tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61186279638565562652024-02-18T22:32:51.147-08:00Deep in the Heart of .....aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118627963856556265.post-40195804043207204512013-08-16T19:59:00.001-07:002013-08-16T19:59:42.892-07:00Biggest Week ReduxIt's been a quiet birding summer. But I realize I never posted additional photos of our visit to Ohio for the Biggest Week in American Birding.<br />
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Rather than go on and on, I'll just post some of my favorite photographs from that week with limited commentary.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqxuwvAAtbgcK88hepO6lGu_ADhi_rEjp2UVOj4z2jaBWve5Zyh8ceWw-wAWBgZJow2nBla6MoZXV2pEj-JZeA1QOki-BCmuuhmcJCAHWKJ13AIZ8sqb2cGXdGt8V7fzefGIFtGDQVL1g/s1600/P1040777.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqxuwvAAtbgcK88hepO6lGu_ADhi_rEjp2UVOj4z2jaBWve5Zyh8ceWw-wAWBgZJow2nBla6MoZXV2pEj-JZeA1QOki-BCmuuhmcJCAHWKJ13AIZ8sqb2cGXdGt8V7fzefGIFtGDQVL1g/s320/P1040777.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great Blue Heron against Lake Erie</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Yr5fvssv03l3hgvu4BwWzt37zzBI29e9b2mEBI7cQmps8s0loBItQEwiYr1ITX6TZR9q-L2WlAMLFlRCGsrlio6RsiObyahd7AUEqwyi_QPERRwJIfCnPl_gVWPeWPvbrhnpRFhQMPs/s1600/P1040789.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Yr5fvssv03l3hgvu4BwWzt37zzBI29e9b2mEBI7cQmps8s0loBItQEwiYr1ITX6TZR9q-L2WlAMLFlRCGsrlio6RsiObyahd7AUEqwyi_QPERRwJIfCnPl_gVWPeWPvbrhnpRFhQMPs/s400/P1040789.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tundra Swan</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwzTBKE9-DUmKEBuO1oVUetLCNIpM-tb3dT2RReUWJmDpWBMxkROie57wbZ4GxZKDrui-9BV4PbWnXyF2TSOCNdgJbls57T2orhLh35Gx9i0kbSy96EkWDH8OYZv6gVn22Q8r2iqyUI1A/s1600/P1040790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwzTBKE9-DUmKEBuO1oVUetLCNIpM-tb3dT2RReUWJmDpWBMxkROie57wbZ4GxZKDrui-9BV4PbWnXyF2TSOCNdgJbls57T2orhLh35Gx9i0kbSy96EkWDH8OYZv6gVn22Q8r2iqyUI1A/s320/P1040790.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I believe this is a Northern Green Frog</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0wopX1ppxk_8_k6uXNhckRyiQsZMVvNgiipxvNH4VbECAVPOtNTETr2jSZtwbzTg2VoHnUk5F6urAyt9mmNekmelZ8rUV_GIOqENghaxqUAAsz4q4il6gOwkc1_nfxrhufSQOoXXE_bY/s1600/P1040795.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0wopX1ppxk_8_k6uXNhckRyiQsZMVvNgiipxvNH4VbECAVPOtNTETr2jSZtwbzTg2VoHnUk5F6urAyt9mmNekmelZ8rUV_GIOqENghaxqUAAsz4q4il6gOwkc1_nfxrhufSQOoXXE_bY/s320/P1040795.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Probably the best bird of the trip, a Long-eared Owl, which was a lifer for Avie and me.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv9bl_cqr7I0pM2Qr6tg5to4mhpWp5xPDba2g725943xSqF_z6DrHzWPjabjWhgq8fywWpiyNSwhMC_k-nsRo4MhMFrADV0Cj_GKmqWplhQrSLPQVVIzbuCUpolX9IFS-ZGsg_sGzbpJ8/s1600/P1040798.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv9bl_cqr7I0pM2Qr6tg5to4mhpWp5xPDba2g725943xSqF_z6DrHzWPjabjWhgq8fywWpiyNSwhMC_k-nsRo4MhMFrADV0Cj_GKmqWplhQrSLPQVVIzbuCUpolX9IFS-ZGsg_sGzbpJ8/s320/P1040798.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what happens five minutes after someone tweets there's a Long-eared Owl</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLxOq9Cpm4ukBA-H7mLOt-szwjjmWiXfsZPwcKjHcKT0IPiDbmkXBtk_KHgDXVdL_O5m80kpjg1OFw_v4QR3g1a9RMm0O3dFQhGypqndkCN0v32EgPQFwIlNgimdsU7EduES-dF7HYgwU/s1600/P1040804.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLxOq9Cpm4ukBA-H7mLOt-szwjjmWiXfsZPwcKjHcKT0IPiDbmkXBtk_KHgDXVdL_O5m80kpjg1OFw_v4QR3g1a9RMm0O3dFQhGypqndkCN0v32EgPQFwIlNgimdsU7EduES-dF7HYgwU/s320/P1040804.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Donald and Lillian Stokes and Kimberly and Kenn Kaufman</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSaBN4PkN7WHmn_Glbu-_QKLeLUeQJHI65aB_Lcamz2t8e7o_iligF21GTBWUJuQ1Y5B4QZfaTSkBs5iCQNoA__g8bb7O_JwFtqUN9ZxJIMy2nrnGPnuyfgFH4hoDIPgVMHB2CTmaXDE/s1600/P1040805.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSaBN4PkN7WHmn_Glbu-_QKLeLUeQJHI65aB_Lcamz2t8e7o_iligF21GTBWUJuQ1Y5B4QZfaTSkBs5iCQNoA__g8bb7O_JwFtqUN9ZxJIMy2nrnGPnuyfgFH4hoDIPgVMHB2CTmaXDE/s320/P1040805.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sharon "Birdchick" Stiteler</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrEvQYyJWppkhbpNbmgNTIi7vpIc6etA4KQm9Wm9Lj8_lLmMbRbeKvt1-uWhGVxA6RmyjXebzpEQSQeq_NokrHOBqGy0izbRGHJcd1p4pun_ZQB-xXIEYKE4SuAX-i9Q4_j2iud5ad1g4/s1600/P1040814.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrEvQYyJWppkhbpNbmgNTIi7vpIc6etA4KQm9Wm9Lj8_lLmMbRbeKvt1-uWhGVxA6RmyjXebzpEQSQeq_NokrHOBqGy0izbRGHJcd1p4pun_ZQB-xXIEYKE4SuAX-i9Q4_j2iud5ad1g4/s320/P1040814.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scarlet Tanager</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg76D9C-wgBmFU8o2nZBLqcAy3pvjKRtAreEpZomM1nHLpeDmW9bEgJloe2oeFHLO0GPzDdWwVfMG-5oSF_Rip9Mcs22hTY150YRERKQ2yGvwP9y6g4xzPgbCGoUOmlrnz5hiFg3lv9_C4/s1600/P1040738.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg76D9C-wgBmFU8o2nZBLqcAy3pvjKRtAreEpZomM1nHLpeDmW9bEgJloe2oeFHLO0GPzDdWwVfMG-5oSF_Rip9Mcs22hTY150YRERKQ2yGvwP9y6g4xzPgbCGoUOmlrnz5hiFg3lv9_C4/s320/P1040738.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How often can you get this awesome a shot of an American Woodcock?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmf905-fNvK1Cz-SuiV-iTiCinRKInucRSkoGprRhyphenhyphen8R_Ad3SNJvkQMRcGp5ZkCJ-cKOmdto9dGTY0G6DtJ0WA_b5-kGeYSiCNGuXe7MxkRLONGNqX0d19G2KgeO6b04soK_kPjODh1jU/s1600/P1040776.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmf905-fNvK1Cz-SuiV-iTiCinRKInucRSkoGprRhyphenhyphen8R_Ad3SNJvkQMRcGp5ZkCJ-cKOmdto9dGTY0G6DtJ0WA_b5-kGeYSiCNGuXe7MxkRLONGNqX0d19G2KgeO6b04soK_kPjODh1jU/s320/P1040776.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baltimore Oriole</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7FHW03L154GbZI_EiDGoIA5ttQp5Kao-cfhG5c3BmuazWLnk2rNDFnFk2go6LAzfS3-ZXF9aYj-9wzjGDGyzVWcfs2VadEJvd036Ud6UWNZQWoKCOyA-9tsd9A3qqg4vhfNEh9VdVZVY/s1600/P1040809.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7FHW03L154GbZI_EiDGoIA5ttQp5Kao-cfhG5c3BmuazWLnk2rNDFnFk2go6LAzfS3-ZXF9aYj-9wzjGDGyzVWcfs2VadEJvd036Ud6UWNZQWoKCOyA-9tsd9A3qqg4vhfNEh9VdVZVY/s320/P1040809.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Midday siesta</td></tr>
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Happy birding, everyone!aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118627963856556265.post-39036636171021221652013-05-17T14:37:00.001-07:002013-05-17T14:37:03.226-07:00The Biggest Week in American Birding–Part One:<p>Avie and I flew to Ohio on May 4. We went to visit his family on the bookend weekends. But the main focus of our trip was to attend five days of The Biggest Week in American Birding at Magee Marsh/Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge and environs. Though slow at times, our birding experience was exciting, excellent, and full of all sorts of surprises.</p> <p>Rather than giving a blow-by-blow description of our trip, I’m going to break it down a bit differently. I’m going to write about specific topics spurred by what we saw during our five days in the field.</p> <p>My first post will be about cryptic coloration, otherwise known as camouflage. It amazes me how animals, especially birds, can be right in front of your eyes and you don’t know it. To be honest, it’s a credit to excellent birders in the field that Avie and I were able to see many of these exciting creatures.</p> <p>First up, the runner-up for “bird of the week” during our time in the area: American Woodcock. There were two nesting near the parking lot, their nesting spots marked by yellow caution tape. This was so nobody would accidentally step on the nest. The following photos will illustrate this concept better than words:</p> <p>Can you see the bird on the nest in the following photo?</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-QkU4BU2c4jM/UZae_fE75BI/AAAAAAAAJqk/YjKzvK3OYHU/s1600-h/P1040710%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P1040710" border="0" alt="P1040710" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-C4bTwm4Xfs8/UZafAuziGzI/AAAAAAAAJqs/104QMC6QfNc/P1040710_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="772" height="772"></a></p> <p>Can you see her now?</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-fg7Qz-Q9aC0/UZafCvSv3II/AAAAAAAAJq0/IU7wcVotLLE/s1600-h/P1040709%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P1040709" border="0" alt="P1040709" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-7Pxn2Ss7Kyk/UZafEH1eC3I/AAAAAAAAJq8/nbtJazePdo4/P1040709_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="772" height="772"></a></p> <p>How about now?</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-0oxBtwVVO9w/UZafFDpb2JI/AAAAAAAAJrE/lJ50f5Tz5D0/s1600-h/P1040818%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P1040818" border="0" alt="P1040818" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-mRoYPWZ2jbU/UZafHneVeLI/AAAAAAAAJrM/U0SrLRoV9y8/P1040818_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="772" height="772"></a></p> <p>And, for good measure, here’s a photo of the nest with the four eggs in it. </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-amNJ3Sy2WXY/UZafJI9ziUI/AAAAAAAAJrU/ohl9YK44YQQ/s1600-h/P1040826%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P1040826" border="0" alt="P1040826" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-uZBstpTkwLI/UZafMoTAFmI/AAAAAAAAJrc/3YvB0h5ylG0/P1040826_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="772" height="772"></a></p> <p>Another ground nester is the Killdeer. Usually a noisy and showy bird, it changes its attitude completely when on its nest, usually a simple one on the ground and, often, in the most public of places (like our friends the Woodcocks). </p> <p>The following photos show, first, the Killdeer on the nest and then the nest with the eggs blending into its surroundings.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-KpSIyYGsfrU/UZafO4oKtdI/AAAAAAAAJrk/LgGiCCR0DIE/s1600-h/P1040746%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P1040746" border="0" alt="P1040746" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ytkAAvR1uYE/UZafRH_JDrI/AAAAAAAAJrs/iBzxUolTMLo/P1040746_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="770" height="772"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-OOwViV18KEs/UZafTDIPTSI/AAAAAAAAJr0/byiAfsXWNqw/s1600-h/P1040745%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P1040745" border="0" alt="P1040745" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-PQfDVLf3xuA/UZafVVNSanI/AAAAAAAAJr8/ErsX8rPvbJ4/P1040745_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="772" height="772"></a></p> <p>Next up, a couple of birds who pose as literal bumps on a log during the day: a Whip-poor-will and a Common Nighthawk.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-82qp645KTgU/UZafXv9CChI/AAAAAAAAJsE/sI8chKg7NkQ/s1600-h/P1040724%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P1040724" border="0" alt="P1040724" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ltjED_nN6b8/UZafZRI88nI/AAAAAAAAJsM/PkkKw91Yjrg/P1040724_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="772" height="772"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-xaLJoluhpsw/UZafbZpaKEI/AAAAAAAAJsU/7YYhGeyWJCw/s1600-h/P1040783%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P1040783" border="0" alt="P1040783" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-qE-GNJkzS-k/UZafheq8tEI/AAAAAAAAJsc/oPa-syxooFU/P1040783_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="774" height="772"></a></p> <p>Then there are the Owls (Great Horned and Eastern Screech). These two were quite tucked in. So was the little Great Horned Owlet in its nest cavity at the top of a snag.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-aHh5rGiaOlI/UZafipSaFdI/AAAAAAAAJsk/bM9Tcu7brUo/s1600-h/P1040788%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P1040788" border="0" alt="P1040788" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-6zIaaZcNxes/UZafj9FUW1I/AAAAAAAAJss/oNVSiaQghzU/P1040788_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="775" height="772"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-wHYILc36W84/UZafqnLbJlI/AAAAAAAAJs0/amm_uR5cFzo/s1600-h/P1040774%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P1040774" border="0" alt="P1040774" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-gcQSNwjjSKU/UZafs-LBsOI/AAAAAAAAJs8/Rpc0ypri0nI/P1040774_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="772" height="772"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-1gUwwhNLd9I/UZafzckl-_I/AAAAAAAAJtE/vkS33T6mopI/s1600-h/P1040779%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P1040779" border="0" alt="P1040779" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-avRmU1NxlXU/UZaf1mYHriI/AAAAAAAAJtM/9b11l4jqt-E/P1040779_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="772" height="772"></a></p> <p>What do the above photos teach us? If you’re looking for nocturnal owls during the daytime, look near the trunk of the trees, although Screech Owls will also tuck themselves into cavities and nest boxes. I know we used to find Saw-whet Owls this way when I lived up in Rochester, NY.</p> <p>A final bird, an acknowledged expert in the art of blending in, is an American Bittern. Usually they stand in the reeds with their bill pointed skyward – fitting into the profile of the flora surrounding it. However, this one was busy hunting while a large crowd of satisfied birders were able to watch it.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-L0k8Es9nW18/UZaf4c2mI5I/AAAAAAAAJtU/yGn1uO5SW4Q/s1600-h/P1040800%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P1040800" border="0" alt="P1040800" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-eVEWT43Ju70/UZaf6j6Ag6I/AAAAAAAAJtc/jZhMNb7xJZY/P1040800_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="772" height="772"></a></p> <p>Moving away from the feathered creatures, there are plenty of other animals that have managed to evolve both coloration and behavior allowing them to hide in almost plain sight. The first example is this rabbit, sitting as still as possible so as not to draw any attention.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-EzbJBBpOHYg/UZaitZ2ZIVI/AAAAAAAAJts/r3pgTTHyFgY/s1600-h/P1040760%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P1040760" border="0" alt="P1040760" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-SE44tikZ1v8/UZaium0pTTI/AAAAAAAAJt0/V5PjnQao5ws/P1040760_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="772" height="772"></a></p> <p>Upon our return to Cleveland, Avie and I went up to the Cleveland Lakeshore State Park. It was cold, damp, and windy, not making for the best birding conditions. But we did have a small adventure with a very young deer wandering around.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-iLrjnieiSLw/UZaivcs731I/AAAAAAAAJt8/_qyo5dFhexI/s1600-h/P1040827%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P1040827" border="0" alt="P1040827" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-lPZl1At7g5k/UZaiwReznTI/AAAAAAAAJuE/qyzSynzAPpI/P1040827_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="772" height="772"></a></p> <p>When it saw us, it lay down in the grass and stayed quite still. If we didn’t know it was there I doubt we would have noticed it.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-EBSIjZmwrKQ/UZaixee_PEI/AAAAAAAAJuM/LAXCufgto5s/s1600-h/P1040831%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P1040831" border="0" alt="P1040831" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ei0o-Y1sopE/UZaiym8NEaI/AAAAAAAAJuU/0jJjvBME2h8/P1040831_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="772" height="772"></a></p> <p>We walked away and heard it bleating for its mother. Eventually the bleating stopped, so we assume they found each other. But here’s one more photo of the gawky young’un.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-kerVNxFm4M0/UZaizoRCpcI/AAAAAAAAJuY/27P8GzmqZuE/s1600-h/P1040841%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P1040841" border="0" alt="P1040841" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-yMQbDetqfT4/UZai7SSOE4I/AAAAAAAAJug/5UBQClOpOgY/P1040841_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="770" height="772"></a></p> <p>By the way, all these photos were taken using the zoom on my camera. I do not approach wildlife, giving animals the distance they need to feel comfortable. <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:e2bd14ee-d307-4fe8-b9b0-46a59baab469" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/birding" rel="tag">birding</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/birdwatching" rel="tag">birdwatching</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/birds" rel="tag">birds</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Magee+Marsh" rel="tag">Magee Marsh</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Biggest+Week+in+American+Birding" rel="tag">Biggest Week in American Birding</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/travel" rel="tag">travel</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Ohio" rel="tag">Ohio</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Toledo" rel="tag">Toledo</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Ottawa+National+Wildlife+Refuge" rel="tag">Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/camouflage" rel="tag">camouflage</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/cryptic+coloration" rel="tag">cryptic coloration</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/hiding" rel="tag">hiding</a></div></p> aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118627963856556265.post-23639005209273295632013-05-13T20:25:00.000-07:002013-05-13T20:30:18.415-07:00Birding Big Bend in Late April<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Avie and I have wanted to revisit Big Bend National Park since the Southwest Boogie we took a few years ago. This year it seemed like we had the time and, with our newer Toyota Highlander, the clearance for a visit which would allow us access without endangering our car or our heads. </div>
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We invited our friend Mark along, made reservations at the Big Bend Resort and Adventures in nearby Terlingua (the Chisos Lodge in the park was booked up), and headed off to Big Bend on Friday morning, arriving in the early afternoon.</div>
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Driving into the park we were greeted by a desert in bloom. There were flowers of all different colors at all different heights. Quite a change from the last time we were there.</div>
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I had used A Field Guide to Birds of the Big Bend by Roland Wauer as a directional beacon for this enormous park. It was a good guide to the optimal birding spots. This was especially important because our time was short, amounting to only two days (an afternoon, a full day, and a morning).</div>
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We spent most of our birding time around the Rio Grande Village, nearby Daniels' Ranch, up around the Chisos Mountain Lodge, Cottonwood Campground, and Sam Nail Ranch. The first afternoon we made the mistake of taking the "Nature Trail" by the Rio Grande Village. I really should have known better. However, even though we saw few birds, there were still interesting things to be seen.</div>
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The first was a Ground Squirrel busily digging its burrow right off the trail.</div>
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The second was a couple of unattended "shops" set up along the trail. They consisted of a few craft items, a small sign with prices on it, and a jar for the money. There are signs in the park warning you it's illegal to purchase items from vendors who illegally cross over to the U.S. side from Mexico. I imagine this is the vendors' way around the system. You aren't actually purchasing FROM them, since they aren't around. You're simply putting money into a jar in exchange for some found items.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmExL_40tYFz5NUO2h4Hg3Ng0dIGFPL7xefwh5xSmeTITKuTS2kUF-PBttw_cEbZdnfpEiguEcTEzJDwHmBaHSMO2CzjrbBTfQbiJwtM0mZQtM3UyNcgcwH4teNjsUQw-99xCOMLlCC5A/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmExL_40tYFz5NUO2h4Hg3Ng0dIGFPL7xefwh5xSmeTITKuTS2kUF-PBttw_cEbZdnfpEiguEcTEzJDwHmBaHSMO2CzjrbBTfQbiJwtM0mZQtM3UyNcgcwH4teNjsUQw-99xCOMLlCC5A/s640/015.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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At the Daniels' Ranch area we were forced to contend with a large number of sparrows in the grass. We forged ahead, naming as many as we could and taking photos (albeit not very good ones) of others, which we later worked on over lunch or dinner. I think we got most of them and they're in the trip list at the end of this post.<br />
