After a slow start the first week in February things did pick up! In January I finished up with 55 species. (my Feb tics are in Bold) I had 3 new species at the beginning of the month the Wild Turkey and the Loggerhead Shrike..and the Hairy Woodpecker I almost forgot to list! I haven't done too well with taking photos for the challenge, but I sure have enjoyed the search. I have sought out the soggiest, swampiest, and wettest areas in my patch and it helped get my numbers up...also got some gnat bites...and soon it's going to be mosquitoes as we have standing water everywhere thanks to the wet winter we had.
I have been taking nature walks about every day...and that's because I need the exercise, and to clear my head of rust. Im about half way through the month...and I know that migration has already begun here in my area...it's not in full swing but it has started! Got the Cooper's Hawk he flew right across my path as I drove down the road, then 2 Great Egrets were spotted in one of the private wetlands where I have found a decent viewpoint from the highway, along with the Ring Neck Duck!! He is not real close to the edge so not a great photo...But I will take it. And he was there everyday since. That marked up 6 additions since Feb 1st, then another wetland that straddles a road got me some great birds and some really fine behavior.
I did not get a photo of him stay tuned to the video at the bottom to hear him....he was too quick for me. I pulled a photo out of my archives for the video...and Literally hundreds... no thousands of Common Grackles!
I also heard a chip call and on the other side of the road and found...
the Swamp Sparrow. He really blends in with the reeds.
The next species I found in my 5 MR was also a common bird but one I rarely see since Im in such a rural area and this bird tends to like more populated areas, but I found the House Sparrow! Got one really awful shot through the windshield of the car, since I was pulling out onto a highway when I spotted the bird.
I headed back over to the wetland on Memory Lane...parked, got out and started phishing. Didn't take but a moment to get 2 Blue Headed Vireo's chipped at me...one took off immediately and one let me get some not so clear shots of him UP so high in the tops of the big trees...
And at first I thought I had white eyed...and my photo is not too good, but when I finally got it up on the screen... I saw the little dark patch below the wing bar, and no yellow on face. And today passing by a private pond just down the road, a pair of Wood Duck drake and hen...love is in the air!
I've been trying like crazy to find a rock dove! Hope to see some around cattle but so far; nope...yesterday almost got the turkey's displaying...
Really hope I can ride by at just the right time...
down at the clear cut area there is a yellow eyed Eastern Towhee...so that's been fun to find, and he has a mate with him...she is very aloof so have not gotten a decent photo of her so I can study her up close.
if you enjoy videos, here is my morning at the Thoroughfare Branch.
Oops I missed an O in the video title spelling ...I will do a month wrap up at the end...hope to add several more species.
PEACE
Every day is a new Adventure.
