at a back field.  Although we saw various sparrow, finches, red-winged blackbirds, and a lone Cedar Waxwing in that field, the butterflies were  most interesting, at least until we saw a Red-tail Hawk circling a different field, making lots of noise. Eventually a swarm of starlings chased him away. 

The Painted Lady (see picture) posed long enough for us to snap good pictures, as did a Pearl Crescent. A Black Wood Nymph wasn't as cooperative, at least not for me.

 In spite of the lack of bird activity, it was a fun day. And I did get the blueberries on the way home.

Eagle Encounter

An Eagle Encounter – The Highlights

Bags packed into the back of my Jeep, I set off on Friday to pick up two fellow members of my birding group and drive to the Delaware Water Gap for the weekend. Our goal: view elusive warblers.  We drove north through lush green farmland, which gradually rose to hills as we neared the Pocono Mountains.

Saturday morning we ate breakfast in our hosts’ house in PA before meeting up with two members at the first I- 80 rest area on the New Jersey side of the Delaware River. Then the eight of us headed up Old Mine Road, which snakes up along the Delaware. It was like driving on an obstacle course as I avoided numerous potholes on this very narrow road. 

Wild flowers dotted the fields and edges of the road, which was over hung by enormous trees, now in full leaf. Since it rained Friday night, water gushed down the many brooks to our right as they made their way to the river. As the driver, I caught only glimpses of them as we drove past. But at one of our stops, we were able to explore one while looking for a Louisiana Waterthrush. After much searching, only a few of us saw that bird. Perhaps if the roaring and splashing waterfalls hadn’t drowned out the bird’s calls, it would have been easier to find.

One of the highlights for me was seeing a Red-Eyed Vireo peeking out of a nest. While at Worthington Office and Campground, we saw a Bald Eagle soaring overhead, The most exciting bird experience that day was our close encounter with another Bald Eagle. I was driving slowly as we watched  for our next stopping place when a very large bird swooped down out of the low hanging trees, right at the windshield. For a split second, I thought it was a Turkey Vulture looking for carrion along the road, but immediately realized it was a Bald Eagle. For one frightening moment, he was coming straight at us. I came to a full stop at the same time he veered to the side and landed next to a dead squirrel, not something Bald Eagles usually go after.

He  flew up and landed on a wire crossing the road. I parked off to the side. Everyone got out and ran back to get a good look and take pictures. But a car full of teenagers had the same idea, and three motorcyclists roared past. With all the commotion, who could blame the eagle for flying away, which of course he did. I had no chance to get his picture, but others in the group managed to take some.

We had a picnic lunch at a restored village, stopped at Peters Valley and browsed in the crafts store, and returned to our hosts’ house in PA by way of the Dingmans Ferry Bridge.

Sunday some of us set out again. But the birds stayed better hidden. After a short time on Old Mine Road, we drove up to High Point where we saw a Raven, Towhee, and Great Crested Flycatcher. Since we had the long drive ahead of us and rain was imminent, we then headed home.

                                                              High Point Monument

Following is a partial list of other birds sighted: Northern Rough-winged Swallow, White-breasted Nuthatch, American Redstart, Veery, Chimney Swift, Hooded Warbler, Northern Parula, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, and a Phoebe. The birds I haven’t listed are, for the most part, more common. The ones on this list are new to me. An advantage of being a newbie is that I’m always adding birds to my life list – with the help of the seasoned birders. One of my passengers is the group’s president. She’s not only expert at identifying birds, but she also is a professional nature photographer. While I’m trying to focus on a bird, she’s already snapped its picture.

We’re already planning our next over-night trip. By then, I’m hoping to be more accomplished at photographing birds. It’ll help if I can learn how to use my camera better.