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Of course, there were many birds which were much easier to identify. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXwKkpRenLXqv6Oj201fWllOiFgFrm2drry4GC6JFZw8JMjJkupquhyphenhyphenD9602hUxXEuBUjKcmADBvLdIgp63qU2SHgKzmZ0zmfBWn_rlNv6lbYkSnUp9U_JesV8uVvKBDZuJNnsM3YgH7Q/s1600/023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXwKkpRenLXqv6Oj201fWllOiFgFrm2drry4GC6JFZw8JMjJkupquhyphenhyphenD9602hUxXEuBUjKcmADBvLdIgp63qU2SHgKzmZ0zmfBWn_rlNv6lbYkSnUp9U_JesV8uVvKBDZuJNnsM3YgH7Q/s640/023.JPG" width="638" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greater Roadrunner</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8IqTwP5kmTSn4yvdr395bbbHoO9oios6SdSjSmrUsvYIOgOYdvmvISrDl2Ag6aYJneOC639s8XSftZaOTP8No6Zm_EBNWFq4qb9UzfaP5dHhyphenhyphenO_2Hf76m6h-NotTPiigFHH47FFt510c/s1600/085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8IqTwP5kmTSn4yvdr395bbbHoO9oios6SdSjSmrUsvYIOgOYdvmvISrDl2Ag6aYJneOC639s8XSftZaOTP8No6Zm_EBNWFq4qb9UzfaP5dHhyphenhyphenO_2Hf76m6h-NotTPiigFHH47FFt510c/s640/085.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Female Vermilion Flycatcher on Nest</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLWtEPbs7f7guFr-DOjL2SJ6na2DjtFCUnzWqzvN8NaS2dGLNNOVP1tRyWHUZ3sSrGhMTp0LLOQ7ji3bjao6q7RJGLrq6ffAPceU0OwpL4oXQ9HZQ97uEw84ObbzCDOqKtYEBizPjeiU/s1600/090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLWtEPbs7f7guFr-DOjL2SJ6na2DjtFCUnzWqzvN8NaS2dGLNNOVP1tRyWHUZ3sSrGhMTp0LLOQ7ji3bjao6q7RJGLrq6ffAPceU0OwpL4oXQ9HZQ97uEw84ObbzCDOqKtYEBizPjeiU/s640/090.JPG" width="638" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gray Hawk</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt_4gRxHJkg7OyM5hjqzGFZyTQjcTAUKnJ1V_8VwpbSKdjJv8Q9CjhMC22Cp-zgovSlSWONI5olHNeZvXl9ZZ8MPUvhoaQiUKY3XXRGouDq4qf0bPz_qcZXF-yjEkPzym6KCixQarzOu4/s1600/096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="638" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt_4gRxHJkg7OyM5hjqzGFZyTQjcTAUKnJ1V_8VwpbSKdjJv8Q9CjhMC22Cp-zgovSlSWONI5olHNeZvXl9ZZ8MPUvhoaQiUKY3XXRGouDq4qf0bPz_qcZXF-yjEkPzym6KCixQarzOu4/s640/096.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cactus Wren (above) and Lark Bunting (lower right)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQX3Y__Ts3MoP7DRYJyPx3fia6kNNCwH7FYS5cO1DyUSJqdGT6WkZhQS5WRqvkKWL_aUN7qIFQUd8whme8aqtq8AvX7p-dGUUc9Rg0HdoA8d4hDVLPO2BaSOmjxWQCl00vjWCs6azJlTs/s1600/131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQX3Y__Ts3MoP7DRYJyPx3fia6kNNCwH7FYS5cO1DyUSJqdGT6WkZhQS5WRqvkKWL_aUN7qIFQUd8whme8aqtq8AvX7p-dGUUc9Rg0HdoA8d4hDVLPO2BaSOmjxWQCl00vjWCs6azJlTs/s640/131.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vermilion Flycatcher</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY2XP9q7e7jguaYMcEydADqcxmPR4ivcGAq4nIGcetrbhXFKbB1gL1afckC-elYNCBlMu5CgX-x1q6t4xbaEbmV6ssAEU3hgNQejVkvdxP4_LyXCNbly2fzsuRQaVOlNzIcn0IZrECrao/s1600/134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="638" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY2XP9q7e7jguaYMcEydADqcxmPR4ivcGAq4nIGcetrbhXFKbB1gL1afckC-elYNCBlMu5CgX-x1q6t4xbaEbmV6ssAEU3hgNQejVkvdxP4_LyXCNbly2fzsuRQaVOlNzIcn0IZrECrao/s640/134.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Golden-fronted Woodpecker</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxWW0iSncbuS7bnsdRtG4uLefL0r4iXBBuy2i9d3LBkEPXH0cIiPtgJU-IPM3lmszf3DEWc9jXCAb_PqnvfjB3fQYV2JCDS4v_2I5jDBQOyNSYQvjRBfFYEW0YAni9PK5LBt1pAqd7L6o/s1600/106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxWW0iSncbuS7bnsdRtG4uLefL0r4iXBBuy2i9d3LBkEPXH0cIiPtgJU-IPM3lmszf3DEWc9jXCAb_PqnvfjB3fQYV2JCDS4v_2I5jDBQOyNSYQvjRBfFYEW0YAni9PK5LBt1pAqd7L6o/s640/106.JPG" width="638" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Say's Phoebe Nest by Chisos Mt. Lodge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTvm5RFR1h3IfeO8ExeKbKmBPl62I29Rojc0TD7fw5A3_hDleJDL5C1HugHgZPMFkXdE_6u9q72T3XfYr0hE0oNmErD8Alx2dJdLgKxsD4lN7ev3QGxXeemUZhTaJmVQlgXOML9tzTwiw/s1600/147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTvm5RFR1h3IfeO8ExeKbKmBPl62I29Rojc0TD7fw5A3_hDleJDL5C1HugHgZPMFkXdE_6u9q72T3XfYr0hE0oNmErD8Alx2dJdLgKxsD4lN7ev3QGxXeemUZhTaJmVQlgXOML9tzTwiw/s640/147.JPG" width="636" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wilson's Warbler</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Here's a photo of Avie and Mark. We must have just seen a good bird because they're looking awfully happy!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7CF0sfZKEQuXamJSzyVSIrx_p6OsEEkPs8xrJPA0-1K3bwssOIzPGMwEFfvQPU5UnAa1MM5z3y4iC1uyRKxCCRZQ8v4DDlihjOs5ACFSAi7lJhVDcazOFLZCxZ1bY6JXj9SScdLpVyu0/s1600/104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7CF0sfZKEQuXamJSzyVSIrx_p6OsEEkPs8xrJPA0-1K3bwssOIzPGMwEFfvQPU5UnAa1MM5z3y4iC1uyRKxCCRZQ8v4DDlihjOs5ACFSAi7lJhVDcazOFLZCxZ1bY6JXj9SScdLpVyu0/s400/104.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Below is a photo of a Cactus Wren's nest up by the Chisos Mt. Lodge. They're a rather messy affair. However, they must serve their purpose since we saw several of the Wrens around the park.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb6vMW-sK8agaGbPTK-gZ3P0Lm0BgbxUncuBXjQGVlJNvJY4L04Yb9ysSlzaVv1PmmtPiGmY6sXlCotgp1-E3RZmEUUfuWqoyqMKKS_PtgsmXOAJP9_5FPyIGem9msepXf71CEq-J6l0k/s1600/107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb6vMW-sK8agaGbPTK-gZ3P0Lm0BgbxUncuBXjQGVlJNvJY4L04Yb9ysSlzaVv1PmmtPiGmY6sXlCotgp1-E3RZmEUUfuWqoyqMKKS_PtgsmXOAJP9_5FPyIGem9msepXf71CEq-J6l0k/s640/107.JPG" width="638" /></a></div>
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Of all the blooms in the desert, I think my favorite were the flowers on the Ocotillos. They're a brilliant orange-red and they tower above the rest of the plants, swaying in the wind.<br />
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Our best stop of the trip was at the Sam Nail Ranch, where there's a watermill supplying a water drip to the birds. Water in the desert (or anywhere, for that matter) is always a draw for birds. We had heard the birding there was quite active and there was at least one Varied Bunting there.<br />
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The first time we stopped up there a birding tour group had just seen the Bunting and, rather than leave the area quietly and celebrate once they were out of range, they were all giving high fives, sharing their photos, and talking loudly. Needless to say, we saw no birds that particular time.<br />
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We returned the next day. It was much quieter and the birds were active. In addition to great looks at Varied Bunting, and we think there were two, we also saw Green-tailed Towhee. Two lifers in an hour isn't too shabby.<br />
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Here we are after that successful stop.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2bSifBKBxwpcGHnsB5wYM-tZ50MAAWJnz2QDy37i4S4tcOZgwwtSwzaDcwpkuaZbCjtA4jz1_kXcVUBdZix29LaJvHdTn5-u-NcIG-hTzvS7Fqyicab67t9GBq-sYOX41pCbJGYUn-2E/s1600/112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2bSifBKBxwpcGHnsB5wYM-tZ50MAAWJnz2QDy37i4S4tcOZgwwtSwzaDcwpkuaZbCjtA4jz1_kXcVUBdZix29LaJvHdTn5-u-NcIG-hTzvS7Fqyicab67t9GBq-sYOX41pCbJGYUn-2E/s400/112.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Saturday night we went into Terlingua Ghost Town for dinner at the Starlight Restaurant and Theatre. On the way we stopped at the old cemetery. Many of the people there had died during the influenza epidemic during 1919-1920's.<br />
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The restaurant was crowded with locals and tourists. The food was quite good and the band was great.<br />
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Now for a few filler photos of some interesting and/or beautiful things I was able to photograph.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz5l3pvsLaTcF60xC6annV8sBV_YWv_Ht3DjqDXADSHHsVYVOlx77Kn8257BEg90SHVQJOFPio8GunFVdFxVZTefamX94s0auMKS1UCo33I2HFbRdWG6gNCK_9Kscw3cZV8TOI_Ly7m9w/s1600/140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz5l3pvsLaTcF60xC6annV8sBV_YWv_Ht3DjqDXADSHHsVYVOlx77Kn8257BEg90SHVQJOFPio8GunFVdFxVZTefamX94s0auMKS1UCo33I2HFbRdWG6gNCK_9Kscw3cZV8TOI_Ly7m9w/s400/140.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What's left of the front end of a Scorpion</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJfsyKeFT65yGXDZtDC44k6RSPSdpCydid6f8xVnRAixKCpsWyqzjMVhZLtaCXTgC1sJv14TWzGEJpFHkNshOZdOoSMXTVSQ0XCe7RU8jgnxqbYcQllq3GkH0wxWGi5r8kGu9wdCYhCFs/s1600/153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJfsyKeFT65yGXDZtDC44k6RSPSdpCydid6f8xVnRAixKCpsWyqzjMVhZLtaCXTgC1sJv14TWzGEJpFHkNshOZdOoSMXTVSQ0XCe7RU8jgnxqbYcQllq3GkH0wxWGi5r8kGu9wdCYhCFs/s400/153.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unidentified desert blooms</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cholla in bloom</td></tr>
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If you want to bird Big Bend (and we WILL be back), I do have some important advice to offer.<br />
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<ul>
<li>Always be aware of how much gasoline you have in your tank. Distances in the park are great and the availability of gasoline is sparse.</li>
<li>Carry more water than you think you'll need and drink it. You're sweating in the desert, but it's evaporating before you feel it. It's very easy to become dehydrated.</li>
<li>Don't count on your cell phone. We had little to no reception in the park and spotty reception elsewhere.</li>
<li>Sunscreen! Even better, cover up with long sleeves, light pants, and a hat.</li>
<li>Bring layers. The desert might be hot, but up in the mountains it can be quite cool.</li>
</ul>
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Now I leave you with something outside Big Bend. This is a photo of part of a Prairie Dog town just outside Marathon, TX. If you're driving out of Big Bend north, it's on the right side of the road. <br />
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And now, The List:<br />
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<a name='more'></a><br />
Scaled Quail<br />
Pied-billed Grebe<br />
Turkey Vulture<br />
Mississippi Kite<br />
Cooper's Hawk<br />
Common Black-Hawk<br />
Gray Hawk<br />
Swainson's Hawk<br />
Zone-tailed Hawk<br />
Red-tailed Hawk<br />
Eurasian Collared-Dove<br />
Inca Dove<br />
Greater Roadrunner<br />
Nighthawk sp.<br />
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker<br />
Golden-fronted Woodpecker<br />
Ladder-backed Woodpecker<br />
Western Wood-Pewee<br />
Say's Phoebe<br />
Vermilion Flycatcher<br />
Ash-throated Flycatcher<br />
Western Kingbird<br />
Bell's Vireo<br />
Common Raven<br />
Northern Rough-winged Swallow<br />
Verdin<br />
Bushtit<br />
Cactus Wren<br />
Ruby-crowned Kinglet<br />
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher<br />
American Robin<br />
Curve-billed Thrasher<br />
Crissal Thrasher<br />
Northern Parula<br />
Black-and-white Warbler<br />
American Redstart<br />
Wilson's Warbler<br />
Yellow-breasted Chat<br />
Summer Tanager<br />
Green-tailed Towhee<br />
Canyon Towhee<br />
Black-chinned Sparrow<br />
Black-throated Sparrow<br />
Pyrrhuloxia<br />
Varied Bunting<br />
Painted Bunting<br />
Orchard Oriole<br />
Bullock's Orioleaprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118627963856556265.post-63031631598360686132013-03-16T08:05:00.000-07:002013-03-16T08:06:43.582-07:00Burrowing Owls -- Ya Gotta Love Them!While visiting my daughter in South Florida last week I took two opportunities to visit the Burrowing Owls at <a href="http://www.broward.org/Parks/BrianPiccoloPark/Pages/Default.aspx" target="_blank">Brian Piccolo Park</a> not just once, but twice.<br />
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I think I've already posted about what a great site this park is for these adorable little creatures and this time proved no different.<br />
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The first day I dragged her friend Roy with me. Alana (my daughter) was busy and he wasn't. I don't think he expected finding and viewing the owls to be so easy. You simply look for the cordoned off areas. Most of them are right next to parking lots and sports fields. A few days later it was Alana's turn.<br />
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Both days (unlike the last time I went with Avi) most of the Owls were out in the open, sitting by their burrows. There was even a pair, making me wonder about possible owlets.<br />
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A nice surprise was a couple of Common Yellowthroats hanging around the garden area in front of my daughters condos. I wondered if they were just passing through on migration. But I saw them every day I was there.<br />
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We also had a little bit of excitement during the last day of my visit. A boat on the other side of the intracoastal had fallen off its raised mooring and sank. We watched while the Fire Rescue, Hollywood Water Police, and Florida Fish and Wildlife officials all came. I won't be there to see how that story works out. Hopefully Alana can fill me in.<br />
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Of course, the cuteness of the Owls trumped all; so I leave you with a few more shots of these little birds.<br />
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<br />aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118627963856556265.post-91291421500959572632013-02-18T07:30:00.000-08:002013-02-18T07:32:17.008-08:00Snowy Owl Mug: ResultsRemember I spoke about making a mug using a Snowy Owl's face? Just thought I'd share the results. Incidentally, the mug sold quickly, so I see myself making more in the near future.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqpqX68HBqv72U1X0YM_Yexqjy29_ET-hZ0V7nPC7XI-t03HA5f38Fic2BM_HXOR7oMEYiksRkzbkDKSWSNnqNMHDeWU4Zp6cCDIf1ZNgeOiigC7guZBatmIIAAYfT3ZDS9JCNSI7XXhY/s1600/P1030094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqpqX68HBqv72U1X0YM_Yexqjy29_ET-hZ0V7nPC7XI-t03HA5f38Fic2BM_HXOR7oMEYiksRkzbkDKSWSNnqNMHDeWU4Zp6cCDIf1ZNgeOiigC7guZBatmIIAAYfT3ZDS9JCNSI7XXhY/s640/P1030094.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Also, here's a shameless plug for my online shop, which always has several bird mugs in addition to a lot of Judaica: <a href="http://agru.etsy.com/">http://agru.etsy.com</a>aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118627963856556265.post-84497769836410925622013-02-05T15:34:00.000-08:002013-03-03T19:27:59.242-08:00Banding Birds in SeattleAs you know from the previous post, I was in Seattle to visit my son. However, he had tickets for Book of Mormon in Portland, so would be out of town for a couple of days.<br />
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Being the best son I have (also the only one), he hooked me up with Emily Runnells, and ornithology major at U. Washington, and a volunteer bander with the <span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">Puget Sound Bird Observatory. She picked me up early and we drove out to the Shoreline area in Seattle.</span></span><br />
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<span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">It turns out the banding station is at the head bander's house. Four mist nets were stretched out in her backyard and side yard. Since it was cold out, volunteers were going back to take the birds from the nets every ten minutes.</span></span><br />
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Birds were "held" in small cotton sacks and hung on a line in the order in which they had been caught. The team tried to process birds quickly, since they could become hypothermic if exposed to the cold too long without food or movement. <br />
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However, there was a heat lamp and a warming box in case the birds were less than responsive after being banded and processed. I saw two or three birds placed back in their little bags and put in the heating box. After a few minutes you could see their recovery, as they quickly flew off when released.<br />
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The first part of processing a bird is the banding. There are several different-sized bands to fit different leg diameters. The idea is to have the band snug enough to stay on and not irritate the bird, but not so snug that it would cause friction or constriction. Each band has a unique identification number which goes into a national database, in case the bird is recaptured or found after it has died.</div>
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Once the band is on (in case it escapes before the rest of the data can be recorded), the bird is processed by collecting a variety of data. Below, split between two photos) is the data collection sheet. There is one sheet for each size band, which usually groups the same species of birds on that sheet as well.<br />
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I helped record the data, which became challenging when two or three banders were giving me their birds' information at the same time.<br />
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In the above photo, Cathy is blowing on a Dark-eyed Junco's breast feathers to reveal the skin underneath and estimate how much fat the bird has. At the same time she can check it for any parasites.<br />
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Below, the Junco reveals some wear in its wing feathers. The second photo shows how the wing <i>should </i>look. Can you tell the difference?<br />
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It's also nice to have a close look at the markings on its tail feathers! <br />
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Another measurement is the wing chord, the length of the longest primary feather. Here a Pine Siskin is being measured.</div>
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As a "thank you" for helping, I got to release a Dark-eyed Junco.<br />
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One of the two "best" birds of the day was a Townsend's Warbler. This would have been a life bird for me. However, Avie and I saw one several years ago in Anzalduas Park in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Nevertheless, she is a beautiful bird and we all turned into paparazzi, snapping plenty of photos before she was released. <br />
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A Spotted Towhee was the largest bird we netted. Here's a great look at the "spots". <br />
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But, by far, the handsomest bird of the day was this textbook-perfect Red-breasted Nuthatch. The cameras were snapping away with him.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLfDWfwXdeo2qeUA6GSuxe5DsSZxApDIz_P9SOjPsnn7XCAPuqriHcI7TtLLCOg4sph0z7W53o5XkUCESRCIvRxDsbLpmCyg_fjFd1KTOxTXRI1l9g1V120zKTZ83jyANTuecJym2KMjQ/s1600/P1030476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLfDWfwXdeo2qeUA6GSuxe5DsSZxApDIz_P9SOjPsnn7XCAPuqriHcI7TtLLCOg4sph0z7W53o5XkUCESRCIvRxDsbLpmCyg_fjFd1KTOxTXRI1l9g1V120zKTZ83jyANTuecJym2KMjQ/s640/P1030476.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You have to love the detailing on the tail feathers here!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVp_-74jgIuBKkR-7KNP_K9mAfu-7NVPu-vfE9xj23L-pmO9T6EfROFOMaaiOHx9lKpkzq_abA-DPbR_SIro14O9txjtZKWC39Yt7PyC3nTIuQzWNNRsoBCT9Ckk_8nzYtYsghz63utg0/s1600/P1030479.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVp_-74jgIuBKkR-7KNP_K9mAfu-7NVPu-vfE9xj23L-pmO9T6EfROFOMaaiOHx9lKpkzq_abA-DPbR_SIro14O9txjtZKWC39Yt7PyC3nTIuQzWNNRsoBCT9Ckk_8nzYtYsghz63utg0/s640/P1030479.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think all birds look like "Angry Birds" when photographed face on.</td></tr>
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So, a big THANK YOU to my son Dan, for arranging my outing, to Emily, for being my guide and chauffeur, and to lead bander Cathy, for allowing me to join them.<br />
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aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118627963856556265.post-82914561744596288532013-01-12T17:16:00.000-08:002013-01-12T17:35:12.612-08:00Some Time in Seattle, Skagit/Samish FlatsIn spite of doom and gloom weather predictions on the part of my son, I decided to pay him a visit between xmas and the week after New Year's, splitting my time among him, coffee in the great Seattle coffee shops and him, and some quality winter birding with him.<br />
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As you can see from the photo below, rather than doom and gloom, the weather, for the most part, was sunny and clear, albeit rather cold.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLK2z-l2lXuD-Tb2hUlxNF-P_caNFP5-6UFSjYBg81Tl3dC1rJjLtlXFJq43BE5AQbzLztdeIaK9CNZi7gjftM24uXor1KXwdNwJd5rb8CkVZiiYWUhxd1O8LluU2IAi-UtEie_SPLB_g/s1600/P1030340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLK2z-l2lXuD-Tb2hUlxNF-P_caNFP5-6UFSjYBg81Tl3dC1rJjLtlXFJq43BE5AQbzLztdeIaK9CNZi7gjftM24uXor1KXwdNwJd5rb8CkVZiiYWUhxd1O8LluU2IAi-UtEie_SPLB_g/s640/P1030340.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mt. Ranier from the air, as I flew into Seattle</td></tr>
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Our first stop, literally, was in Ballard (an area in Seattle proper). I had been reading ongoing reports of Snowy Owls there.<br />
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Dan asked, "How are we going to find them?"<br />
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"We're looking for a large group of people with binoculars, looking up," I answered.<br />
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Sure enough, within a couple of minutes, we found the group and one of the two reported Snowy Owls.<br />
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After a day to get situated, we drove out to Skagit and Samish Flats, an area recommended to me by Bob Doe, a San Antonio birder. The flats are about a 40 minute drive from Seattle and consist of mostly farmland. We were on the hunt for Swans, Geese, and Raptors.<br />
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Along the way I snapped a photo of a scene Dan (my son) refers to as "the curtain". I'm sure you can see why.<br />
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Our guide was the Birder's Guide to Washington, by Opperman. We'd used this guide before with great success.<br />
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Our first stop was an area by the water. It was hunting season and I think we were the only people parking there without camouflage and hunting gear. Shots were being fired nearby, so we remained fairly close to the parking lot, not wearing any flame orange.<br />
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Our first birds of the day were a Bald Eagle and some lovely Oregon race Dark-eyed Juncos. As the day went on and we drove around the farmland, we ticked both Tundra and Trumpeter Swans (the latter being a life bird for me), Brant, Snow Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose, and Great Blue Heron.<br />
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Our first raptor of the day was a Peregrine Falcon, posing nicely in a tree.<br />
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In between birds, we enjoyed the changing scenery and picturesque scenes around us.<br />
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We also enjoyed the variety and frequency of raptors in the area, including the usual Bald Eagle and the not-so-usual for me Rough-legged Hawk. What on earth would we birders do without overhead electric and telephone lines?<br />
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Probably the highlight of my day were the Short-eared Owls flying around in two different areas. We were even able to watch a pair in bonding flight, flying together, touching talons, and wheeling apart. I was able to get an accidentally wonderful shot of one of the owls taking flight after eating some prey.<br />
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The birding on the Flats was superb. The only problem was the brevity of Seattle's winter days. By 3:30 p.m. it was already beginning to get a bit dark. I fully intend to return to Seattle next winter to get out to this spot again. I need a Gyrfalcon and a Northern Goshawk. Perhaps next time I'll get lucky and add one or both of them to my life list.<br />
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Before giving you the day list, I leave you with my favorite photo of the day.<br />
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The list:</div>
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Trumpeter Swan</div>
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Tundra Swan</div>
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Brant</div>
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Greater White-fronted Goose</div>
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Lesser Scaup</div>
