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
Fork-tailed Flycatcher – Hadlyme, Connecticut
Even aside from their ridiculously long tails, the Fork-tailed Flycatcher is beautiful. This bird’s black cap and light gray mantle make it one of the most interesting Tyrannus flyatchers – one of those birds that has always made me pause while skimming through a field guide and admire it. I always felt as if the Fork-tailed Flycatcher was a mythical … Read More
Clay-colored Sparrow – Huntingdon County, PA
Dave and Trudy Kyler, two of Huntingdon County’s top birders, found a beautiful adult Clay-colored Sparrow yesterday morning at Old Crow Wetlands. My friends and I were busy with finals and other things, but we finally had some time to run down to Old Crow and search for it earlier today. After a few minutes of searching, Ian Gardner spotted … Read More
Montour Clay-colored Sparrow
This morning while doing a bird survey on a CREP (Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program) field, I happened across a Clay-colored Sparrow. Initially when I heard it, my mind leaped to the possibility of a Northern Mockingbird, but it was coming from the middle of a large field, not where I expect mockingbirds to be. I was able to quickly to … Read More