Between a recent surgery followed by a nasty bug, I’ve been house bound for almost 2 weeks and was happy to be able to go out for a while today and enjoy the sunshine along with a few birds. Since today kicked off the Great Back Yard Bird Count, I decided to stay very local.…

This weekend I traveled to the Adirondacks to see winter finches and boreal birds with Joan Collins. On Saturday morning we headed to Keene and Keene Valley to find the Bohemian Waxwings that had been hanging around. We were not there long before we found a group of between 150-200 in a tree. The lighting…

On 1/12/23 I traveled to Puerto Rico to visit a friend. It was tricky trying to find the balance between my nonbirder friends and 18 endemic species on an island I’ve never been to before. The week prior to my departure I returned to the camera store to purchase a smaller lens; Canon 18-135. This…

On Saturday I started birding in Putnam County. I went to relocate the Northern Shrike I originally found on 12/29/22 but was unsuccessful. As I was leaving, I heard 2 Red-tailed Hawks screaming at each other which I thought was odd since I had seen a pair together earlier. After a few minutes I heard…

Yesterday I participated in the count on Anne Swaim’s team. We covered Lake Mahopac and the surrounding areas. In spite of unseasonably warm weather, we had to work hard to find birds. There was good DUCKAGE on Lake Mahopac! A raft of over 1000 Ring-necked ducks along with other RNDU’s found in the circle brought…

I woke up to the sound of crows squawking at a red tail; my first birds of the new year. Inspired by yesterday’s posts of numerous alcids I decided to drive to Jone’s Beach and see if any were still around. I started at the Coast Guard station. Hundreds of Brant, a lone oyster catcher…

December 30, 2022 The birding day started at the Shawangunk Grasslands in search of the Loggerhead Shrike that has been seen on and off for weeks. I was meeting Matt Z for some much-needed guidance on how to use my new camera. We did not see the shrike, but had excellent views of many Northern…

12/29/22 Today I decided to bird locally. I began the morning around Lake Carmel. There was a decent number of Mallards along with a domestic goose that has been present for over a year. While driving around the perimeter of the lake I found an immature bald eagle perched. Of course, at that moment I…

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…

Heading out today with my new camera. Let’s see what the world will show me.