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Surf Scoter</div>
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Bufflehead</div>
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Common Merganser</div>
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Northern Harrier</div>
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Red-tailed Hawk</div>
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Rough-legged Hawk</div>
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Bald Eagle</div>
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American Kestrel </div>
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Peregrine Falcon</div>
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Short-eared Owl</div>
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Snowy Owl</div>
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Northern Flicker</div>
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Hutton's Vireo</div>
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Red-breasted Nuthatch</div>
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American Robin</div>
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Lincoln's Sparrow</div>
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Brewer's Blackbird </div>
<br />aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118627963856556265.post-6372361740940724142012-12-24T14:57:00.005-08:002012-12-24T14:58:38.498-08:00Avenue A - Dec. 24, 2102It was too perfect a day to just sit around, so we decided to take a morning birding walk along River Road and Avenue A here in San Antonio.<br />
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The area was the birdiest it's been in recent memory, giving us 27 species of birds. They were all in pockets of mixed flocks, and mostly where there was an abundance of berries and seed grasses.<br />
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I think our favorite birds of the day were a pair of Red-breasted Nuthatches foraging near each other. There seems to be a larger number of these in the area this winter and I'm enjoying every encounter.<br />
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Also delightful was seeing a White-eyed Vireo and a Blue-headed Vireo. They're both very pretty birds and it's always a treat to see the former. <br />
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I took a few photographs by the levee area and am posting them below, followed by the day's list. (I know I took some photos of a Great Egret, but they seem to have disappeared sigh!) Enjoy!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXRmfqoaLa0twlzsQGdcQkQWzmGG_87Z-LrXDnTaWR3aDNjNMSaNVBcc-la4TUoBsJqecX7eGEKmJTLrTxKfGkqjA4y1PUhz1jkgQjR3liZg8McXTpI3FKSwA9udnUcxyu1LWlV7VbM0c/s1600/P1030304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXRmfqoaLa0twlzsQGdcQkQWzmGG_87Z-LrXDnTaWR3aDNjNMSaNVBcc-la4TUoBsJqecX7eGEKmJTLrTxKfGkqjA4y1PUhz1jkgQjR3liZg8McXTpI3FKSwA9udnUcxyu1LWlV7VbM0c/s640/P1030304.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-tailed Hawk in flight.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-tailed Hawk perched before being mobbed by Mockingbirds and Blue Jays.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif1oAcgRBYuQkgLt6ZaxajCIOkA_rUVj-vfuWFXoTe1Kch8E43eLROC4EMJGE_5HnKr-ChyMQ-dj726anAKoNKP7rpljBaXGqELYCppBrOOAweQTgCc_RPEeXr6_gTA5pUdwojyzor-ok/s1600/P1030307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="638" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif1oAcgRBYuQkgLt6ZaxajCIOkA_rUVj-vfuWFXoTe1Kch8E43eLROC4EMJGE_5HnKr-ChyMQ-dj726anAKoNKP7rpljBaXGqELYCppBrOOAweQTgCc_RPEeXr6_gTA5pUdwojyzor-ok/s640/P1030307.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Couch's Kingbird</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIe4N7qYMSMNb61kELnBeCXdpEh3o-ZRcxqZQwrUm2Nqx4ZFqr7tPVt34tC10mmh4pGYuQDpAhuzwCAqsu4pWw1Ct78n23v7aooged3118S75dTaCITXsFoHBeyp2LELw-EN-8kZWF9G0/s1600/P1030308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIe4N7qYMSMNb61kELnBeCXdpEh3o-ZRcxqZQwrUm2Nqx4ZFqr7tPVt34tC10mmh4pGYuQDpAhuzwCAqsu4pWw1Ct78n23v7aooged3118S75dTaCITXsFoHBeyp2LELw-EN-8kZWF9G0/s640/P1030308.JPG" width="636" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Couch's Kingbird</td></tr>
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The list:<br />
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Double-crested Cormorant<br />
Great Egret<br />
Black Vulture<br />
Red-shouldered Hawk<br />
Red-tailed Hawk<br />
White-winged Dove<br />
Mourning Dove<br />
Golden-fronted Woodpecker<br />
Downy Woodpecker<br />
Eastern Phoebe<br />
Couch's Kingbird<br />
White-eyed Vireo<br />
Blue-headed Vireo<br />
Blue Jay<br />
Black-crested Titmouse<br />
Red-breasted Nuthatch<br />
Carolina Wren<br />
Ruby-crowned Kinglet<br />
Northern Mockingbird<br />
Orange-crowned Warbler<br />
Yellow-rumped
Warbler<br />
Northern Cardinal<br />
Great-tailed Grackle<br />
House Finch<br />
Lesser Goldfinch<br />
American Goldfinch<br />
House Sparrowaprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118627963856556265.post-89166464782255327572012-12-24T13:04:00.001-08:002012-12-24T13:06:03.827-08:00Choke Canyon - Dec. 23, 2012With a long weekend and beautiful weather, we decided it was time to take a trip down to Choke Canyon State Park. Our friends from New Jersey, Gordon and Nancy joined us.<br />
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It being the Sunday before Xmas, FM 99, usually busy with large semi trucks from the Eagle Ford oil projects, was empty enough to allow us some "old time" birding. Though not as birdy as in the past, it still gave us a good start to the day.<br />
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Disappointment hit when we reached the Choke Canyon reservoir areas near the intersection of 99 and 72. They are virtually dried up, with virtually no habitat for the usual ducks, shorebirds, kingfishers, cormorants, anhinga, etc.<br />
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However, the area wasn't totally devoid of interest. We saw a bird of prey in the distance, which I desperately wanted to turn into a Bat Falcon because of its bright coloration. It turned out to be a magnificently colored juvenile Northern Harrier, which became apparent when we saw its owl-like facial disks through the scope.<br />
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I also managed to get a great shot of a Double-crested Cormorant, certainly not an unusual bird for the area, but posed perfectly for me to use for one of my bird mugs at a future date. (Advertisement: You can find my pottery <a href="http://agru.etsy.com/" target="_blank">here</a>.)<br />
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Birding in the park was good. The parking lot by the old swimming pool had a Vermilion Flycatcher on every tree, most of them fully feathered males.<br />
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The nearby Bird Trail was also active, with mixed flocks of Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Black-crested Titmouse, Orange-crowned Warbler, and Ruby-crowned Kinglets. At the back end of the trail, by the water pumping area, we had our "difficult" bird of the day. (You need at least one or your trip hasn't been worthwhile, say I.)<br />
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It was a Kingbird, but was much too light for it to easily be counted as a Couch's Kingbird, the most likely in the park this time of year. The three of us who saw it all agreed it was right for a Western Kingbird; but they aren't supposed to be there in December. Unfortunately, I didn't have a chance to photograph it, so it might well remain a conundrum, unless someone refinds the bird.<br />
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Once again, as in our past several visits, Olive Sparrows were nowhere to be seen. I wonder if the prolonged drought has affected their habitat that much?<br />
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As usual, butterflies caught our eye and I managed to get photos of two different species: <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Queen</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm not sure what type of butterfly this is.</td></tr>
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From there, we drove over to 75 Acre Lake, where there were interesting birds -- just on the opposite shores. However, with the scope, we were able to see well enough through the late morning heat shimmer to identify a good number of ducks, shorebirds, and a couple of Harris's Hawks.<br />
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The interesting birds here were four Black-winged Stilts past their season (though not as unlikely as that Kingbird!).<br />
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We also saw the good-sized Alligator that tends to inhabit this body of water.<br />
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After a quick drive through the RV area, with nothing of interest, we drove to the exit of the park and came upon about six Northern Bobwhite by the side of the road. Three flew off as we approached. The remaining three seems unbothered by my photographic efforts, the best of which I share below.<br />
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And, before the day's list, I leave you with one of the park's mammals, reaching young adulthood.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQhFKL0JO-dIWz1vyBey8hy_P0CcBch-LX-QtQCtzCANwwE5Xx8TTcgQeoGIFaW7OAhdrijL9wXye4TxnW7otty5MdtKI8iRKly0ucW16sfC5Dc9A6KgJL_MX7pZn9TwO_kuoMAkAUR0/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQhFKL0JO-dIWz1vyBey8hy_P0CcBch-LX-QtQCtzCANwwE5Xx8TTcgQeoGIFaW7OAhdrijL9wXye4TxnW7otty5MdtKI8iRKly0ucW16sfC5Dc9A6KgJL_MX7pZn9TwO_kuoMAkAUR0/s640/013.JPG" width="640" /> </a> </div>
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The list:</div>
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Gadwall </div>
Northern Shoveler <br />
Northern Pintail<br />
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Green-winged Teal </div>
Northern Bobwhite <br />
Wild Turkey <br />
Pied-billed Grebe <br />
Double-crested Cormorant <br />
Anhinga <br />
Great Blue Heron <br />
Great
Egret <br />
Snowy Egret <br />
Little Blue Heron <br />
Tricolored Heron <br />
Cattle Egret <br />
White Ibis <br />
White-faced Ibis <br />
Roseate
Spoonbill <br />
Black Vulture <br />
Turkey Vulture <br />
Osprey <br />
Northern
Harrier <br />
Cooper's Hawk <br />
Harris's Hawk <br />
Red-shouldered Hawk <br />
Red-tailed Hawk <br />
Common Gallinule<br />
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American Coot </div>
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Sandhill Crane </div>
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Killdeer </div>
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Black-necked Stilt </div>
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Greater Yellowlegs </div>
Eurasian
Collared-Dove <br />
Mourning Dove <br />
Golden-fronted Woodpecker <br />
Downy
Woodpecker<br />
Crested Caracara <br />
Eastern Phoebe <br />
Vermilion
Flycatcher<br />
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Great Kiskadee </div>
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?? Kingbird </div>
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Loggerhead Shrike </div>
White-eyed
Vireo <br />
Green Jay<br />
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Black-crested Titmouse</div>
Verdin<br />
House Wren<br />
Bewick's Wren<br />
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Carolina Wren</div>
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Blue-gray Gnatcatcher</div>
Ruby-crowned Kinglet<br />
Northern
Mockingbird<br />
European Starling<br />
Orange-crowned Warbler<br />
Yellow-rumped Warbler<br />
Field Sparrow <br />
Savannah Sparrow <br />
Northern Cardinal <br />
Red-winged Blackbird <br />
Eastern/Western
Meadowlark <br />
Great-tailed Grackle <br />
Brown-headed Cowbird <br />
House
Finch <br />
Lesser Goldfinch <br />
House Sparrow <br />
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<br />aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118627963856556265.post-40009068400881519562012-11-11T15:47:00.000-08:002012-11-12T07:11:35.202-08:00SA Audubon Field Trip to Choke CanyonUnfortunately, I forgot the camera today. Of course, there were a couple of great videos I missed. But, such is life.<br />
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Since I have no accompanying "illustrations", I'm going to keep this short and sweet. Birding was patchy, with areas of good birding interspersed with long periods of time with no apparent birds or birds giving chip calls, but not allowing us to see them.<br />
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The best birding areas today:<br />
<ul>
<li>The parking lot near the swimming pool, giving us Couch's Kingbird, Great Kiskadee, Green Jays, Cooper's Hawk, and both listed Woodpeckers, among others.</li>
<li>The first part of the birding trail and then the second section (after the jog and just before where the wetlands used to be), with several Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Yellow-rumped Warblers.</li>
<li>75 Acre Lake, especially scoping the far shores from the trail between the two bodies of water</li>
</ul>
The non-birding highlights (which made me yearn for the camera) were:<br />
<ul>
<li>Two Dung Beetles rolling their balls of dung. I love to watch these creatures using their rear legs, while doing their work head down.</li>
<li>We heard an unusual noise a bit down the trail. It was coming from a Cottontail Rabbit which had been nabbed by a large Indigo Snake. We watched with morbid fascination while the rabbit struggled and the snake worked against its struggle. I won't go into any more detail. The most interesting thing I saw during the struggle was the snake shaking its tail, as though it was a Rattlesnake. Avie has some video -- we just can't figure out how to get it off his phone.</li>
</ul>
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All in all, not the best of days. But not too shabby either, with 47 species of birds. <br />
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Gadwall<br />
Blue-winged Teal<br />
Northern Shoveler<br />
Scaup sp.<br />
Wild Turkey<br />
Neotropic Cormorant<br />
Double-crested Cormorant<br />
Great Blue Heron<br />
Great Egret<br />
Snowy Egret<br />
Little Blue Heron<br />
Tricolored Heron<br />
White Ibis<br />
White-faced Ibis<br />
Roseate Spoonbill<br />
Black Vulture<br />
Turkey Vulture<br />
Osprey<br />
Northern Harrier<br />
Cooper's Hawk<br />
Harris's Hawk<br />
Red-tailed Hawk<br />
Crested Caracara<br />
American Coot<br />
Sandhill Crane<br />
Rock Pigeon<br />
Eurasian Collared-Dove<br />
Golden-fronted Woodpecker<br />
Ladder-backed Woodpecker<br />
Eastern Wood-Pewee<br />
Eastern Phoebe<br />
Vermilion Flycatcher<br />
Great Kiskadee<br />
Couch's Kingbird<br />
Loggerhead Shrike<br />
White-eyed Vireo<br />
Green Jay<br />
Ruby-crowned Kinglet<br />
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher<br />
Northern Mockingbird<br />
European Starling<br />
Yellow-rumped Warbler<br />
Savannah Sparrow<br />
Red-winged Blackbird<br />
Western Meadowlark<br />
Great-tailed Grackle<br />
Brown-headed Cowbirdaprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118627963856556265.post-49792539937072244922012-10-26T06:43:00.001-07:002012-10-26T06:50:01.631-07:00Of Snowy Owls and Design ConceptsInspiration can come from many places. In this case, it came from a PBS show in the Nature series. This particular one was about Snowy Owls -- my favorite bird, and one we were privileged to see on a birding trip to Amherst Island in Ontario, Canada one February, many years ago.<br />
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The Snowy Owl is one of the largest owls in the world. That, combined with their striking white feathers and incredibly golden yellow eyes.....well, you know!<br />
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So I've decided to make mugs, using those eyes and that coloring. I intend to keep the mug white and use yellow and black underglazes to paint in the eyes and beak. Then, if I feel it's appropriate, I'll add some light carving to accentuate the feathering around the beak.<br />
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I love living here in San Antonio. The only negative is we have little chance of getting a Snowy Owl down here -- even in the most irruptive of years.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrAsf0tRH2rFiFdBxkUuM77OjWlGuY2fzieoyNLo69OizMpYonH9OQAJiawHr_XhTdBU0o6nywF9QHZUNg5bCUoWE7AAzzmxfXy81x4mPlCdSeAf5JrR_V2tGnMEosJmHdu3u5vca2ZUo/s1600/SnowyOwls+face.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="564" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrAsf0tRH2rFiFdBxkUuM77OjWlGuY2fzieoyNLo69OizMpYonH9OQAJiawHr_XhTdBU0o6nywF9QHZUNg5bCUoWE7AAzzmxfXy81x4mPlCdSeAf5JrR_V2tGnMEosJmHdu3u5vca2ZUo/s640/SnowyOwls+face.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118627963856556265.post-29002192864911281632012-09-26T15:34:00.002-07:002012-09-26T15:35:44.650-07:00Way Past Due: A Weekend Around St. Pete Beach, FL<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I apologize for the time it's taken for me to report on this trip. But you know about the "best laid plans" and all those other homilies.......</div>
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Several weekends ago, Sept. 6 - 9, 2012 to be exact, Avie attended the Southern Sleep Conference at St. Pete Beach, FL, kindly taking me along. In addition to visiting with some old friends who had moved to the area years ago, I also took the opportunity to do a bit of birding on Florida's Gulf Coast.</div>
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Happily, it was during fall migration. Even better, the St. Pete Beach Audubon Society was having a field trip to <span class="st">John Chesnut Sr. Park. Located on the southeast corner of Lake Tarpon it is reputed to be a great migrant "trap". So, I hopped into our rental car and set out to join them.</span></div>
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<span class="st">Right out of the car, in the parking lot, there were Warblers galore. Unfortunately, the time spent in an air conditioned car caused my binoculars to fog up when I got out into Florida's humid weather. So, while everyone else was counting the Warblers, I was listening and straining with eyes naked.</span></div>
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<span class="st">The field trip took us to a couple of different parking lots, chasing mixed flocks. The most common birds were Blackburnian and Yellow-throated Warbler. Of course, being Warblers, an my being more a birder than a photographer, I enjoyed seeing them and didn't make an attempt to photograph these ever-moving little birds.</span></div>
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<span class="st">However, a bit later in the trip, we took a trail where there were a couple of cooperative birds. One was an Eastern Wood-Peewee, perched in clear view.</span> </div>
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But I'd have to say the best photo op and tied with a Prothonotary Warbler for best bird of the day was this cooperative Barred Owl. It sat very still, but refused to turn its head so I could get its face in the photos I took. No matter -- any birding day with an owl is a good birding day.<br />
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Shame on me for not saving my bird list from this day. But I will say, in spite of a lengthy downpour which limited our available time in the field, it was a worthwhile fall migration spot if you find yourself in the area.<br />
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Avie's conference ended on Saturday afternoon. So, Sunday morning we packed up, checked out of our hotel, and headed down to Fort DeSoto Park for a full morning of birding. It was raining when we drove down and it rained for a couple of hours after we got into the park. It put a little bit of a damper on things. But, dammit, we're birders! So we persevered.<br />
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Of course, most of the birds continued on in spite of the rain, as demonstrated by this Great Blue Heron, perusing the puddles in one of the parking lots for frogs.<br />
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On a stop into the ladies' room, I picked the lucky stall and saw this large Cuban Tree Frog literally hanging around. Since the restroom was deserted, I called Avie in and asked him to put his finger in the frame of the photo for size perspective. The frog didn't even balk.<br />
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As you know, birders are a friendly group of folk. While we were looking up into some pine trees, a car pulled over and asked if we had "seen anything good". We pointed out a Pine Warbler. The gentleman in the car recommended we go over to the "Ranger's House" and walk around the fence along the trail to the big tree in the back. We took his advice and saw the best mixed flock of the day.<br />
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Again, Blackburnian and Yellow-throated Warblers were the most common birds. But we were also greeted with many other migratory songbirds. Additionally, there was an amazing migration of Common Nighthawks overhead, with thousands flying in a never-ending stream.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkQEayvye3rgVlaWZ9rtkhRj8gfl_M5MYaV8mPIkKSqpvjKGQqbYorSzBrhG103tNG2Qs4xV6VaCcXMmfPLUh7qGNxpJzGYXSyFe-xI_QhRZ9uXTyCMEineNDBT5g9yfO3-IEi36mFnwE/s1600/P1020362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkQEayvye3rgVlaWZ9rtkhRj8gfl_M5MYaV8mPIkKSqpvjKGQqbYorSzBrhG103tNG2Qs4xV6VaCcXMmfPLUh7qGNxpJzGYXSyFe-xI_QhRZ9uXTyCMEineNDBT5g9yfO3-IEi36mFnwE/s640/P1020362.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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A Cuban Anole sat on a nearby tree, sunning.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI1wyBJ3gKEsdi0glwmUIQSjm9zAJAKDYww3FUVsPjRWb7LPpFFRV5u-qg6rrBiDyOp_W5CYh1l-sCtyy-bUh_GOBMD3_N7mQU_EmbXJAIs3BUvLvvVzJSgCx_dmz6JC2iLFPgnBSYEsU/s1600/P1020372.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI1wyBJ3gKEsdi0glwmUIQSjm9zAJAKDYww3FUVsPjRWb7LPpFFRV5u-qg6rrBiDyOp_W5CYh1l-sCtyy-bUh_GOBMD3_N7mQU_EmbXJAIs3BUvLvvVzJSgCx_dmz6JC2iLFPgnBSYEsU/s640/P1020372.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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On our way out of the park we stopped at an area which was supposed to be good for shorebirds (GROAN!). We fought against working with these tricky birds for over twenty-five years. But we've decided, with our new 80mm Swarovski Scope, it's about time we try to tackle them. Tackle them we did -- juvenile/fall plumage and all.<br />
