Thursday, June 18, 2009

Number 300

Yesterday the weather finally cooperated and three other birders from SVAS joined my for the hike up Stratton Mtn.

Highlight of day (which I did not figure out until I got back home) was Year Bird #300 - Yellow-bellied Flycatcher which called (sang?) clearly in several places and once gave us a good, although brief look.

Swainson's Thrush was singing in many locations along the trail. Also Hermit's Thrush. One in the group had a brief look at a fly-over Swainson's.

Bicknell's Thrush (which has been extensively studied on Stratton by VCE) was almost completely quiet - one brief song and a couple of calls. No sightings and no photos of BITH from yesterday. This one is from Mt. Snow when I was doing the VBBA in '07.

Many signs of breeding birds including family of recently fledged Brown Creepers - carrying of food by Ovenbird, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo -full throated singing by Ruby-crowned Kinglet and this Blackburnian Warbler - the only bird all day which gave me a half decent opportunity for a fairly decent photo. Otherwise the woods were deep and dark and/or the birds where hidden in foliage high overhead.

My columns will be posted on Saturday, but I'm off for a while. Hope to have some good birding to report when I return.

6 comments:

John B. said...

Congrats on reaching 300!

Shelley said...

Beautiful shots! Congratulations on reaching 300!

Kelly said...

...congratulations on #300! That's quite a milestone. The Blackburnian is as cute as can be. I love his little expression.

Chris said...

Beautiful shot Chris...
What bird 300 of the year!!! Wow, my species lsit does not even go to 300!! I'm stuck to 257 and hope to see some new ones in France during my holidays... I think my year list is around 125 among which 83 in Iceland...
Did you make any trip or is that at home???

Dawn Fine said...

Congrats on 300 Birds of the year!
Beautiful blackburnian!

We are planning a birdie get together in CT sometime the week of July 6
If you are interested give us a shout!

Kim said...

Congrats on number 300! I can't even imagine! Lovely shot of the Blackburnian Warbler.

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails