17 replies to this topic

[hahn23]

I went back to Upper Beaver Meadows because the weather was once again perfect this morning. My hope was to photograph all the great species of birds I saw on my 9/27 Monday morning bird hike. Well, I didn't get to photograph all of them, but I'm happy to have seen the rare Three-toed WP again, along with several other of my favs. This feels like "Indian Summer". I hope it lasts until November. (Except the fire risk will remain sky high until we get a blanket of snow.)


Three-toed Woodpecker, male.




Hairy Woodpecker, male




Townsend's Solitaire




Evening Grosbeaks, high in the trees, traveling as a flock.

[jflo]

Wow! Excellent pictures Richard ! I will have to take one of your guided birding tours next year...

[Bill 007]

We may try the same. It's obviously not just a matter of showing up at UBM. We tried that with zero success.

Bill
(we can call it "Give Bill the Bird"!!)

Edited by Bill 007, 28 September 2010 - 03:51 PM.

[soatley]

Bill 007, on 28 September 2010 - 03:51 PM, said:

We may try the same. It's obviously not just a matter of showing up at UBM. We tried that with zero success.

Bill
(we can call it "Give Bill the Bird"!!)

I think Scott would sign up for that. Look how well Larry's bird pictures are turning out after Richard's training.

I'm still looking into Richard's stream crossing class.

Sandy O

[hahn23]

soatley, on 28 September 2010 - 04:00 PM, said:

I think Scott would sign up for that. Look how well Larry's bird pictures are turning out after Richard's training.

I'm still looking into Richard's stream crossing class.

Sandy O

During my bird hikes, we cross two streams. The entire experience covers the development of several skills.... bird watching, photography tips and balancing/coordination during water crossings. I'm qualified for two of the three.

[Scrapinator]

Great shots!

[Larry]

hahn23, on 28 September 2010 - 04:08 PM, said:

During my bird hikes, we cross two streams. The entire experience covers the development of several skills.... bird watching, photography tips and balancing/coordination during water crossings. I'm qualified for two of the three.

I though you handled all three tasks fine when we went.


Like those WP shots especially the first one.

And yes---everyone should take one of Richard's bird tours. Heck--even the birds show up for them!

Larry

[hahn23]

Larry, on 28 September 2010 - 04:40 PM, said:

I though you handled all three tasks fine when we went.


Like those WP shots especially the first one.

And yes---everyone should take one of Richard's bird tours. Heck--even the birds show up for them!

Larry

Thanks, Larry. The birds are shy. One has to know where and when to go off trail. Not much can be observed from the well-traveled path. (Sort of a parable about life, in general.)

Two more bird hikes are left this year.... Oct. 4 and Oct. 11.... starting at 8 AM at UBM parking lot. 1.5 miles and 1.5 hours. Then, we will start them up again in April 2011. Stay tuned.

[ScottO]

hahn23, on 28 September 2010 - 04:49 PM, said:

Thanks, Larry. The birds are shy. One has to know where and when to go off trail. Not much can be observed from the well-traveled path. (Sort of a parable about life, in general.)

Two more bird hikes are left this year.... Oct. 4 and Oct. 11.... starting at 8 AM at UBM parking lot. 1.5 miles and 1.5 hours. Then, we will start them up again in April 2011. Stay tuned.

I'll have to sign up for one, if you're running them next August. Planning on being there the 3rd week of the month.

Scott

[Allie]

Richard, you take such wonderful bird pictures. I think the Townsend's Solitaire is such a sweet look bird. Do they have a pretty song?

[hahn23]

Allie, on 28 September 2010 - 09:26 PM, said:

Richard, you take such wonderful bird pictures. I think the Townsend's Solitaire is such a sweet look bird. Do they have a pretty song?

One of my favorite sounds in the forest. Song.... long and complex series of clear warbling notes. Call.... a high-pitched, ringing "tew."

[ScottO]

hahn23, on 28 September 2010 - 10:16 PM, said:

One of my favorite sounds in the forest. Song.... long and complex series of clear warbling notes. Call.... a high-pitched, ringing "tew."

Thanks for the link Richard. That's a pretty song, and a great birding reference.

[hahn23]

ScottO, on 29 September 2010 - 08:18 AM, said:

Thanks for the link Richard. That's a pretty song, and a great birding reference.

About reference sources for birding information:
My field guide book is "The SIBLEY Field Guide to Birds of Western North America".
My iphone apps include Sibley Birds, Audobon Birds and iBirdWest. I use Sibley the most, but Audobon has more encyclopedic-type information. All the apps have recordings of vocalizations.
When I'm near a computer with Internet access, the very best resource is http://www.allaboutb...d_Woodpecker/id , which is the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
It is interesting to have observed the recordings of vocalizations of some species in the eastern United States vary from the real life vocalizations heard out here in the West. Birds do indeed have regional "accents" and colloquial variations in dialogues. A good example is the Ruby-crowned Kinglet. The Cornell recording of song differs from our Rocky Mountain Kinglets, although definitely the same species.

[GLENNinPA]

Bill 007, on 28 September 2010 - 03:51 PM, said:

Bill
(we can call it "Give Bill the Bird"!!)

Just took care of that for you buddy. No need to thank me.



BTW- Nice photos. I must not look close enough for all of these birds..

[Allie]

Richard, thank you for the link. They do have a beautiful song.