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So, what follows are our best attempts at identification. If you find any issues, please let me know in the comments.<br />
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Here's a non-breeding Willet:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIfXO8YiEAD0MuwvhKzxPAqEQORayR52tG2uhyphenhyphenO8RiRDoyPy7xflorylL5qjiaXbPXB98n9Fmac63YpSNxWDMfZRqRhc7KhxL2vpx2HeeI5JUJOcZtZ4EjncV_WObrnfWN7RgQQdOdbVg/s1600/P1020374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIfXO8YiEAD0MuwvhKzxPAqEQORayR52tG2uhyphenhyphenO8RiRDoyPy7xflorylL5qjiaXbPXB98n9Fmac63YpSNxWDMfZRqRhc7KhxL2vpx2HeeI5JUJOcZtZ4EjncV_WObrnfWN7RgQQdOdbVg/s640/P1020374.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Short-billed Dowitcher:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOj8d51WN7AzYl7ozC8s1LyZAnieWI2ys44o5lycW7RgnvAxN37LhZkaZdyNHZqIGk0DEBjpv8EP5jcBy8CAvaEYcfB-XxHin_D2qflxD1xz73Bfhu_Oyilcu5nQkyld8XBBeO9ad9AfQ/s1600/P1020377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOj8d51WN7AzYl7ozC8s1LyZAnieWI2ys44o5lycW7RgnvAxN37LhZkaZdyNHZqIGk0DEBjpv8EP5jcBy8CAvaEYcfB-XxHin_D2qflxD1xz73Bfhu_Oyilcu5nQkyld8XBBeO9ad9AfQ/s640/P1020377.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Dunlin:<br />
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Too much obstructive greenery for many of them. But there's a lovely "coming into plumage" Black-bellied Plover to the right.<br />
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Just a nice shot of a Great Egret behind a Black-bellied Plover:</div>
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Okay -- My brain is starting to hurt, so I'll let you identify the rest. I <i>will </i>tell you these are the shorebirds we know we saw:<br />
Black-bellied Plover<br />
Semipalmated Plover<br />
Killdeer<br />
Spotted Sandpiper<br />
Lesser Yellowlegs<br />
Willet<br />
Marbled Godwit<br />
Ruddy Turnstone<br />
Sanderling<br />
Western Sandpiper<br />
Least Sandpiper<br />
Dunlin<br />
Short-billed Dowitcher <br />
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We also saw this Wood Stork, looking very much like a coquettish dancer in the water.<br />
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I'm not sure when we'll be returning to the Gulf Coast area of Florida. But, compared to our subsequent weekend on the Atlantic Coast, I would say fall birding is far superior on the West side of the peninsula!aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118627963856556265.post-51706155510947858642012-09-17T14:30:00.001-07:002012-09-17T17:02:22.221-07:00Hollywood, FL AreaLast weekend we were in St. Pete Beach, FL, on the Gulf Coast. But that post will have to come second, even though this is really the second weekend in a row we’re visiting Florida.<br />
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This visit is really to see our daughter’s new apartment in Hollywood Beach (and it is GORGEOUS!). But, as usual, we had to mix in a bit of birding.<br />
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I DO have to say we found the fall migration much more evident on the Gulf Coast. In fact, after visiting several parks in the Hollywood area, we’re coming a way a bit disappointed. Birds were few and far between, and the best birding park was the one which only recommended a single species of bird to its name. But I’m getting ahead of myself.<br />
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Since my daughter was working today, we rented a car from Enterprise. They picked us up, we signed some papers, and off we went.<br />
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Our first stop was John U. Lloyd Beach State Park. It was recommended in <em>A Birder’s Guide to Florida</em> by Bill Pranty, as well as by an area contact on <a href="http://birdingpal.org/" target="_blank">birdingpal.org</a>. We paid our $6 fee and slowly drove around the area, looking and listening. SILENCE!<br />
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To be fair, it wasn’t completely devoid of birds. We came across a lovely flock of graceful White Ibises bathing and preening in the water from last night’s rains.<br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-HMNlbTbImuM/UFeWL6u9rhI/AAAAAAAAJEs/QqEmcPwpR6Y/s1600-h/P1020398%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="P1020398" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-zfYPKGF_rIo/UFeWMvKKqBI/AAAAAAAAJE0/_mAVRjWIIok/P1020398_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline;" title="P1020398" width="644" /></a> <br />
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Checking the beach, we saw a couple of juvenile Sanderlings – very striking with their lovely black and white patterning.<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-xJgINhvxPjk/UFeWNRcps_I/AAAAAAAAJE8/d1DE_wALsN4/s1600-h/P1020405%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="P1020405" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-qo_7Si8Xce8/UFeWN1QKusI/AAAAAAAAJFE/9MbDWwZhSM4/P1020405_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline;" title="P1020405" width="643" /></a> <br />
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The only other bird we heard was a busy Northern Mockingbird.<br />
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Our next stop was the northern portion of West Lake Park. Again we drove. Again we were greeted with silence and no visible movement. We began to wonder if the East Coast of South Florida had overdeveloped to the point of depleting the necessary requirements of migrating songbirds. Of course, it could also just be a case of wrong place, wrong time.<br />
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We decided to try for a “sure thing” and continued driving along Sheridan St. to the Brian Piccolo Park. We heard there were several Burrowing Owls there, their burrows being marked with wooden stakes and flagging tape. As we entered the park we saw the roped off areas. The burrows are marked with wooden stakes. However, instead of the flagging tape, they’re now using yellow rope.<br />
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We checked a few burrows; but many of the owls were tucked deep down with grass and weeds growing over the opening, obscuring our view.<br />
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Finally, we came on one burrow with a clear opening and one of the “cute” Burrowing Owls near the entrance. <br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-8KU8dLwpdps/UFeWOZUceJI/AAAAAAAAJFM/XSzThJXXBcA/s1600-h/P1020407%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="P1020407" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-L3aRsrzJM-g/UFeWPKnZ6sI/AAAAAAAAJFU/HRDwZHAx1WM/P1020407_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline;" title="P1020407" width="644" /></a><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-dDSKCSr5ds8/UFeWPjYSyoI/AAAAAAAAJFc/opgh1Adz6mg/s1600-h/P1020409%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="P1020409" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-TSMN7UOmguI/UFeWQCAOfyI/AAAAAAAAJFk/PPD9Z80aUZs/P1020409_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline;" title="P1020409" width="644" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-bJQ0Y2RmErg/UFeWQox3l5I/AAAAAAAAJFs/EY2V4U8NJTA/s1600-h/P1020410%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="P1020410" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-nLyLjggV_l4/UFeWRVnMYfI/AAAAAAAAJF0/X2V2tNGF6n4/P1020410_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline;" title="P1020410" width="644" /></a> <br />
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The park also holds several communal Monk Parakeet nests by the electric lines.<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-GkxHkfTf-oA/UFeWRpUY1QI/AAAAAAAAJF8/p_O2zxUP4DE/s1600-h/P1020411%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="P1020411" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-mAdbvehEL58/UFeWSXQiLhI/AAAAAAAAJGE/rBmE-zJNyqE/P1020411_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" title="P1020411" width="644" /></a> <br />
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We were lucky enough to hear the Parakeets up in nearby trees, since they’re extremely difficult to see, blending in so well. So I took the opportunity to get a few shots of them up close and personal.<br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-6mbOkYHNqaU/UFeWSzm6CgI/AAAAAAAAJGM/n3-p5UY21sM/s1600-h/P1020419%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="P1020419" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-1heILNxPhPM/UFeWTTNAt-I/AAAAAAAAJGU/kiB_tE1SNi4/P1020419_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline;" title="P1020419" width="642" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-eg-biHYLJ3M/UFeWTzPZ4JI/AAAAAAAAJGc/kR6dzA_lMTU/s1600-h/P1020422%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="P1020422" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-tKFXfCe3Zc0/UFeWUYkMWEI/AAAAAAAAJGk/Y2poMMpS7FA/P1020422_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline;" title="P1020422" width="644" /></a><br />
We also saw a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (FINALLY, a migrating songbird!).<br />
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Our final stop was the south side of West Lake Park. Another nice flock of White Ibises and a Tricolored Heron greeted us as we drove in.<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Pf574CIoR0A/UFeWVfPNwBI/AAAAAAAAJGs/is1AzOjkzp0/s1600-h/P1020430%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="P1020430" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-DPX2hjT3Mw4/UFeWWAFWngI/AAAAAAAAJG0/msulDxULWC4/P1020430_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline;" title="P1020430" width="643" /></a> <br />
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Again, the park was quiet. We stopped at the boating ramp and added a Great Blue Heron and a Spotted Sandpiper to our day list, which wasn’t very extensive. I tried for a better photo of the Sandpiper. But it was off in the distance, so this is the best I could do.<br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-xtt-RGk8eWM/UFeWWofaPxI/AAAAAAAAJG8/PFW9NRV2Qs8/s1600-h/P1020432%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="P1020432" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-llJIGBwP1hI/UFeWXC-V5EI/AAAAAAAAJHE/r9N_SdjKlks/P1020432_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline;" title="P1020432" width="363" /></a> <br />
All in all, not a superior day of birding. But any birding makes for a superior day. Right?aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118627963856556265.post-48835357596372938212012-09-03T18:10:00.000-07:002012-09-03T18:39:32.390-07:00What We Did on Labor Day Weekend No picnics. No beach. Avie and I spent yesterday and today mostly communing with nature, with a little Ethiopian food and dining nook/bird viewing spot updating.<br />
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The morning was spent at <a href="http://warblerwoods.org/about-2" target="_blank">Warbler Woods</a>, a nearby sanctuary in the middle of suburban development. It's always a great stop for birding because Don and Susan Schaezler have created a haven for both resident and migrating birds.<br />
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Birding was a bit slow during our time there. But it's always worthwhile when you can sit comfortably and see a Blue-headed Vireo, White-eyed Vireo, Great-crested Flycatcher, and Yellow-breasted Chat, along with other, more common birds mixed in.<br />
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Today we spent the morning at the San Antonio Botanical Garden perusing South Texas native plantings. We want to revamp our landscaping at three levels: xeriscaping, wildscaping, mostly native plantings. Here are a few photos of what our front currently looks like during our ongoing drought.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3gw5Ilq-z3yxj9pSZLOrsOfQrklJCkMM17yQYKg26mAxG_FApsfy-RbJA_wiqFo5ArjJ39MjveDRF6JjXOIHG-0TWxbMtYoxUmK4vFRtxwiQ7G5keKIyn6Yhid1g05SIn1CL2HQxaVdQ/s1600/P1020319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3gw5Ilq-z3yxj9pSZLOrsOfQrklJCkMM17yQYKg26mAxG_FApsfy-RbJA_wiqFo5ArjJ39MjveDRF6JjXOIHG-0TWxbMtYoxUmK4vFRtxwiQ7G5keKIyn6Yhid1g05SIn1CL2HQxaVdQ/s400/P1020319.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgat-LPfFHCwF2PjUvMa6-B5NRohqC83VF35VNYtrjZ_vDAJyr6rrC7rYF7KpES_YUOiuFggfwmd2p-w18tyo60uVITqB_BKislgQcOtNSZI0cC7yTBXbVxcXRtBv8B_A0FLnvQdhwEEvg/s1600/P1020321.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgat-LPfFHCwF2PjUvMa6-B5NRohqC83VF35VNYtrjZ_vDAJyr6rrC7rYF7KpES_YUOiuFggfwmd2p-w18tyo60uVITqB_BKislgQcOtNSZI0cC7yTBXbVxcXRtBv8B_A0FLnvQdhwEEvg/s400/P1020321.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Between St. Augustine grass, a sprinkler-based irrigation system, and that expanse of lawn, I think we can do much better while providing food and shelter for birds, butterflies, and bees, and color and textural interest for ourselves.<br />
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We've already selected a landscaping company, <a href="http://www.lafieldlandscape.com/" target="_blank">Lafield Landscaping</a>. Terri and Rick are excited about working with us and seem to understand what we want, but willing to go outside our desire to eliminate the lawn completely, and give us a more welcoming front with very limited grass (Zoysia rather than St. Augustine).<br />
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I took lots of photos at the Botanical Gardens. I tried to stick with native Texas plants. But some non-natives begged to be included in my photos. I'll provide commentary along the way.<br />
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This is <i>Yucca nana, </i>but was unmarked in the gardens. I really like it and would like to see if we can work this into the landscape if it meets enough of our criteria. It's not too large and offers some interesting texture. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8VdAp6griwc8q059Whlp4Y7G_XahzUQERRK2cWaQ7EmAIAX87xVxn-tci21H8xbZbygyno0-0u2huLZTEmMHSvS1oE-3XTcqw8dV9fIs8x5UnyV_2RkWKPnkav_yE_Ak7-dJ_eBPpGG8/s1600/P1020236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8VdAp6griwc8q059Whlp4Y7G_XahzUQERRK2cWaQ7EmAIAX87xVxn-tci21H8xbZbygyno0-0u2huLZTEmMHSvS1oE-3XTcqw8dV9fIs8x5UnyV_2RkWKPnkav_yE_Ak7-dJ_eBPpGG8/s640/P1020236.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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This photo is one species of Zoysia, <i>Zoysia japonica</i>. It's a much softer grass than St. Augustine and requires less water. Terie Lafield insists we need some grass to keep our front from being too hard and unwelcoming. After looking at other people's landscapes, Avie and I have come around to understanding she's correct.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirnN9Is6bCT743XtZ9X_XvRFNBVc31jfesrfjKmVEeXFRpriiB7VuenEZa5zM0PsFkAOZDhk2Esvy0VJjXuRCx4TFQbflDcOvPfpnJE50GwXo-Fa2Jzh6NnQBdxyY50tWaAcIMT9EDwr8/s1600/P1020239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirnN9Is6bCT743XtZ9X_XvRFNBVc31jfesrfjKmVEeXFRpriiB7VuenEZa5zM0PsFkAOZDhk2Esvy0VJjXuRCx4TFQbflDcOvPfpnJE50GwXo-Fa2Jzh6NnQBdxyY50tWaAcIMT9EDwr8/s640/P1020239.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Next is an Anacacho Orchid Tree (<i>Bauhinia congesta</i>). Apparently, <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">this is one of the best small ornamental
trees for the Central and Southern regions of the state. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Anacacho Orchid Tree is moderately fast
growing if given regular watering but is also tough enough to withstand
extreme drought. Seems like it fits most of our criteria. Just need to check what it offers wildlife.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLohzUujlBOlW5yjaY8DRiPzIKeUHD4PXUN1aaPj-ee6iNIa6NOhfKq75u8k7oMNfuHqwm-q6_aJKLIBDqlcZYMWDI08RoUH8cX8_0pZjFbtDH054qqA6318TN4ZxkTVcVJaCiiRnKsgI/s1600/P1020243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLohzUujlBOlW5yjaY8DRiPzIKeUHD4PXUN1aaPj-ee6iNIa6NOhfKq75u8k7oMNfuHqwm-q6_aJKLIBDqlcZYMWDI08RoUH8cX8_0pZjFbtDH054qqA6318TN4ZxkTVcVJaCiiRnKsgI/s640/P1020243.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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This silvery low-growing shrub was unmarked throughout the gardens. But it was quite pretty up against greener landscaping as a border planting.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-yBClYQnwgx9B3lYavhbPQgT8kLvBpelN8q9nIguCDKsvOdd_w7X6wLgeCb8WoYRjhrPwqG3FdX08velatp8kyUu3Ihyphenhyphenw3L7rAqH18GGooHMrJMALly8frYZ6NWjyKtroTrwi-Bl0iYU/s1600/P1020246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-yBClYQnwgx9B3lYavhbPQgT8kLvBpelN8q9nIguCDKsvOdd_w7X6wLgeCb8WoYRjhrPwqG3FdX08velatp8kyUu3Ihyphenhyphenw3L7rAqH18GGooHMrJMALly8frYZ6NWjyKtroTrwi-Bl0iYU/s640/P1020246.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0mbzLiP2nAu1d3OBzPkEtwnQGIVBUwfYuMpa36N6gmlngjVaziT0aRe89_mXiBSrGs2IUAgRiiob0-n6RI1goF39HGs90WmdEZ59z-dIiTI8H-hey4-AGWjClLxCrNnnS87_aO8TSFYo/s1600/P1020272.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0mbzLiP2nAu1d3OBzPkEtwnQGIVBUwfYuMpa36N6gmlngjVaziT0aRe89_mXiBSrGs2IUAgRiiob0-n6RI1goF39HGs90WmdEZ59z-dIiTI8H-hey4-AGWjClLxCrNnnS87_aO8TSFYo/s640/P1020272.JPG" width="640" /></a> <br />
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The landscapers intend to use Purple Trailing Lantana in our garden. I know for a fact it's an incredible butterfly magnet, since we already have some. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTfQIWJp75nOsGuN8jk9NcBxwoPSB55X3HVyGSl9BPkE4i_aUimZUfFTfAPrkZm62dxzjdJ-Na_OPdcwT5zm0QJCeeG8IdABw7I0XO2rieaXvNExy_ZI0mjf-cedJ7KzwV-15DrdoEZQk/s1600/P1020250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTfQIWJp75nOsGuN8jk9NcBxwoPSB55X3HVyGSl9BPkE4i_aUimZUfFTfAPrkZm62dxzjdJ-Na_OPdcwT5zm0QJCeeG8IdABw7I0XO2rieaXvNExy_ZI0mjf-cedJ7KzwV-15DrdoEZQk/s640/P1020250.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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What could be more Texas than grasses? Luckily, there are all types available to see at the Gardens. This first one is adorable and I love it -- but I don't think it's native. Rather, I believe it's from the sub-Sahara in Africa. Bummer!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8G0usXX0gVWLl2GU-WwCNc-w_8spAlFB4I9cfYtlBM1PLV9tPoNbxKgIGOC2AgCyA8DbB1W5d21N2DBDBgH-nk9r35zRofgY2DpDFxoHi-SU7XP2r_mHVDfEcSqXhd7ITbdLU_ezCBm0/s1600/P1020252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8G0usXX0gVWLl2GU-WwCNc-w_8spAlFB4I9cfYtlBM1PLV9tPoNbxKgIGOC2AgCyA8DbB1W5d21N2DBDBgH-nk9r35zRofgY2DpDFxoHi-SU7XP2r_mHVDfEcSqXhd7ITbdLU_ezCBm0/s640/P1020252.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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However, Lindheimer's Muhly Grass, which can grow over six feet tall, is native to the Edwards Plateau, exactly where we live! It was all over the Botanical Gardens, so we were able to see it in all different kinds of settings.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7lhpbzK4chwkoZY5RJYwXL0t3Osh91DyjriiXkYrL7Ro2Y_l4TxUxr6vZ4xr2pUMlraRY55q_sM_rmMwLMX3gFHEM5qVskGt1THppxuMqyTXdSNo5Y2hc0pcRZC2lOQvMy8rhM2OigUM/s1600/P1020259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7lhpbzK4chwkoZY5RJYwXL0t3Osh91DyjriiXkYrL7Ro2Y_l4TxUxr6vZ4xr2pUMlraRY55q_sM_rmMwLMX3gFHEM5qVskGt1THppxuMqyTXdSNo5Y2hc0pcRZC2lOQvMy8rhM2OigUM/s640/P1020259.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i><b>Butterfly break!!!!! (Gulf Fritillary)</b></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeiV3DBd2lE7kgAd6J5NT_TBCUrIdWGravg2kyDfiUT3tKJSeNpMYIPfaXAJcBGFKfvGyusGFb7C85a7AS7oxEmFNo8jA12FwtqqMnjH1PYU_hGsblZssPG4WXiyXoiysqerQV0TL2MzM/s1600/P1020261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeiV3DBd2lE7kgAd6J5NT_TBCUrIdWGravg2kyDfiUT3tKJSeNpMYIPfaXAJcBGFKfvGyusGFb7C85a7AS7oxEmFNo8jA12FwtqqMnjH1PYU_hGsblZssPG4WXiyXoiysqerQV0TL2MzM/s640/P1020261.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYEZMHDaiqye60bbBIi2HY0iscE0u7qQ7ErFvMJAmm6ScYIboJZ1IQOw8XOLJfQJJ2REYGtUy_PN3146EvFIlMvn5nX7ueEcjHLwjxXXAyKIStWwgCQQ7ff5SXyNpghZzFhYNGPGGXOIU/s1600/P1020262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYEZMHDaiqye60bbBIi2HY0iscE0u7qQ7ErFvMJAmm6ScYIboJZ1IQOw8XOLJfQJJ2REYGtUy_PN3146EvFIlMvn5nX7ueEcjHLwjxXXAyKIStWwgCQQ7ff5SXyNpghZzFhYNGPGGXOIU/s640/P1020262.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0RF__ove6Hx2fzfOcHelIrbcHyJN6ZkrvnHjeYKOBuCDjoxH9Gs6Qb7ozw5XmrysKjyBuo31EsnuS9wvBrOmQG-bTb6M9Gz3vxnkcMppn0Bk3F591pek7mcJUlwbXkZY0nZmIWpoOLuw/s1600/P1020263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0RF__ove6Hx2fzfOcHelIrbcHyJN6ZkrvnHjeYKOBuCDjoxH9Gs6Qb7ozw5XmrysKjyBuo31EsnuS9wvBrOmQG-bTb6M9Gz3vxnkcMppn0Bk3F591pek7mcJUlwbXkZY0nZmIWpoOLuw/s640/P1020263.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Something I would love to do, and I'm debating it with the landscapers, is yank out the ugly hedges in the front of the house and replace them with a mixed hedge we can allow to grow a bit more organically. Suncatcher (with the yellow flowers) is one of the plants I like for that purpose.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsVn8fHHBH2Now8IjQyHjGW2O7TGJWlxA-Qw1o0Inl-VgaHJwwiUQ674Af9MWhufcIi1jfrWqJHdqJ_2alLuuAQINBgSRUM-Ye9WTfPejPaZboe4XyYVyg2yW8e7pcmBRwxUjLKm4AZZQ/s1600/P1020266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="638" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsVn8fHHBH2Now8IjQyHjGW2O7TGJWlxA-Qw1o0Inl-VgaHJwwiUQ674Af9MWhufcIi1jfrWqJHdqJ_2alLuuAQINBgSRUM-Ye9WTfPejPaZboe4XyYVyg2yW8e7pcmBRwxUjLKm4AZZQ/s640/P1020266.JPG" width="640" /> </a></div>
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I also love the non-native, but very drought resistant and berry producing Dwarf Barbados Cherry, a plant we already have growing as a natural "weed" in our backyard. It's something I'm hoping we could relocate to the front.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI88wyUfOp8FjBE9k-Hm3ntLqxtQNiy9hmALPtG24Vj2o0Q-RRJU4gg-4syZvTfuvIXkPXHlZyNM33Oa4GHafoJyGNPTLGrfbz6aTFLLdQ2EuZP4TXOoEl10_COFdOP2txanGAYAl5Rfo/s1600/DBarbCherry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI88wyUfOp8FjBE9k-Hm3ntLqxtQNiy9hmALPtG24Vj2o0Q-RRJU4gg-4syZvTfuvIXkPXHlZyNM33Oa4GHafoJyGNPTLGrfbz6aTFLLdQ2EuZP4TXOoEl10_COFdOP2txanGAYAl5Rfo/s640/DBarbCherry.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Look how pretty the flowers are close up!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqdC19RIUUCnUL5Y9MobJQUiKSwMVlUhHRdPRIUqaS3qujBt9bzt5umjlyncHAg3ejNc0eawGdgZLnRg-fK8GSvAD0bD82E79pNIW_ay1xzMOlluONsBbaVTXYX73r3qrVhwzD1_4uMSQ/s1600/P1020200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="638" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqdC19RIUUCnUL5Y9MobJQUiKSwMVlUhHRdPRIUqaS3qujBt9bzt5umjlyncHAg3ejNc0eawGdgZLnRg-fK8GSvAD0bD82E79pNIW_ay1xzMOlluONsBbaVTXYX73r3qrVhwzD1_4uMSQ/s640/P1020200.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Then there are the Yuccas. They'll add both texture, shelter, and flowers for hummingbirds to the garden. The one we see most often around San Antonio is the Red Yucca, with its pink-red flowers on a high stalk.<br />
