2023-05-10 Wednesday This morning I said goodbye to Point Pelee. The local folks I met during my visit said I was a week early for the warbler migration. Nearly everyone attending the point was excited about the first ever Willow Ptarmigan that showed up at Point Pelee. Clearly a ‘lost bird’, ptarmigan are thought to … Read more
While visiting with my friends in south Dayton, I found time to meet some of the local birds. Bruce and Loretta provide an array of bird feeders, so I sampled the birds that were attracted. But the best day I had was at a location not far away called the Cox Arboretum. The property spreads … Read more
I ended my visit to South Padre Island on Sunday. I used the day to tour the SPI Birding and Nature Center, and it yielded a few close encounters with the local herons. I noticed very little action with warblers during the morning’s visit, but that was no surprise. Recent warbler movement has been pretty … Read more
I spent the day soloing at the SPI Birding and Nature Center (BNC), and had a lovely time with the birds, and with the people there with me, enjoying the same. Javi Gonzalez is the resident biologist, or naturalist here and is always a joy to hang out with. The first bird that greeted me … Read more
I broke camp at High Island early and drove to the nearby Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge to explore. I’d visited the refuge previously in March 2021. I began my tour at the Skillern Tract, several miles east of the main refuge. At the terminus of the road is a parking area and trails to explore. … Read more
My last two days in Jackson Hole, weren’t very productive for megafauna, so my friend and fellow photographer Joe Ford indulged my propensity for chasing birds. After striking out on bears, we spent Wednesday at Oxbow Bend and Thursday at Jackson Lake Dam. Both locations rate high for birds, and are also potential places to … Read more
I had a great week exploring Grand Teton National Park with my friend Joe Ford. Joe has a special fondness for what I call “megafauna”, and I fell into his rhythm of chasing bears, yet keeping an eye out for moose, elk, fox, coyote, and any other wildlife that crossed our path. We didn’t get … Read more
Earlier in April, I visited the South Padre Island Birding & Nature Center and saw Green Herons sitting on eggs. I’ve been waiting for an opportunity to return and see how the next generation of Green Herons was coming along. This past Tuesday I took the time to revisit the SPIB&NC and was not disappointed. … Read more
I should have learned my lesson by now. This day reminded me when I’m trying to track a subject bouncing through the canopy, the effort is all-consuming. There’s not always time for identifying your subject. One example was a wet-feathered, immature male or female Indigo Bunting that I thought was a finch at the time … Read more
I’ve made it no secret. My mission is to experience as much of the vernal migration through south Texas as I can. South Padre Island is the best place I know to meet these birds. It lies at the crossroads of their trip from Mexico, Central and South America, before they scatter with the winds … Read more
