Today was my first day with the new-to-me camera. After years of contemplation, I finally made the plunge and splurged. I began the day in Newburgh at the Waterfront Park looking for the previously reported, Orange-Crowned Warbler. There I met up with Matt Z and Kyle ? I spent over 2 hours walking up and down the path with my camera at the ready. I decided to be the sacrificial lamb and head out to bird somewhere else. My goal was to practice taking photos. Of course, within 30 minutes of my departure the bird was seen again.

I headed to Sullivan County and did some birding at the Bashakill. I ran into Scotty Baldinger while taking a photo of the falls. He lured me away with the promise of a possible eastern screech owl. I would have followed him for miles, but it was only down the road. We did not see the owl, but Scotty picked up the Rusty Blackbird foraging along the edge of the water. It took a while to get a decent photo that wasn’t obstructed by flying leaf litter.

While looking at an empty cavity sans owl, I found a lovely little Brown Creeper. I got lucky with the second photo… caught him as he was dropping down.

I ended my day at the Shawangunk Grasslands.