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The Botanical Gardens also had a Twist-Leaf Yucca, native to the Edward Plateau and indicated for limestone hillsides, exactly where we live. <br />
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How about a bush growing chiles (Chili Peqin or Capsicum annuum)? Food for both bird and human!<br />
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Avie and I have also discussed a type of native grass called Sideoats Grama. We didn't see any at the Botanical Gardens. But they did have Inland Sea Oats, which they indicated was native to Texas. It had seed heads hanging off each plant. They'd be great food for birds and would be very pretty swaying in a breeze. </div>
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Bat-faced Cuphea (<i>Cuphea llavea</i>) is another plant our landscaper wants to put around the gardens. It's a very pretty bush with striking bright red and deep purple flowers which resemble a bat's face.</div>
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One final plant is Silver Ponyfoot. We're thinking it might look nice as a full-sun border plant along the driveway. It also hangs over rocks nicely, in case we decide to do something like that with raised beds. This photo isn't from the Gardens, but from a Native Plant Center in New Braunfels.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPrH0Ow05YC-oM5fvW8jaiwSa1RyQCQUrqvQRzKQhWfzvQwMGQAdi0_Y65Eqw_P2jMCPyLbTYjif0Oplp92hGaV0hOgpmtFJhrrU5o7sHxKUWSnTsFDoOtCADkoyWz_0JVZdJVUUq8leg/s1600/P1020201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPrH0Ow05YC-oM5fvW8jaiwSa1RyQCQUrqvQRzKQhWfzvQwMGQAdi0_Y65Eqw_P2jMCPyLbTYjif0Oplp92hGaV0hOgpmtFJhrrU5o7sHxKUWSnTsFDoOtCADkoyWz_0JVZdJVUUq8leg/s640/P1020201.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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All in all, the visit to the Gardens made for a great day. We even had a chance to see some birds, such as this juvenile American Robin scratching around the leaf litter for food.</div>
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<br />aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118627963856556265.post-53333494572226041692012-09-01T19:32:00.001-07:002012-09-01T19:34:30.719-07:00A Brown Booby at Canyon Lake, TXSeveral days ago someone posted he had seen a Brown Booby at Canyon Lake, an inland body of water just north of San Antonio. The sighting was confirmed and the usual litany of posts on the listserve appeared.<br />
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"Booby seen perched on dam at 11:00 a.m."<br />
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"Booby seen at 3:00 p.m."<br />
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"Booby wasn't seen for a while. But then it flew in and we got great views of it."<br />
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With a long weekend, slightly cooler weather, and a bird-chasing ambition which is quite unusual for us, Avie and I decided we would drive up to Canyon Lake to see this wayward pelagic bird. We'd already seen the species in Panama. But in South Texas?<br />
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We took the back roads up, since driving through Hill Country is always fun and relaxing. Along the way we saw a Crested Caracara wheeling in the sky above us. These birds are usually much more common south of San Antonio. But it seems many south Texas birds are moving north, especially with the extreme drought.<br />
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We arrived at the Canyon Lake Dam and saw a large group of birders out on the dam. How did we know they were birders at that distance? Scopes and cameras with really large lenses, of course.<br />
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We wandered out. As other birders passed us on their way to exit the area, they nodded at us and told us it was on the far side of the concrete structure on its usual perch. We got to the spot just as the last scope was being packed up and moved out. But the Brown Booby was, indeed, there. One other birder, Gerald Zimmerman from Waxahachie, TX, up by Dallas, remained and we discussed birding, rare birds, and the two other rare birds of late: a Black-tailed Godwit and a Greater Shearwater. (We won't be chasing those.)<br />
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We had brought our little Panasonic Lumix camera and zoomed it up as much as possible. I figured I'd try and crop the bird more when we got home. Here's a shot giving a feel for where the bird we in relation to where we were standing:<br />
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You can see the Booby perched in the center of the large pole to the right of the concrete structure. We got good looks with our binoculars. Then I zoomed up the camera and cropped the shots even more when I got home. They're a bit "grainy". But show how handsome a Brown Booby is, with its chocolate brown body and contrasting white belly.<br />
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Tomorrow morning we're going out to Susan and Don Schaezler's <a href="http://warblerwoods.org/" target="_blank">Warbler Woods</a> for a little migratory birding in her backyard. It's the first day of hunting season, so we won't be wandering the property. Still hoping to see some migrating passerines.aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118627963856556265.post-40485794631541720742012-07-07T19:00:00.001-07:002012-08-19T20:20:17.515-07:00North to Alaska!<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-VXuOyQ-x6uw/T_jpvl7cjDI/AAAAAAAAI8U/iqf-J8YUfZs/s1600-h/P1000423%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="P1000423" border="0" height="304" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-IWsA6XuiGq4/T_jpwNncM2I/AAAAAAAAI8c/j9up_dMiojY/P1000423_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline;" title="P1000423" width="404" /></a> <br />
Avie and I took a two-week Holland America cruise on the ms Amsterdam to Alaska. The itinerary was:<br />
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 400px;"><tbody>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="398">Seattle<br />
Cruising outside Vancouver Island<br />
Ketchikan<br />
Cruising Tracy Arm to S. Sawyer Glacier<br />
Juneau<br />
Icy Strait Point/Hoonah<br />
Sea Day<br />
Anchorage<br />
Homer<br />
Kodiak<br />
Cruising to Hubbard Glacier<br />
Sitka<br />
Sea Day<br />
Victoria, British Columbia (Canada)<br />
Seattle<br />
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</tbody></table>
The main focus of the trip for us was birding, although we knew we’d see a lot more than just birds. We were right!<br />
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Since I spent time journaling every night on the ship, I’m going to post everything so it appears in the order of the cruise, rather than backwards (as most of our other trips appear).<br />
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Let me just preface this by saying how impressed we were with Holland America, the Amsterdam, the service we received, and the food we ate. It’s unfortunate this is the last year for this fabulous itinerary. But I hope my posts help others who travel to Alaska, by cruise ship or otherwise, get the most out of their birding and nature experiences.<br />
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If at any time you want to see a full size photo, click on the picture and it will open up larger. Then just press the back arrow in your browser to return to the post.<br />
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Enjoy!<br />
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<div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:355137dd-2ce0-4ef7-a0c0-0820cbb3af7a" style="display: inline; float: none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Alaska" rel="tag">Alaska</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/birds" rel="tag">birds</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/birding" rel="tag">birding</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/birdwatching" rel="tag">birdwatching</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/nature" rel="tag">nature</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/cruise" rel="tag">cruise</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/cruising" rel="tag">cruising</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Holland+America" rel="tag">Holland America</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Amsterdam" rel="tag">Amsterdam</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/April+Grunspan" rel="tag">April Grunspan</a></div>
aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118627963856556265.post-68512572509043577652012-07-07T18:58:00.001-07:002012-07-07T18:58:36.636-07:00Alaska: Ketchikan June 17, 2012<p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Jd61YurvBsw/T_jpA-ySNlI/AAAAAAAAI4g/PATr-1vGkG4/s1600-h/P11900913.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1190091" border="0" alt="P1190091" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-1_7THuMdXK4/T_jpBvJzwuI/AAAAAAAAI4o/Wbwi8PWg7LM/P1190091_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="304" /></a>          </p> <p>After a rocky day at sea (we won’t discuss my first bout ever with seasickness), we docked in Ketchikan right on time at 8 a.m. A bit later we picked up our rental car and ran to the Parnassus Bookstore to replace the Sibley’s Guide we accidentally left with our son back in Seattle.</p> <p>Then we set out along the North Tongass Highway to do some birding.</p> <p>Our first stop was Refuge Cove State Park, where Avie got his first look at a Red-breasted Sapsucker. We heard a lot of birds, but were unable to locate them in the thick cover of the Pacific Northwest Rain Forest.</p> <p>Next stop was Totem Bight State Park, with a wonderful collection of Totem Poles. </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Sm0ufmSOt6k/T_jpCDT4MgI/AAAAAAAAI4w/zwhSulSbGEc/s1600-h/P1000030.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000030" border="0" alt="P1000030" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-P8R15YIQy2o/T_jpC9-D2cI/AAAAAAAAI44/xEkxb8ml81A/P1000030_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="457" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-hAEd5l2544A/T_jpDiugR_I/AAAAAAAAI5A/MkHoSpxufHw/s1600-h/P10000311.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000031" border="0" alt="P1000031" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-a9d6LPQ240g/T_jpEAnJI-I/AAAAAAAAI5I/YJJZ7x4uOLs/P1000031_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-qmkM2wUMMJQ/T_jpErmwbsI/AAAAAAAAI5Q/_pyZ1quHfes/s1600-h/P10000372.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000037" border="0" alt="P1000037" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-l45AJcN9Cvo/T_jpFe3dnBI/AAAAAAAAI5Y/lc9_1iy-xrM/P1000037_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="261" /></a></p> <p>We took the trail around the park, and walked a bit on a gravely beach. We picked up a small Marbled Murrelet diving just a bit off the shore. </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-lZm-LjIEdMU/T_jpGKscuhI/AAAAAAAAI5g/Ysi1dSzR-hA/s1600-h/P10000461.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000046" border="0" alt="P1000046" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/--FV-LkVZ0-w/T_jpHOZhKfI/AAAAAAAAI5o/av4UI-dTdyY/P1000046_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a></p> <p>On the way out of the park Avie saw an American Robin fly into its nest to feed some babies. When I got my binoculars on them I was fascinated to see the adult pick up a rather large fecal sac and, rather than remove it from the nest, swallow it – a behavior I’ll have to research when I get home.</p> <p>We shared the Robin’s nest with one of the rangers, and she shared a nearby Bald Eagle nest with us. A fair exchange!</p> <p>From there we drove up to Settler’s Cove State Park, where the highway ended. We found a parking spot overlooking the Cove and began scoping. Far out on the water was a Western Grebe as well as three Surf Scoters accompanied by a Bufflehead. We also had a beautiful pair of Red-breasted Sapsuckers.</p> <p>Our final birding destination for the day was up Ravilla Road. An interesting stop here was not for birds, but to check out a pullout with over 100 shotgun shell cases. </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-_OU1MiZWAng/T_jpH9FICdI/AAAAAAAAI5w/eRRXPEBI2Ik/s1600-h/P10000481.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000048" border="0" alt="P1000048" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-nTARCXIClaU/T_jpIWADwrI/AAAAAAAAI54/YmcNOtCr3RQ/P1000048_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a></p> <p>Apparently this is a popular target practice site, with cans, plastic containers, and hanging metal cases all with various sized holes from the different gauges of shot used.</p> <p>We turned right onto Brown Mountain logging road. This was where we really came across birds and incredible vistas.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-8ZCzzkxKmwg/T_jpIxnpraI/AAAAAAAAI6A/9B6-t7MgJRw/s1600-h/P10000541.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000054" border="0" alt="P1000054" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-zOiSxnhXLDs/T_jpJf0JbXI/AAAAAAAAI6I/CtA3AGHSslo/P1000054_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-M0iDpgiBuew/T_jpKLEn_HI/AAAAAAAAI6Q/V1XtE-9jM6w/s1600-h/P10000601.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000060" border="0" alt="P1000060" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-kDTN837ABVI/T_jpKogX_HI/AAAAAAAAI6Y/eoYbYLgKOeI/P1000060_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-tHbFG0pMSPg/T_jpLvqE1KI/AAAAAAAAI6g/Xf6mCEIfdWk/s1600-h/P10000631.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000063" border="0" alt="P1000063" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-o7g5vbwDobo/T_jpMKnDaPI/AAAAAAAAI6o/ApNkkXTyiKA/P1000063_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a></p> <p>We also came across some fresh bear scat in the road, something which caused a slight bit of concern. But we figured we were in the car, rather than hiking, so we just continued on, keeping an eye peeled just in case.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-z_1aPP-Q15s/T_jpM0UwTHI/AAAAAAAAI6w/sV58yCakP74/s1600-h/P10000781.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000078" border="0" alt="P1000078" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-7yRVvoWHO-Y/T_jpNzgkq9I/AAAAAAAAI64/Y02BcB8Nz3A/P1000078_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a></p> <p>Avie finally got his Varied Thrush here and we found a new life bird for both of us: a Gray-cheeked Thrush. We both saw a Spotted Towhee which, according to the bird list for Ketchikan, is not a bird which is supposed to be here this time of year. </p> <p>I posted it on the Alaska Birding Email Loop when we got home and received quite a response. I was told the bird would be a second record for Ketchikan and only the tenth for Alaska. I’m hoping, in spite of the time lapse, someone can refind the bird.</p> <p>On the way back down, while we stopped to check out the Gray-cheeked Thrush, Avie put the car into park and couldn’t get it out. We tried several different things and finally, afraid we would miss the ship, Avie started walking down the road to try and find either people or cell reception. Meanwhile, I found the car’s manual and read a little, finding out there was an override. I pulled open the stop, put a pen into the hole and pushed. Magic! I was able to get the car into drive, catch up to my poor, brave husband. And, believe me, the bear was on both our minds during our travails.</p> <p>We went back to town and had lunch at a chips place on Creek St. While we sat outside and ate, we watched Cedar Waxwings, a Townsend’s Warbler, Barn, and Tree Swallows. </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-HAmUAawQBWQ/T_jpOUbOPxI/AAAAAAAAI7A/Xg5xtaeTG0w/s1600-h/P10000811.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000081" border="0" alt="P1000081" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-6WN0ETKue1M/T_jpO697ccI/AAAAAAAAI7I/3uAN3Y4syFE/P1000081_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-n21cvZga7Ds/T_jpPsh7F7I/AAAAAAAAI7Q/sDmudg1SThA/s1600-h/P10000831.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000083" border="0" alt="P1000083" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-1TcPFbp-Ao0/T_jpQKZcqGI/AAAAAAAAI7Y/NQZqCLowAJU/P1000083_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a></p> <p>We also heard Bald Eagles chirping and calling most of the time we were out there.</p> <p>A little shopping for gifts and we returned to the ship. However, our birding day didn’t end there. We took the scope and our binoculars to the rear of the ship and watched Eagle families perch, fly, and interact. </p> <p>As we pulled out we picked up both Black-legged Kittiwakes and Mew Gulls over the water.</p> <p>And now I leave you with some Bald Eagle photos for the day, another shot of some spectacular scenery, and as our bird list.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-K8txZI9WKOI/T_jpQmTE1TI/AAAAAAAAI7g/En5VeaIkcJE/s1600-h/P10000766.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000076" border="0" alt="P1000076" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-fDlXtQsp0II/T_jpROZvYCI/AAAAAAAAI7o/jq1xYIpGPpw/P1000076_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="406" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-U35afrI7AtU/T_jpRULTWkI/AAAAAAAAI7w/HFL5UOgfsn4/s1600-h/P10000886.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000088" border="0" alt="P1000088" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Z9qDXrAuEdI/T_jpR9lMRNI/AAAAAAAAI74/frbyP-HSkRY/P1000088_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="224" height="301" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-fsYx7GZTgAQ/T_jpSTqFc8I/AAAAAAAAI8A/aWEi-yis1xg/s1600-h/P11901001.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1190100" border="0" alt="P1190100" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ywdRExkTDWM/T_jpS4zP1TI/AAAAAAAAI8I/ZxfTd5OnG0U/P1190100_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a></p> <p>The list:</p> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="1" width="300"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="300">Surf Scoter <br />Bufflehead <br />Western Grebe <br />Bald Eagle <br />Sharp-shinned Hawk <br />Black-legged Kittiwake <br />Mew Gull <br />Marbled Murrelet <br />Rock Pigeon <br />Mourning Dove <br />Red-breasted Sapsucker <br />Northwestern Crow <br />Common Raven <br />Tree Swallow <br />Barn Swallow <br />GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH <br />American Robin <br />Varied Thrush <br />Cedar Waxwing <br />Townsend’s Warbler <br />Spotted Towhee <br /></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:5d6ee92e-b2ce-48e6-8cc9-4ebbfe104421" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Alaska" rel="tag">Alaska</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/birds" rel="tag">birds</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/birding" rel="tag">birding</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/birdwatching" rel="tag">birdwatching</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/nature" rel="tag">nature</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/cruise" rel="tag">cruise</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/cruising" rel="tag">cruising</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Holland+America" rel="tag">Holland America</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Amsterdam" rel="tag">Amsterdam</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/April+Grunspan" rel="tag">April Grunspan</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Ketchikan" rel="tag">Ketchikan</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/bear" rel="tag">bear</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/brown+bears" rel="tag">brown bears</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/grizzly+bears" rel="tag">grizzly bears</a></div> aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118627963856556265.post-39882248419964486922012-07-07T18:39:00.001-07:002012-07-07T18:39:37.251-07:00Alaska: Tracy Arm, June 18, 2012<p>Avi and I woke up fairly early, had a quick breakfast, and then bundled up to head out onto the stern (rear) deck to spend the day cruising in and out of Tracy Arm, passing the North Sawyer Glacier and, hopefully, going far enough in to see the South Sawyer Glacier.</p> <p>We met Nobby and Cindy, friends I had made on the Cruise Critic boards before the cruise. We spent a few hours on deck in beautiful, sunny, and almost warm Alaska weather, watching groups of Humpback Whales spouting, surfacing and diving. I especially enjoyed one who waved its fluke out of the water several times. It was a wonderful preview to the whale watch we’ll be going on tomorrow.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-hKMgfnr-6qM/T_jkljaNeqI/AAAAAAAAIzE/ngkJS_Yvf7A/s1600-h/P1000105%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="P1000105" border="0" alt="P1000105" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-w78N2A227OU/T_jkmP_BkiI/AAAAAAAAIzM/Y-1F9RBrT4E/P1000105_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a> </p> <p>As we entered Tracy Arm we were surrounded by incredible scenes all along the way. Small mountains on either side of us (@3,000 ft.) with taller, snowcapped mountains in the background (up to 8,000 feet tall.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Zslji_-caM4/T_jkmn2oKQI/AAAAAAAAIzU/BuIrfVPyLew/s1600-h/P1000104%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="P1000104" border="0" alt="P1000104" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-AFswBbtO0rM/T_jknPpAgLI/AAAAAAAAIzc/GDAwyU7-fUg/P1000104_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-qd7QF7vhVq0/T_jknmhTdHI/AAAAAAAAIzk/pu6PzkB3_Lw/s1600-h/P1000108%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="P1000108" border="0" alt="P1000108" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-bdvwK8y3Cd8/T_jkoJUofrI/AAAAAAAAIzs/60XFbLoWaHg/P1000108_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a> </p> <p>Tracy Arm was formed by the original Sawyer Glacier, which formed this body of water cutting in from the Frederick Sound.</p> <p>All along the arm we saw waterfalls coming off the snow covered mountain tops, beautiful coniferous forests, and ever changing skies.