Tuesday, May 13, 2014

USA day 6: Warbler Bonanza & eBird

Today was spent with the company of our friends and partners at eBird / Cornell Lab of Ornithology. We met up early with Chris and Marshall and went off birding. First we checked a couple of migrant sites near Ithaca that were rather quiet. Then we moved on to Hammond Hill that was fantastic - at last I was able to get proper photos of warblers. Most species really behaved well today. Great place and lovely scenery.

Chestnut-sided Warbler - so pretty


Mourning Warbler - good bird!



Black-throated Blue Warbler - is he the prettiest of all?

Canada Warbler 

Blackburnian Warbler - female. Pity the male stayed high up in the canopy.

Magnolia Warbler


Myrtle Warbler

Hooded Warbler - slightly better views than last time

Lots of other good species around, including Northern Waterthrush, Purple Finch, Scarlet Tanager, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets, several Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Veery and more. Boom!

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - male


Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - female

Veery

Black-capped Chickadee 

Dark-eyed Junco

Habitat at Hammond Hill

After not enough birding we had to leave and go back to the lab for an intensive day of meetings. It was a very productive day that hopefully will lead to more cooperation with the Lab and with eBird. 

Difficult to stay focused during meetings with this view out of the window - Sapsucker Woods:


At lunchtime Jonathan and me gave a presentation to Lab staff - I think it was very good, and I was glad to meet John Fitzpatrick at last. 
Many thanks to Chris, Jessie and Marshall for organizing this visit and coordinating it, and to all eBird team for the great time we had together. 

2 comments:

  1. Nice pics of beautiful US warblers etc. I have visited the US a few times and caught up with a few of them. Looking fwd to following your blog. Martin. Www.blowmonkeybirding.blogspot.com

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  2. Superb photos and interesting write ups. Brings back good memories from the USA. You will be moving there soon!

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