Who doesn’t love a Big Day? Any excuse to get out and count birds in the name of science is a worthwhile cause in my book. eBird has been orchestrating Global Big Day events each May since 2015, an international effort to record as many of the world’s species as possible within a 24 hour period. Last fall, the Cornell-based … Read More
DOS Local Patch Birding Series – Prime Hook NWR Headquarters
Yesterday afternoon, I led a small group of enthusiastic birders on a Delmarva Ornithological Society Local Patch Birding Series walk/trip at the Prime Hook NWR Headquarters with the help of Alex Lamoreaux. We met at 3:00 PM in the Visitor’s Center parking lot where we were greeted by many Laughing Gulls and Turkey and Black Vultures flying over. The purpose … Read More
An Unlikely Target- Cooper’s Hawks -VS- kingfishers
A few mornings ago I was birding my normal route along Somerset Lake in Somerset County, PA. Raptors were plentiful and I had a hard time counting and watching the shorebirds in front of me as the accipiters and a Peregrine Falcon kept stirring up the flocks. The Belted Kingfishers were all upset and vocalizing like mad, which I often … Read More
Kestrel and Kingfisher
Yesterday morning, I drove around some agricultural areas near Woodward, PA in search of winter raptors. I was rewarded with distant but still satisfying looks at five Rough-legged Hawks in addition to a few Red-tailed Hawks and American Kestrels. Running alongside one of the roads we drove was a small creek that hadn’t yet iced over. Perched on telephone wires … Read More
Bald Eagle State Park – Black Scoters
This morning, Drew Weber and I birded BESP in the rain/snow and were able to find some great birds including 6 Black Scoters, 2 Surf Scoters, and a lone Brant among a lot of other waterfowl. These were the first Black Scoters reported so far this fall in Centre County and our second Brant of the year. Weather conditions made … Read More