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-oOQgSJfYX6o/T_jko1vKfkI/AAAAAAAAIz0/BNxRhsCCN2M/s1600-h/P1000112%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="P1000112" border="0" alt="P1000112" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-C95WQX6hp9E/T_jkpFr-dJI/AAAAAAAAIz8/hcF1-Sumzp0/P1000112_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a> </p> <p>As we got further and further in we also saw icebergs of all different shapes and sizes. Their aquamarine hues were striking and I don’t think you can completely capture that gemlike transluscency in a photograph, although Avie valiantly tried.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-bUNWg5VDfIo/T_jkprTgpdI/AAAAAAAAI0E/sCuiM_OHd6Y/s1600-h/P1000144%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="P1000144" border="0" alt="P1000144" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Hczj7tKx6Zk/T_jkqCQEKTI/AAAAAAAAI0M/Q8w-mHuxtug/P1000144_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/--y-yPGdennQ/T_jkqtg6v_I/AAAAAAAAI0U/tKTpBCkApFw/s1600-h/P1000151%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="P1000151" border="0" alt="P1000151" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-oOToxF7xtE4/T_jkrLnVNcI/AAAAAAAAI0c/QqYOWfavpHw/P1000151_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a> </p> <p>As we approached the glaciers it became colder and colder. Even though friends had told us we wouldn’t need the “winter gear” we purchased for the trip, I found it wasn’t overkill at all. </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-mMDx9umZCWk/T_jkrulQklI/AAAAAAAAI0k/BlCYYGmrims/s1600-h/P1000117%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="P1000117" border="0" alt="P1000117" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-AXzSv54Q8kE/T_jksKL2t_I/AAAAAAAAI0s/0dp03Kqicp8/P1000117_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a> </p> <p>One lovely tradition on Holland America’s Alaska cruises is the serving of Dutch Pea Soup on deck. It was a perfect accompaniment to our trip up along the Arm, not to mention a nice way to warm up a bit without going inside.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-XF0Ncs3i8CU/T_jkszo5nyI/AAAAAAAAI00/2unYYwsrfjg/s1600-h/P1000119%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="P1000119" border="0" alt="P1000119" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-J2UVBw9HjG4/T_jktT_sMZI/AAAAAAAAI08/q9V4Lx2UmOk/P1000119_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a> </p> <p>The closer we got to the glacier, the more seals (both Fur and Harbor) we saw hauled out on the icebergs, most of them with pups alongside. They were there to protect themselves and their new pups from the transient Orca pods which fed on seals as a mainstay of their diet. Additionally, Mew Gulls and Pigeon Guillemots were in abundance if one paid attention using binoculars. </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-_edpkuPP4ps/T_jktxwghVI/AAAAAAAAI1E/_wh4oWHJszs/s1600-h/P1000241%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="P1000241" border="0" alt="P1000241" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-wyKtylC0bE4/T_jkuWMj33I/AAAAAAAAI1M/0xETX0Z66tU/P1000241_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ps2jX992tog/T_jku_-T0SI/AAAAAAAAI1U/y-RxmrvZiqc/s1600-h/P1000127%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="P1000127" border="0" alt="P1000127" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-l2uPX7o1IPc/T_jkvd_XkSI/AAAAAAAAI1c/y0dC-Ph8fL8/P1000127_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a>  </p> <p>Many of the icebergs had blood spots on them from where Seals had given birth, adding a bit of eerie color to the scene.</p> <p>As we went further along Tracy Arm, the ice became more frequent and larger. Only 20% of an iceberg (growler for the smaller ones) is at the surface of the water, so their full size can be a bit deceiving.</p> <p>We got a photo of one next to a boat we think held 12 passengers (to the right). Now imagine 80% of that ice still under water!</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-fajNnZ-EevM/T_jkvz7FKVI/AAAAAAAAI1k/nkMmMlRJW5E/s1600-h/P10002043.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000204" border="0" alt="P1000204" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-YKPfw72rf_Q/T_jkwbqRIfI/AAAAAAAAI1s/AoQcxZWToDg/P1000204_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a> </p> <p>Luck was with us this day. The Amsterdam made it all the way through Tracy Arm and we were able to see the glacier at close quarters, even observing a couple of smaller calvings (where a piece of the glacier breaks off and becomes part of the numbers of floating icebergs).</p> <p>When looking at the photos, remember we were at least a mile to a half mile away from the glacier when we took these photos, making it difficult to gauge the actual size.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-751FXTePlP0/T_jkw-lmkdI/AAAAAAAAI10/xr6Fu6V6ZRM/s1600-h/P1000267%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="P1000267" border="0" alt="P1000267" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-uGm5g8onRQo/T_jkxU17PfI/AAAAAAAAI18/ORNnDQwTzFE/P1000267_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/--JyHbI788E0/T_jkxzJKdjI/AAAAAAAAI2E/WZGnmiE_aOU/s1600-h/P1000264%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="P1000264" border="0" alt="P1000264" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Y3hvyjqiMcM/T_jkyZEobRI/AAAAAAAAI2M/guKt2P6CWAs/P1000264_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="260" /></a>  <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-6kfajKjHhi0/T_jkzG4CRHI/AAAAAAAAI2U/X-Dwkk9l_5U/s1600-h/P1000268%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="P1000268" border="0" alt="P1000268" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-a1SpvL-gFtg/T_jkzl3jnGI/AAAAAAAAI2c/_oeXg4FMxwI/P1000268_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a> </p> <p>As I type this, we’re still on our way out of Tracy Arm. The cold drove us inside after 8 hours in some of the truly majestic vistas one can find in Alaska.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-z_1XbqxQvFM/T_jk0HCTueI/AAAAAAAAI2k/O-psTvhPcqc/s1600-h/P1000269%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="P1000269" border="0" alt="P1000269" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-0Wld18AU-Gg/T_jk07DBeAI/AAAAAAAAI2s/jdNg0Myar6o/P1000269_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a>  </p> <p></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-kaw76TEyTcA/T_jk1vI6hdI/AAAAAAAAI20/mhHdA9TNFCM/s1600-h/P1000271%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="P1000271" border="0" alt="P1000271" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-_cVsQocgfAs/T_jk2LviZrI/AAAAAAAAI28/KHHH-fbXEWs/P1000271_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a></p> <p>The list:</p> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="1" width="300"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="300">Bald Eagle <br />Mew Gull <br />Herring Gull <br />Glaucous-winged Gull <br />Pigeon Guillemot <br />Marbled Murrelet <br />Hummingbird sp. <br />Northwestern Crow</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p> </p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:1f81d53d-28f0-44b0-b713-67648fed7588" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Alaska" rel="tag">Alaska</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/birds" rel="tag">birds</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/birding" rel="tag">birding</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/birdwatching" rel="tag">birdwatching</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/nature" rel="tag">nature</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/cruise" rel="tag">cruise</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/cruising" rel="tag">cruising</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Holland+America" rel="tag">Holland America</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Amsterdam" rel="tag">Amsterdam</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/April+Grunspan" rel="tag">April Grunspan</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Tracy+Arm" rel="tag">Tracy Arm</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Sawyer+Glaciers" rel="tag">Sawyer Glaciers</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/South+Sawyer+Glacier" rel="tag">South Sawyer Glacier</a></div> aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118627963856556265.post-13901723210884824902012-07-07T18:33:00.001-07:002012-07-07T18:33:56.986-07:00Alaska: Juneau June 19, 2012<p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-uHz_Rue2Lmg/T_jjPBL8giI/AAAAAAAAIuw/JwuNzFKDvrs/s1600-h/P10002793.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000279" border="0" alt="P1000279" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-OpewLAhWfEQ/T_jjPgsilHI/AAAAAAAAIu4/z8BX3w_psuA/P1000279_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="260" /></a> </p> <p>For our day in Juneau we had reserved a whale watch trip with the private company Harv and Marv’s. Their representative, Estie, met us promptly at 8:30 and, after picking up another two couples, drove us to the marina where we boarded our small covered, six passenger boat.</p> <p>Our captain was Liz Stahl, who spends the summers leading whale watches out of Juneau and the winter doing the same in Maui, Hawaii, the breeding grounds for the Humpback Whales.</p> <p>We were delighted to hear there was a pod of Orcas nearby we would be seeing before looking for the Humpback Whales. The pod was impressive.</p> <p>Liz explained how to differentiate between males and female Orcas. Males have a tall dorsal fin which runs completely perpendicular to its body. The females have a shorter, more curved one. The pod allowed us to see these differences quite clearly. As a bonus, there were even some young Orcas in the mix.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-bFPtvZkj278/T_jjQGhuwuI/AAAAAAAAIvA/Nvon4BfhjSM/s1600-h/P10003223.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000322" border="0" alt="P1000322" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-QY6zh9tNkog/T_jjQpQKO2I/AAAAAAAAIvI/X_s5PwiajSE/P1000322_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a> </p> <p>After spending a long while with the Orcas, we headed off to search for Humpback Whales. It seemed all the whale watching boats keep in touch with each other, alerting everyone where they see whales. </p> <p>The first sign of a Humpback Whale is its “blow”, a column of exhaled air and water going up to thirty feet in the air.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ixdVIn2NMrk/T_jjRBvWWoI/AAAAAAAAIvQ/mjG6pfIRd1Q/s1600-h/P10003493.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000349" border="0" alt="P1000349" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ytQbHSPmc78/T_jjRvV5UzI/AAAAAAAAIvY/KtOIuO5eLJw/P1000349_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a> </p> <p>They blow and surface three to five times before they dive, often showing their tail at that point. Once you catch the rhythm and specific movements you can also figure out when to snap your camera and get the shot.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-JqLy0gOm8bQ/T_jjR9tha8I/AAAAAAAAIvg/iJ37zzVgpFY/s1600-h/P10003542.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000354" border="0" alt="P1000354" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ZeKQ_jboe0k/T_jjSfBck0I/AAAAAAAAIvo/P8RS7iDezFs/P1000354_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-9IMrWY5E1J8/T_jjS-K6nLI/AAAAAAAAIvw/IxjdTL_K2eU/s1600-h/P10003412.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000341" border="0" alt="P1000341" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-jax6ix1kUas/T_jjTQdu2GI/AAAAAAAAIv4/B6OWqBXdyRY/P1000341_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-qsQAEibYegw/T_jjT8oZLXI/AAAAAAAAIwA/sZoilJpMaHU/s1600-h/P10003562.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000356" border="0" alt="P1000356" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Bp_i_Cy5GCc/T_jjUWkOYLI/AAAAAAAAIwI/hdGnsq6HLH8/P1000356_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> </p> <p>Aware we were birders, Liz also took care to point out any birds she spotted along the way. So, in addition to great Orca and Humpback watching, we also added Harlequin Duck, Black Oystercatcher, and Belted Kingfisher to our Alaska list.</p> <p>During the ride, Liz also pointed out the nearby Eagle Glacier, very visible during much of our boat trip. This is a montaine glacier, remaining up on the mountain and not reaching the water.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ODOPujVUS1w/T_jjU18igsI/AAAAAAAAIwQ/_KREacXqNgk/s1600-h/P10003363.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000336" border="0" alt="P1000336" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-P0WaUDgg8dI/T_jjVdUr4XI/AAAAAAAAIwY/aoK-iNx-sR0/P1000336_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a> </p> <p>On the way back to the harbor, we passed a buoy with hauled out Steller’s Sea Lions on it. </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-8Ja3W1_LAwk/T_jjVxtpjSI/AAAAAAAAIwg/OF4T6BajS20/s1600-h/P10003273.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000327" border="0" alt="P1000327" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-_ftxNZRd4CI/T_jjWZUN5ZI/AAAAAAAAIwo/ak7nGfraX_Y/P1000327_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="350" /></a> </p> <p>After the whale watch, we made a short fifteen minute stop at the impressive Mendenhall Glacier. The area around the glacier was lush and we heard many birds in the area. But we had already planned to try for Grouse and Ptarmigan by ascending Mt. Roberts in the tram back in town.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-69A0qgsxTnc/T_jjW1zTAdI/AAAAAAAAIww/-ny1u7yT5Bc/s1600-h/P10003723.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000372" border="0" alt="P1000372" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-JjCpepeQrFg/T_jjXSjkprI/AAAAAAAAIw4/d9mjVo-b9O4/P1000372_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-wGNIk1jJ1C8/T_jjYFjldsI/AAAAAAAAIxA/8gkgatqXipo/s1600-h/P10003733.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000373" border="0" alt="P1000373" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-DZ2QweCz3x8/T_jjYob-ofI/AAAAAAAAIxI/NRHB74A2ua8/P1000373_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-B-bGQxnmtbE/T_jjZeflWiI/AAAAAAAAIxQ/1LGuRvgiItA/s1600-h/P10003773.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000377" border="0" alt="P1000377" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-8UbEaVyFuNg/T_jjZzOFF5I/AAAAAAAAIxY/PFC80ye984w/P1000377_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-bwUgSE3PXoc/T_jjaf31ljI/AAAAAAAAIxg/ckyAeomXyNM/s1600-h/P10003793.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000379" border="0" alt="P1000379" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-WxXGEBfm--U/T_jja8KdtiI/AAAAAAAAIxo/X5Pedn9T0lU/P1000379_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a> </p> <p>We had an Alaska lunch at the famous Tracy’s Crab Shack. Combo #1, our order, had crab bisque, four small crab cakes with a spicy dip, and two King Crab legs with drawn butter.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ivJuGVlyzhk/T_jjbncKF0I/AAAAAAAAIxw/IZS3T7_pNXU/s1600-h/P10003852.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000385" border="0" alt="P1000385" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-J9jrkak4hwA/T_jjcAYzCxI/AAAAAAAAIx4/W55m6kZymks/P1000385_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> </p> <p>Afterward, we walked the short distance to the tram, paid our $30 each and took the steep and slightly frightening ride to the visitor center about 2,600 feet up.</p> <p>Our intended hike to above the treeline was curtailed when we found the trail covered with snow. We added no new birds to our life list. But we enjoyed listening to the large numbers of Varied Thrushes, watching American Robins pick at the snow, and revisit our familiar friends: Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, and Winter Wren.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-5oU92Q7N_yY/T_jjcgXuT1I/AAAAAAAAIyA/2yrOZ6PXWeI/s1600-h/P10004003.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000400" border="0" alt="P1000400" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-aBjAqIrM0zE/T_jjdOcVkDI/AAAAAAAAIyI/hE6Fsn18iRQ/P1000400_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="260" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-2Oj2BvgmesA/T_jjdj9XQoI/AAAAAAAAIyQ/7lO3kTDTy3U/s1600-h/P10004023.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000402" border="0" alt="P1000402" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-COGxeNnnq4Y/T_jjeBzwzHI/AAAAAAAAIyY/TLArcz_Pa2o/P1000402_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ic495Q3Lm90/T_jje6KFp-I/AAAAAAAAIyg/927YXCcRW94/s1600-h/P10004193.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000419" border="0" alt="P1000419" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-bKoc-4X-uZc/T_jjfZgblyI/AAAAAAAAIyo/dyjIb5FuhzE/P1000419_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a> </p> <p>The most frustrating birds of the day were a flock of small birds flying around the snowline at Mt. Roberts. I believe they might have been Gray-crowned Rosy Finches. But we never got a good enough look for an adequate identification.</p> <p>Because the snow prevented us from climbing up as far as we wanted, we didn’t get to see Ptarmigan. In fact, we dipped on that particular bird (along with Grouse).</p> <p>We ended the afternoon by walking around Juneau, a city consisting mostly of tourist traps and shlock shops. We had originally planned to have dinner in town, but decided instead to return to the ship and have our dinner there.</p> <p>If I were to return to Juneau, I think I’d spend the day hiking around the Mendenhall Glacier. But the trip up Mt. Roberts, even though a disappointment as far as birds are concerned, still offered incredible vistas and some beautiful temperate rainforest flora.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-yMDGRSK5A18/T_jjgPDy73I/AAAAAAAAIyw/9n3OAeMEVyQ/s1600-h/P10003683.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000368" border="0" alt="P1000368" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Zj8J81grJts/T_jjgnv51XI/AAAAAAAAIy4/1Loosmndy-A/P1000368_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a> </p> <p>The list:</p> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="1" width="300"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="300">Harlequin Duck <br />Surf Scoter <br />Bald Eagle <br />Black Oystercatcher <br />Mew Gull <br />Pigeon Guillemot <br />Marbled Murrelet <br />Rock Dove <br />Belted Kingfisher <br />Barn Swallow <br />Winter (Pacific) Wren <br />Hermit Thrush <br />American Robin <br />Varied Thrush <br />Wilson’s Warbler <br />Song Sparrow</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p> </p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:1e01e50d-a3a2-4a50-a3af-d111c44865a2" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Alaska" rel="tag">Alaska</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/birds" rel="tag">birds</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/birding" rel="tag">birding</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/birdwatching" rel="tag">birdwatching</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/nature" rel="tag">nature</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/cruising" rel="tag">cruising</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/ships" rel="tag">ships</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Holland+America" rel="tag">Holland America</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Amsterdam" rel="tag">Amsterdam</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/April+Grunspan" rel="tag">April Grunspan</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Juneau" rel="tag">Juneau</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Harv+and+Marv's" rel="tag">Harv and Marv's</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Whale+Watch" rel="tag">Whale Watch</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Whales" rel="tag">Whales</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Whale" rel="tag">Whale</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Humpback" rel="tag">Humpback</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Mendenhall+Glacier" rel="tag">Mendenhall Glacier</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/glacier" rel="tag">glacier</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Mt.+Roberts" rel="tag">Mt. Roberts</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/tram" rel="tag">tram</a></div> aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118627963856556265.post-9576618305940748062012-07-07T18:30:00.001-07:002012-08-28T06:21:54.730-07:00Alaska: Icy Strait Point/Hoonah June 20, 2012Icy Strait Point is a port conceived of by the local Tlingit tribe. As such, its character is completely different from any other port we visited on this trip.<br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-0lG451riE5g/T_jicvzuMWI/AAAAAAAAIrg/IMhZlg1qEOw/s1600-h/P1000528%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="P1000528" border="0" height="259" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-cgzH7Uq6oWY/T_jidrfzP6I/AAAAAAAAIro/pGF3coohyDE/P1000528_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline;" title="P1000528" width="344" /></a> <br />
Because of the way the port is designed, one must take a ship’s tender over to the port, about a mile or so from the town of Hoonah.<br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-55rihR7zQGo/T_jieBsfyuI/AAAAAAAAIrw/IiB-wMK6LFA/s1600-h/P1000422%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="P1000422" border="0" height="260" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-FHGojDqyLsU/T_jieRgi25I/AAAAAAAAIr4/mKl-ZXv7nYM/P1000422_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline;" title="P1000422" width="344" /></a> <br />
Our excursion, booked through Holland America, was Whales, Wildlife and Bears, a five and a half hour combined tour which would take up most of our time at this port.<br />
The first part of the excursion found us on a large catamaran taking us out to Adolphus Point. <br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-cLpziOknbw0/T_jifPnyCxI/AAAAAAAAIsA/O66cqR70DW0/s1600-h/P1000421%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="P1000421" border="0" height="259" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-EnB5__E7zWM/T_jifqyetcI/AAAAAAAAIsI/8aDhhSAaMjs/P1000421_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline;" title="P1000421" width="344" /></a> <br />
This was the most impressive of all the trips of this ilk during the entire cruise. We saw a large group of Humpback Whales, many quite nearby. <br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-xdG2hO6TDDo/T_jigIvz_wI/AAAAAAAAIsQ/mXuj_ncxzrw/s1600-h/P1000467%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="P1000467" border="0" height="259" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-b_FTDm-dIe0/T_jigyKmoUI/AAAAAAAAIsY/4nRHRXk9FcE/P1000467_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline;" title="P1000467" width="344" /></a> <br />
