Every year offers a different set of experiences. In 2019, I saw so many lifers that I couldn’t imagine narrowing them down to a Top 10. 2020 stands in stark contrast to last year’s international adventures, and though I managed to make the most of this challenging reality I did not crack into the double digits for new birds observed. … Read More
The Season So Far: Fall 2020 Highlights
Each of the four seasons has something special to offer the birding world. I will always cherish the lively color and music of spring when birds return after months of absence. Winter brings the festive joy of Christmas Bird Counts and new year lists, while summer offers breeding bird surveys and plenty of free time for adventures. Even so, I … Read More
The Satisfaction of Discovery
The excitement of a rarity chase is one of my favorite aspects of birding, but it’s nothing compared to the thrill of finding something unusual yourself. For me, the feeling of accomplishment that comes with turning up even a minor regional oddity often rivals the triumphant joy of a successful twitch or long-distance trip. That finder’s high is a hell … Read More
Connecticut Warbler at Tuckahoe State Park
A few minutes before sunrise this morning, Alex and I made our way to the start of our first transect for the day – Tuckahoe State Park in Caroline County, Maryland. Alex and I are working together this fall, where we are conducting surveys for migrants throughout Delaware and Maryland. Anyway, Alex went ahead and started the bird survey, while … Read More
Connecticut Warbler! – PSU Fall Banding
Today was the kick-off to our 2013 fall banding season at Penn State University’s Big Hollow site, located within the 370 acre arboretum. We will be banding multiple mornings per week, usually Tuesday and Thursday, and the public is welcome to attend. Today’s highlight was a juvenile Connecticut Warbler, and I pretty much went nuts when I saw another bander … Read More
Connecticut Warbler at the Penn State Arboretum
This morning we had the distinct pleasure of capturing an adult female Connecticut Warbler while banding at the Arboretum at Penn State. I had just left to head into school when I got a call from Josh that there was a Connecticut in the nets, so I of course headed back to the banding site. Actually, I sprinted and ended … Read More