We were all impressed with what we were seeing until they began breaching. At that point, being impressed morphed into being mesmerized and amazed.<br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-S54G0IvqZfc/T_jihendoGI/AAAAAAAAIsg/pEb4Bnl_ul0/s1600-h/P1000470%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="P1000470" border="0" height="260" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-lbRWmWC5Qxo/T_jihx9HiTI/AAAAAAAAIso/3yPv6iVTLFQ/P1000470_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline;" title="P1000470" width="344" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-cop1r53NYUw/T_jiia3VjiI/AAAAAAAAIsw/3pCJiWyapUk/s1600-h/P1000471%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="P1000471" border="0" height="260" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-2VIqYlMNCvU/T_jii94y8AI/AAAAAAAAIs4/I02nfNBe8SE/P1000471_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline;" title="P1000471" width="344" /></a> <br />
During our time out we also had opportunity to see Dall’s Porpoises, Sea Otters, and Steller’s Sea Lions. As for birds, even though Avie and I were about the only people interested in them, we saw Common Loon, Mew and Herring Gulls, Black-legged Kittiwakes, Marbled Murrelets, and Pigeon Guillemots (the dominant birds of this trip).<br />
We returned to Visitor Center at Hoonah to wait for the “Bear Search” portion of our excursion to begin. While we waited, Avie and I shared a not-so-good chowder at the Visitor’s Center. <br />
After about a forty-five minute wait, we boarded bus for the Spaaski River. During the ride, our guide, a Tlingit woman, spoke to us about her tribe, her people, and her life.<br />
When we arrived, we walked down a boardwalk through muskegs filled with beautiful wildflowers. <br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-sb4JHLhINGQ/T_jijRPT3NI/AAAAAAAAItA/XnFs9VDvnZk/s1600-h/P1000494%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="P1000494" border="0" height="260" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-aTNi4ofjsfY/T_jij-6lrFI/AAAAAAAAItI/U5ghAUxKEHk/P1000494_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline;" title="P1000494" width="344" /></a> <br />
We also passed definite indications there were Brown Bears in the area!<br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-5xEg6KKA8Wc/T_jikh-eJAI/AAAAAAAAItQ/MFm1qM2SliQ/s1600-h/P1000488%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="P1000488" border="0" height="259" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-fCYO1npWXZs/T_jilHdXlaI/AAAAAAAAItY/nEfuifpI03Y/P1000488_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline;" title="P1000488" width="344" /></a> <br />
Some people, including Avie, saw large Brown Bear chasing Black-tailed Deer. <br />
There were three stops along river. At the second one, using our binoculars, we were able to see a very blonde Brown Bear with her cub, tucked low into the grass by the river (in the distance).<br />
At the third stop we had a clearer, though still distant view, of another bear lumbering along in the field on the far side of the River. Because it was so distant (and we don’t have an expensive lens on the camera), this was the best shot we could get.<br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-V9XScQjtEXo/T_jilmdvc2I/AAAAAAAAItg/Varkmh1SD_U/s1600-h/P1000499%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="P1000499" border="0" height="260" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ty8mWWf7SxA/T_jimNRNScI/AAAAAAAAIto/hTAOEDfzKC4/P1000499_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline;" title="P1000499" width="344" /></a> <br />
There were also signs of Crossbills (Conifer seeds scattered in a concentrated manner below certain trees) and Red-breasted Sapsucker. <br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-4gqHbCZKwSc/T_jimn7LKtI/AAAAAAAAItw/0Lr3Ui9Tb5k/s1600-h/P1000507%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="P1000507" border="0" height="344" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-J2RySdaPxcU/T_jioBCAetI/AAAAAAAAIt4/gQ2cYvBkqso/P1000507_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline;" title="P1000507" width="259" /></a> <br />
Again, we heard many birds (Varied Thrush, Song Sparrow, Yellow and Yellow-rumped Warblers, and some songs we didn’t recognize at all). But it was extremely difficult to spot them in the thick foliage.<br />
By the way, not only were we accompanied on our walk by our Tlingit guide. We also had the protection of a young man carrying a high-powered rifle. Our guide told us there had never been any incident with bears within her tribe. I guess they just wanted to make sure there were no incidents with their visitors either.<br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ceUU3TTGtCA/T_jiox1pxqI/AAAAAAAAIuA/fgl2fcaT6c0/s1600-h/P1000497%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="P1000497" border="0" height="259" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-X5tUPxXCppI/T_jipbE4i-I/AAAAAAAAIuI/XboHCF0rBFg/P1000497_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline;" title="P1000497" width="344" /></a> <br />
Happily, this was the only bear we came really close to.<br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-qUQQcugjwBw/T_jipyeH48I/AAAAAAAAIuQ/mQ2CcAiVQr8/s1600-h/P1000519%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="P1000519" border="0" height="344" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-LyS77lnnyRs/T_jiqX95iuI/AAAAAAAAIuY/aQZfzeml4UA/P1000519_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline;" title="P1000519" width="259" /></a> <br />
Before taking a tender back to the ship, we did a bit of shopping back at Visitor’s Center. Overall, I think they had better offerings than many of the shops we had visited in Juneau and we were able to purchase a few gifts for people back home.<br />
We tendered back to the shipand went up on rear of Lido deck. As the ship began leaving Icy Strait Point we saw tons of wildlife. <br />
This was when we got our first and only Kittlitz’s Murrelets. After having seen so many Marbled, the much lighter coloration of the Kittlitz’s jumped out at us.<br />
We saw another Common Loonas well as one or two birds we couldn’t quite get a bead on. As we watched, we also saw lots of Porpoises, Sea Otters, and Whales. <br />
Unfortunately we had to come in, even though sun was still high and lots of birding and “mammaling” could still be done.<br />
We were delighted the next day was a sea day and hoped to do a great deal more pelagic birding.<br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-yOPb6dmOCOM/T_jiq2xjNpI/AAAAAAAAIug/3GYEdY-R558/s1600-h/P1000536%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="P1000536" border="0" height="259" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-T30P4gBIs5E/T_jirbF8bbI/AAAAAAAAIuo/BtlJF2yEmss/P1000536_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline;" title="P1000536" width="344" /></a> <br />
The List:<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="width: 300px;"><tbody>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="300">Common Loon <br />
Pelagic Cormorant <br />
Bald Eagle <br />
Mew Gull <br />
Glaucous-winged Gull <br />
Black-legged Kittiwake <br />
Herring Gull <br />
Common Murre <br />
Pigeon Guillemot <br />
Marbled Murrelet <br />
Kittlitz’s Murrelet <br />
Rock Pigeon <br />
Rufous Hummingbird <br />
Tree Swallow <br />
Northwestern Crow <br />
Common Raven <br />
American Robin <br />
Varied Thrush <br />
Yellow Warbler <br />
Yellow-rumped Warbler <br />
Song Sparrow</td> </tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:047c0f50-0bf8-4d46-8a35-8b47efc4f6a6" style="display: inline; float: none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Alaska" rel="tag">Alaska</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/birds" rel="tag">birds</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/birding" rel="tag">birding</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/birdwatching" rel="tag">birdwatching</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/nature" rel="tag">nature</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/cruising" rel="tag">cruising</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/ships" rel="tag">ships</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Holland+America" rel="tag">Holland America</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Amsterdam" rel="tag">Amsterdam</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/April+Grunspan" rel="tag">April Grunspan</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Icy+Strait+Point" rel="tag">Icy Strait Point</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Hoonah" rel="tag">Hoonah</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Hoona" rel="tag">Hoona</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Whales" rel="tag">Whales</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Humpback+Whales" rel="tag">Humpback Whales</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Brown+Bear" rel="tag">Brown Bear</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Brown+Bears" rel="tag">Brown Bears</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Bears" rel="tag">Bears</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Grizzly+Bear" rel="tag">Grizzly Bear</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Grizzly+Bears" rel="tag">Grizzly Bears</a></div>
aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118627963856556265.post-91743368301890739662012-07-07T18:00:00.001-07:002012-07-07T18:00:06.401-07:00Alaska: Gulf of Alaska Take One, June 21, 2012<p>Today is the summer solstice. Sunrise this morning was at 4:48 am and sunset will be at 11:16 pm. We spent most of this longest day of the year on deck (well, several decks) birding in the Gulf of Alaska on our way from Icy Strait Point (Hoonah) to Anchorage.</p> <p>There’s a certain skill set we developed over the course of the day and I now share it with you, my readers.</p> <p>1. Bird with your binoculars, not your naked eyes. With rare exception, those pelagic birds are rather small, making them difficult to see against the broad swathe of water.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-rnMcmHMOerk/T_jbhS9rJMI/AAAAAAAAIqc/38v5e8-HdOk/s1600-h/P1000542%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="P1000542" border="0" alt="P1000542" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-nO1CvF87qH4/T_jbh6T9DVI/AAAAAAAAIqk/MCcbiGaUoDg/P1000542_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a> </p> <p>2. Be sure to move about the ship, using different locations (forward and aft, port and starboard) and heights. On the Amsterdam we birded low on the aft part of the Main level, only a couple of “floors” above the water, one level higher on the side of the ship at the Lower Promenade level, and up on the aft of the Lido deck, about 8 to 9 stories up.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-g5Vu502siY8/T_jbiStOOjI/AAAAAAAAIqs/eBdAQLumchg/s1600-h/P1000541%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="P1000541" border="0" alt="P1000541" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-K8qeY8QB4Xs/T_jbi4UoBhI/AAAAAAAAIq0/eLdTYBRFflU/P1000541_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a> </p> <p>3. Bring your scope and use it! An investment in a fluid head for your tripod will make it a great deal easier to follow the birds. The ship is moving and the birds are moving. The fluid head keeps things smooth and moving as well.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-WCkDdOOHa1Q/T_jbjWrCsPI/AAAAAAAAIq8/1t77ApMefEc/s1600-h/P1000544%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="P1000544" border="0" alt="P1000544" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-_C6acqVEh4k/T_jbj2rVHyI/AAAAAAAAIrE/Ginnv1KGwtU/P1000544_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a> </p> <p>4. When you get “on” a bird, stay with it for as long as possible. Get as many details as possible including location, relation to the water, wingbeats, proportions, and, if there are other birds around, relative size.</p> <p>5. Don’t just look at the pictures in your field guide, read the descriptions. A big aid in our birding today was our copy of The Birds of Alaska by Robert Armstrong. Even though photographs aren’t a great way to identify birds, the information in the book often helped us name a bird by its behavior and geographic likelihood.</p> <p>6. Be a dork. Wear long underwear, lots of layers, gloves, and a warm hat. Even though it might be a nice day out, that wind from the moving ship and off the Gulf can begin to cut through you after some time outside. Remember, you can always take layers off, but you can’t put them on if you don’t have them at hand.</p> <p>We’re looking forward to more time on the Gulf between Homer and Kodiak, and between Kodiak and our day cruising the Hubbard Glacier.</p> <p>Here’s a photo of us, taken at about 10:15 p.m. on that day, followed by the day’s bird list.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-NpmWVR-73J8/T_jbkoZM4iI/AAAAAAAAIrM/6lYwYpRf788/s1600-h/P1000546%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="P1000546" border="0" alt="P1000546" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--y0h09fCtcA/T_jblE6DbsI/AAAAAAAAIrU/3CPTvKjNHME/P1000546_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>The List:</p> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="1" width="300"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="300">Black-footed Albatross <br />Laysan Albatross <br />Northern Fulmar <br />Shearwater sp. <br />Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel <br />Leach’s Storm-Petrel <br />Black Oystercatcher <br />Mew Gull <br />Black-legged Kittiwake <br />Common Murre <br />Tufted Puffin</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p> </p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:4d94b7ba-019f-46ff-8412-5a9d0af8990f" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Alaska" rel="tag">Alaska</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/birds" rel="tag">birds</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/birding" rel="tag">birding</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/birdwatching" rel="tag">birdwatching</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/nature" rel="tag">nature</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/cruising" rel="tag">cruising</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/ships" rel="tag">ships</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Holland+America" rel="tag">Holland America</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Amsterdam" rel="tag">Amsterdam</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/April+Grunspan" rel="tag">April Grunspan</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Gulf+of+Alaska" rel="tag">Gulf of Alaska</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Pelagic" rel="tag">Pelagic</a></div> aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118627963856556265.post-81911120673202257772012-07-07T17:52:00.001-07:002012-07-07T17:52:35.653-07:00Alaska: Anchorage, June 22, 2012<p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-dbHIvDyl1wY/T_jZgffodCI/AAAAAAAAIls/Uj7YccqeHi4/s1600-h/P10006793.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000679" border="0" alt="P1000679" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-dpQUIG37LJI/T_jZg2TrjcI/AAAAAAAAIl0/4WQRbI-yH_4/P1000679_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a> </p> <p>Because we were going to have such a long day in Anchorage, seven a.m. until 11 p.m., we decided to rent a car and drive along Turnagain Arm, birding, taking in the scenery, and grabbing lunch along the way. </p> <p>We were joined by Nobby Coburn, a new friend we met on the <a href="http://boards.cruisecritic.com/" target="_blank">Cruise Critic boards</a> before our cruise.</p> <p>We took the free shuttle bus from the ship to Egan Center. There, we were picked up by Enterprise and taken to our rental car.</p> <p>The drive along Turnagain Arm was, in a word, spectacular. To our right was the Arm, with its enormous tidal changes – up to thirty feet over six hours. To our left were the mountains, with Dall’s Sheep, Bald Eagles, and dramatic altitudes. There was also Potter Marsh, a great birding spot.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-faxlGOH6VoE/T_jZhSQoNqI/AAAAAAAAIl8/y1BOV9g_ljY/s1600-h/P10005643.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000564" border="0" alt="P1000564" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-YYZUT2RY91U/T_jZhxhhguI/AAAAAAAAImE/lnASFvGT2SQ/P1000564_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" height="244" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-G0CwH99pGJo/T_jZiTQKQxI/AAAAAAAAImM/ZH8oIUGCWcA/s1600-h/P10005653.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000565" border="0" alt="P1000565" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Q6xGpbQc1Zo/T_jZi142lGI/AAAAAAAAImU/3xkcv2JU0hs/P1000565_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>Our first stop was at the section of Potter’s Marsh with an extensive boardwalk over the marsh.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-1PK6drASB1k/T_jZjfb8sCI/AAAAAAAAImc/3-Cs_Y94VX0/s1600-h/P10005533.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000553" border="0" alt="P1000553" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-BOmRuqDK0oo/T_jZj5ikycI/AAAAAAAAImk/plCJbJku3Ck/P1000553_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a>  </p> <p>We spent a good amount of time birding this section of Potter’s Marsh, even adding a couple of life birds to our list: Black-billed Magpie, Alder Flycatcher, and Fox Sparrow (Sooty). The Tree Swallows seemed fairly acclimated to people, allowing us to take good portraits of them.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-vWU488y7Wzc/T_jZkkjm9AI/AAAAAAAAIms/Qop2PFyMwNA/s1600-h/P10005573.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000557" border="0" alt="P1000557" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-2Mz-s-B8ZX4/T_jZlW0rVkI/AAAAAAAAIm0/yEaFylhsDxA/P1000557_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a> </p> <p>As we continued along the Arm, we stopped by Beluga Point. We didn’t see any Beluga. However we saw small white dots high on the mountain. When we got our scope on them we saw Dall’s Sheep on the cliffs overlooking the highway.</p> <p>When we turned our attention to the water side of the highway and saw the tide receding. It was a process visible in the moment, with water movement and more and more flats appearing at the water’s edge.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-sEtFJaLwAZU/T_jZl4_IPkI/AAAAAAAAIm8/J0TIwAX8Cx4/s1600-h/P10005823.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000582" border="0" alt="P1000582" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-0IQOVJfZVcc/T_jZmT498BI/AAAAAAAAInE/HMxnoNWkmLA/P1000582_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a> </p> <p>What was uncovered is glacial silt. I’ve heard the silt can be as deep as eight feet and acts like quicksand. Every year people walk out on the silt and sink in. Many times rescuers can’t get to them before the tide rushes in and drowns them. </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-NhwThKfbrks/T_jZm6LeGVI/AAAAAAAAInM/-XSPcYwBugM/s1600-h/P10005843.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000584" border="0" alt="P1000584" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-fvWfb6DlzKU/T_jZnX56x4I/AAAAAAAAInU/UwA0uPBIhVg/P1000584_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a> </p> <p>We stopped for lunch at the Turnagain Arm BBQ. We never would have expected to find good southern BBQ in Alaska, but here it is, chop, brisket, great beans, and just-like-home fried okra!</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ZZatBJANyQ8/T_jZoPp_WiI/AAAAAAAAInc/KFfSNUnQcjI/s1600-h/P10005712.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000571" border="0" alt="P1000571" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-YonHhul_Qo0/T_jZobgjKbI/AAAAAAAAInk/ouS0vGvirk0/P1000571_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> </p> <p>After lunch we stopped at Indian Creek, hoping for an American Dipper. We parked in the parking lot, but didn’t know which way to go for the Creek. We asked some bicyclists and they replied they didn’t think there was a creek nearby.</p> <p>We followed a short trail and, voila, Indian Creek! There were interesting fernlike grasses, wonderful photographic textures, and an encounter with Alaska mosquitos (thank goodness for DEET and permethrin). But we dipped on the Dipper.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-zydZmPst0nU/T_jZpGft_WI/AAAAAAAAIns/_cyh81vI--I/s1600-h/P10005813.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000581" border="0" alt="P1000581" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Vn6N3LUtUyY/T_jZppKCsnI/AAAAAAAAIn0/qinqkMQ2fSc/P1000581_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-7zHEtVppUio/T_jZqSDnKOI/AAAAAAAAIn8/NdVQWvJKixQ/s1600-h/P10005773.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000577" border="0" alt="P1000577" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-rYI4FeRfbZs/T_jZqx_cx0I/AAAAAAAAIoE/G_LCCcbCXsU/P1000577_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-A7XDQy2fNdw/T_jZrieUTlI/AAAAAAAAIoM/yW-m27_jF-s/s1600-h/P10005803.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000580" border="0" alt="P1000580" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-FJcxDz4T8o0/T_jZr1mWtlI/AAAAAAAAIoU/ybI25XbfkzU/P1000580_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a>  </p> <p>As the day went on, we began to realize how lucky we were. The weather was quite unusual for Anchorage, sunny and in the 80’s. In fact, it was downright hot.</p> <p>As we continued driving, we saw damage from the 1964 earthquake, many dead trees, killed by seawater when the earth sank ten feet during the quake.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-KLkJPlKIq5o/T_jZsgHK8GI/AAAAAAAAIoc/mgRuMxa-izc/s1600-h/P10005863.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000586" border="0" alt="P1000586" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-OsuqnunUoKY/T_jZs3e1wqI/AAAAAAAAIok/MTsTab99iVw/P1000586_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a>  </p> <p>We all decided to stop in and visit the Wildlife Conservation at end of Turnagain Arm. It offered us a close-up look at Alaskan wildlife, most of them orphaned animals which couldn’t be released back into the wild. I’ll only include a few photos, since there were many, MANY we took.</p> <p> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Z8y9X8f4WeU/T_jZtsKieVI/AAAAAAAAIos/VVXc3OVC9U4/s1600-h/P10006023.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000602" border="0" alt="P1000602" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-yG4TWrsnDbA/T_jZt9AbJtI/AAAAAAAAIo0/dg1Tdr9tEEQ/P1000602_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a>  <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--jxnG0ygmz0/T_jZuqnFWFI/AAAAAAAAIo8/9f5lUFp9WYw/s1600-h/P10006323.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000632" border="0" alt="P1000632" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-uvmxs4AxDv0/T_jZvCgoF3I/AAAAAAAAIpE/8A8Kgbx1XGw/P1000632_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-C6ubIVVAqfQ/T_jZvrTvjmI/AAAAAAAAIpM/bVj9wmNNsqo/s1600-h/P10006433.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000643" border="0" alt="P1000643" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-xf9hQ9Q2qss/T_jZwPlWfbI/AAAAAAAAIpU/MMmjWjPF8pg/P1000643_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a> </p> <p>The end of Turnagain Arm happens to be on the Wildlife Center’s property. We were there at low tide and the bed was almost completely devoid of water. It had been sucked completely out of that portion of Turnagain Arm.</p> <p> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-mxV-6NMtrwY/T_jZw4spQeI/AAAAAAAAIpc/N5hpLYPURQk/s1600-h/P10006373.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000637" border="0" alt="P1000637" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-X4_UPdNCi2o/T_jZxCobTVI/AAAAAAAAIpk/f2-09jGO_4U/P1000637_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a> </p> <p>As we left the Wildlife Center we began the drive back toward Anchorage. Along the way we made a few more stops at Potter’s Marsh, since there were turnouts on our side of the road. </p> <p>At the different stops we saw a variety of ducks, breeding Mew Gulls and Arctic Terns on their nests. Most of them were considerably closer than I thought they would (or should) be, offering good opportunities for photographs.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-UMV9aHuF-t0/T_jZx-xTQpI/AAAAAAAAIps/lyl4DoLmuMU/s1600-h/P10006633.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000663" border="0" alt="P1000663" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-mNQRgj0BIhU/T_jZyWhx2gI/AAAAAAAAIp0/QU-aKaLDWsw/P1000663_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="260" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-tsH0exnA-Ac/T_jZzL1CUcI/AAAAAAAAIp8/GxvlQbOzqWM/s1600-h/P10006683.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000668" border="0" alt="P1000668" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Eut__jLr_FU/T_jZzjWpWtI/AAAAAAAAIqE/StThObKM0HQ/P1000668_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="241" /></a> </p> <p>A final stop back at the boardwalk area of the Marsh proved to be proof we had reached the end of our day physically, mentally, and geographically. </p> <p>Our last bit of birding and bird photography was a good contrast between a Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs. </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-3wiAEI4v-VY/T_jZ0N3lTlI/AAAAAAAAIqM/cwKRQ9lShrs/s1600-h/P10006993.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000699" border="0" alt="P1000699" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-iYDpLu3s3Cs/T_jZ0n3OGgI/AAAAAAAAIqU/laokp0ykaL0/P1000699_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="364" height="274" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>We arrived at Enterprise just in time to get a ride back to the cruise ship pier. We arrived just in time to find them repositioning the gangway to accommodate the most recent change in tide. Apparently it had been changed twice before and, at one point (or so we heard) the Amsterdam was sitting on the ground, listing slightly. Ah, those Cook Inlet tides!</p> <p>The list:</p> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="1" width="300"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="300">Canada Goose <br />Green-winged Teal <br />Mallard <br />Northern Shoveler <br />Gadwall <br />American Wigeon <br />Common Merganser <br />Bald Eagle <br />Northern Harrier <br />Merlin <br />Sandhill Crane <br />Greater Yellowlegs <br />Lesser Yellowlegs <br />Short-billed Dowitcher <br />Common Snipe <br />Mew Gull <br />Arctic Tern <br />Rock Dove <br />Belted Kingfisher <br />Alder Flycatcher <br />Tree Swallow <br />Violet-green Swallow <br />BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE <br />Northwestern Crow <br />Common Raven <br />Townsend’s Solitaire <br />American Robin <br />Savannah Sparrow <br />FOX SPARROW (SOOTY) <br />Dark-eyed Junco <br />Common Redpoll</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p> </p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:8e0f7efe-78be-4bdd-b56c-0ea02196ad17" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Alaska" rel="tag">Alaska</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/birds" rel="tag">birds</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/birding" rel="tag">birding</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/birdwatching" rel="tag">birdwatching</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/nature" rel="tag">nature</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/cruising" rel="tag">cruising</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/ships" rel="tag">ships</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Holland+America" rel="tag">Holland America</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Amsterdam" rel="tag">Amsterdam</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/April+Grunspan" rel="tag">April Grunspan</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Anchorage" rel="tag">Anchorage</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Turnagain+Arm" rel="tag">Turnagain Arm</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Cook+Inlet" rel="tag">Cook Inlet</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Dall's+Sheep" rel="tag">Dall's Sheep</a></div> aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118627963856556265.post-74400303452517145402012-07-07T17:48:00.001-07:002012-07-07T17:48:36.496-07:00Alaska: Homer, Kachemak Bay, Gull Island, and Seldovia, June 23, 2012<p> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-5G_Iz-OKCks/T_jYrO0VNPI/AAAAAAAAIic/3zHbn2rSONM/s1600-h/P10007683.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000768" border="0" alt="P1000768" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-d0zQWaJDc6Q/T_jYriwm-HI/AAAAAAAAIik/EpGbHMczjbk/P1000768_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a>  </p> <p>We arrived in Homer and were welcomed by thousands (maybe tens of thousands) of nesting Black-legged Kittiwakes. Their nests were everywhere, including the main pier. We had wonderful looks at their faces, bonding rituals, and parents sitting on the nests. Upon our return to the ship, we even had an opportunity to see several eggs in the nests.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-J_RHO6WdmcM/T_jYsG8DLWI/AAAAAAAAIis/BejeQf0ksUc/s1600-h/P10007093.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000709" border="0" alt="P1000709" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-34VluM7uSkM/T_jYspsTb7I/AAAAAAAAIi0/9gu7FedO1W8/P1000709_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-l8-8npMxtWg/T_jYtWhAbZI/AAAAAAAAIi8/RS7QD5c0LhA/s1600-h/P10007703.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000770" border="0" alt="P1000770" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-6U--V_kQ5s4/T_jYt4Hxa7I/AAAAAAAAIjE/gaJY-WfB6Wg/P1000770_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="260" /></a></p> <p>We boarded the Discovery, our excursion boat for the day, and headed out into Kachemak Bay and to Gull Island, to be followed by two hours in the small town of Seldovia.</p> <p>Gull Island was much closer to Homer than I had anticipated and it did not disappoint. The rock faces were covered with nesting Kittiwakes.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-PactOgtl3tU/T_jYudl9-5I/AAAAAAAAIjM/bTY2I-l7wyo/s1600-h/P10007143.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000714" border="0" alt="P1000714" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-wAXslHF5zTw/T_jYu5nWEcI/AAAAAAAAIjU/qY4cPDHk3to/P1000714_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a> </p> <p>The water was covered with thousands upon thousands of Common Murres in huge rafts, all sitting tightly together and facing the same direction.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-CLAQ12e41qI/T_jYvk3BsII/AAAAAAAAIjc/k4hx6gh2aqs/s1600-h/P10007183.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000718" border="0" alt="P1000718" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-5O-ZTo5CoE4/T_jYwDRr8XI/AAAAAAAAIjk/tv64OpJOFmg/P1000718_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="260" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-HL_9TDqW51s/T_jYwq2rBZI/AAAAAAAAIjs/Qv_DunKg7QI/s1600-h/P10007193.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000719" border="0" alt="P1000719" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-VsH5F_FsvAo/T_jYxIEoYoI/AAAAAAAAIj0/FNLJ7UPET84/P1000719_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a> </p> <p>On a nearby rock, we saw several Cormorants. At first we only saw Pelagics. Then Avie spotted one which was a bit larger and had a much fancier “do”. We put the scope on it and it was a coveted Red-faced Cormorant. The red wasn’t as apparent as I thought it would be. It was actually the <a href="http://leesbirdblog.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/15-32-865-red-faced-cormorant-phalacrocorax-urile-by-ian2.jpg" target="_blank">breeding feathers</a> which made them more distinctive.</p> <p>We turned our attention to the Puffins. The vast majority of them were Tufted Puffins. We had been seeing them consistently from the ship; but it was nice to get some closer looks at them. </p> <p>Then our captain spotted a few Horned Puffins, another one of our trip’s target birds. They didn’t bolt as we passed and we were even able to get a few photographs of these pretty little birds.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-F-vl3ZHSRBE/T_jYxhb-rWI/AAAAAAAAIj8/ofjMAuYA3mo/s1600-h/P10007313.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000731" border="0" alt="P1000731" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-wfNtAT2RWmw/T_jYxyEj3II/AAAAAAAAIkE/CcyM_8qFNrQ/P1000731_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="284" height="377" /></a> </p> <p>Avie was also able to get a photo of a Black Oystercatcher, on a nearby beach.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-sDhKD3JLEG8/T_jYyu1f8gI/AAAAAAAAIkM/fxh6vCHyc8A/s1600-h/P10007393.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000739" border="0" alt="P1000739" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-MqYHlL0Hpic/T_jYzc2R_gI/AAAAAAAAIkU/wOS6OsdYqW0/P1000739_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="260" /></a> </p> <p> </p> <p>In addition to the numerous birds, we also enjoyed seeing the Sea Otters, many with young on their chests. This particular photo shows one of the pups off in the water with its mother nearby.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-bGPLLteFNFc/T_jYz2UJo6I/AAAAAAAAIkc/g6Oks0FAnMs/s1600-h/P10007373.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000737" border="0" alt="P1000737" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-uJUJpPcCOOo/T_jY0LNlzvI/AAAAAAAAIkk/h0dZ-IxySnI/P1000737_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a> </p> <p>We arrived at Seldovia and walked over to Seldovia Slough. </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-H0mZ0WcltxM/T_jY0wj5yaI/AAAAAAAAIks/y_OXBkcDYgw/s1600-h/P10007523.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000752" border="0" alt="P1000752" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-PV9j7TUj7fc/T_jY1BdbdpI/AAAAAAAAIk0/BwkbLyb61Pg/P1000752_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" height="244" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-cBDpAYwfUDA/T_jY11VqY1I/AAAAAAAAIk8/VIuiX2F_z_o/s1600-h/P10007533.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000753" border="0" alt="P1000753" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-D1hy8QBLsIA/T_jY2UfWm4I/AAAAAAAAIlE/kcKGNmcEnrk/P1000753_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>We didn’t have much time in town, so we didn’t get very far up the slough. But we saw a few birds new to the trip, including a Steller’s Jay, Violet-green Swallow, and Rough-winged Swallow. Our life bird in Seldovia was a very cooperative Pine Grosbeak singing at the tip of a conifer branch just above our heads.</p> <p>The ride back to Homer, and our ship, was a more direct route through the Bay, so we didn’t see too many birds on the way back.</p> <p>We kept an eye on our latitude and longitude so we could go up on deck when we passed the Barren Islands, a major breeding spot for Alcids and Seabirds. However, we found ourselves passing the Islands after dinner (around 10 p.m.). </p> <p>We went out and saw many birds around the ship. But we were too tired to stay out and watch them all. </p> <p>Being in Alaska around Summer Solstice gives you extremely long days. The birding is there, but the mind and the body eventually give out, so we decided to go to our cabin and begin anew the next day.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-JjFMm6I1m6A/T_jY3Akd0LI/AAAAAAAAIlM/7WS1ncOayj4/s1600-h/P10007613.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000761" border="0" alt="P1000761" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-sLKOCoxV8eI/T_jY3m97fNI/AAAAAAAAIlU/9YpsIo6d5IU/P1000761_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" height="244" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-PMtaInz3vZU/T_jY4EdlXVI/AAAAAAAAIlc/IdfMZpPcuXs/s1600-h/P10007633.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000763" border="0" alt="P1000763" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-3DuaxwWqgU4/T_jY4xNVzhI/AAAAAAAAIlk/F9hW9fObge4/P1000763_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>The list:</p> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="1" width="300"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="300">Pelagic Cormorant <br />Re-faced Cormorant <br />Brant <br />Harlequin Duck <br />Bald Eagle <br />Black Oystercatcher <br />Glaucous-winged Gull <br />Black-legged Kittiwake <br />Common Murre <br />Pigeon Guillemot <br />Tufted Puffin <br />Horned Puffin <br />Rock Pigeon <br />Violet-green Swallow <br />Northern Rough-winged Swallow <br />Steller’s Jay <br />Black-billed Magpie <br />Fox Sparrow (Sooty) <br />Pine Grosbeak</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p> </p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:473fad96-344b-4e7e-9ba8-abc1b9928fba" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Alaska" rel="tag">Alaska</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/birds" rel="tag">birds</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/birding" rel="tag">birding</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/birdwatching" rel="tag">birdwatching</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/nature" rel="tag">nature</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/cruising" rel="tag">cruising</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/ships" rel="tag">ships</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Holland+America" rel="tag">Holland America</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Amsterdam" rel="tag">Amsterdam</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/April+Grunspan" rel="tag">April Grunspan</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Homer" rel="tag">Homer</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Seldovia" rel="tag">Seldovia</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Gull+Island" rel="tag">Gull Island</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Wildlife" rel="tag">Wildlife</a></div> aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118627963856556265.post-76550277467048410072012-07-07T17:45:00.001-07:002012-07-07T17:45:57.788-07:00Alaska: Kodiak, June 24, 2012<p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-o3do2A1C4gg/T_jYITpTU0I/AAAAAAAAIgc/Iej-GywJz4s/s1600-h/P10007713.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000771" border="0" alt="P1000771" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-oCW2ZEDbmIU/T_jYI4m9-wI/AAAAAAAAIgk/CmlonGlC6PE/P1000771_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="254" height="337" /></a> </p> <p>Our ship excursion in Kodiak, the first of Alaska’s Aleutian Islands, was titled Kodiak Highlights and Wildlife Cruise. Cruise wasn’t exactly the correct term.</p> <p>We took a small bus over to the harbor and our group was split among 3 different small boats. Ours consisted of four passengers, the captain, and a lovely young man from Wyoming who was up in Alaska for the summer, working fishing charters and every other Sunday’s “Cruise Ship Sunday” to put himself through the University of Wyoming.</p> <p>We didn’t get any new birds today. But it was wonderful to see some birds which had become a bit more familiar: Tufted and Horned Puffins, Pelagic Cormorants, Marbled Murrelets, Black-legged Kittiwakes, and Glaucous-winged Gulls. We also had a much better look at Red-faced Cormorants with their pompadour and beautiful red faces, quite apparent in the sun.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-2a2cFLcLoKM/T_jYKQRlizI/AAAAAAAAIgs/NThUNn5_h_Q/s1600-h/P10007773.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000777" border="0" alt="P1000777" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-tYMZGadc3XQ/T_jYKxBzOJI/AAAAAAAAIg0/hMOULqaYeK4/P1000777_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a> </p> <p>Avie got a couple of shots of Tufted Puffins, one quite accidental and humorous. Apparently, Puffins are one of very few species of birds who have solid bones, allowing them to dive deeply to catch fish. When they eat too much they become too heavy to fly and will just run along the water. We saw this several times during our time in Alaska and it never failed to amuse us, though I’m not sure it amused the Puffins.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-O7H4GHcMk3s/T_jYLbcMHXI/AAAAAAAAIg8/rSN8kkx3mSQ/s1600-h/P10008004.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000800" border="0" alt="P1000800" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-lQlV2gcYQQk/T_jYL65qMqI/AAAAAAAAIhE/MKE1yh4uUs8/P1000800_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="364" height="274" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-PBamYTZnJIQ/T_jYMZvKmFI/AAAAAAAAIhM/kqRERXogyK0/s1600-h/P10008013.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000801" border="0" alt="P1000801" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Iehmr25d-w8/T_jYM6HfWcI/AAAAAAAAIhU/nhxsy87w75E/P1000801_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="364" height="274" /></a> </p> <p>Mammals were an additional highlight of the trip. We saw plenty of Sea Otters, a couple of groups of Steller’s Sea Lions, a small group of Humpback Whales, and another, smaller whale we weren’t able to identify.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-dTT6obpG6iU/T_jYNTvKalI/AAAAAAAAIhc/rBFJ_aEUD_o/s1600-h/P10008173.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000817" border="0" alt="P1000817" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-buTCIwweQ-Y/T_jYN4B1EAI/AAAAAAAAIhk/CtxPtd-ac2I/P1000817_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a> </p> <p>We walked back to the ship from the harbor, past fish processing plants with their freezer shipping containers, and singing migratory birds. We were able to identify several Yellow Warblers.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-CzYaLMz22Z0/T_jYOcfDKBI/AAAAAAAAIhs/XaCSlMIjcIw/s1600-h/P10008403.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000840" border="0" alt="P1000840" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-nh2y5s367v8/T_jYOsMVwjI/AAAAAAAAIh0/x9ip6A6z7dk/P1000840_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ALsa06vF8jA/T_jYPBXGs6I/AAAAAAAAIh8/Lp4dcjELBio/s1600-h/P10008393.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000839" border="0" alt="P1000839" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Bb4Ci3K_SWs/T_jYPxq2OrI/AAAAAAAAIiE/EjksqzGIlXA/P1000839_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a>  </p> <p>After lunch and some rest time, we went up on the Lido deck as the ship began to leave Kodiak, on our way across the Gulf of Alaska (take two).</p> <p>The way through Chiniak Bay to about 60 miles out of Kodiak made for great birding.</p> <p>We saw thousands upon thousands of Puffins, mostly Tufted, but with some Horned thrown in for good measure. We also saw a few Red-faced Cormorants sitting on breakwater rocks on the way out of the Bay.</p> <p>As we got further into the Gulf we came across huge numbers of Shearwaters, both Sooty and Short-tailed. We took a lot of time trying to distinguish them, finally settling on the amount of white we saw on the underwings and the subtle slope of their forehead as our guides. The more we looked, the more we also noticed how stubby the bill is on the Short-tailed Shearwaters.</p> <p>Puffins became a garbage bird, as they continually flew by in flocks or singly, drawing our attention to them rather than the birds closer to the water.</p> <p>We got one Black-legged Albatross flying low on the water.</p> <p>Finally, just before going in for the evening, even though it was still incredibly light out, we saw a few Fork-tailed Storm-Petrels.</p> <p>For good measure, during our time up on deck, we also got Dall’s Porpoises, a good number of Humpback Whales, one so close to the side of our ship we could hear it’s breath, and a smaller gray whale in the distance, which we couldn’t identify.</p> <p>Tomorrow morning we’ll go out again to do more pelagic birding before our arrival to Yakutat Bay and our trip in to see the Hubbard Glacier.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-YoUDDrwCVsM/T_jYQSAA4qI/AAAAAAAAIiM/7rp0noT_6mI/s1600-h/P10008383.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000838" border="0" alt="P1000838" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ZLqk6u4xfrQ/T_jYQ0-dNDI/AAAAAAAAIiU/jkBfLYK0CwU/P1000838_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a> </p> <p>The list:</p> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="1" width="300"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="300">Black-footed Albatross <br />Northern Fulmar <br />Sooty Shearwater <br />Short-tailed Shearwater <br />Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel <br />Red-faced Cormorant <br />Pelagic Cormorant <br />Harlequin Duck <br />Bald Eagle <br />Black Oystercatcher <br />Glaucous-winged Gull <br />Black-legged Kittiwake <br />Common Murre <br />Pigeon Guillemot <br />Marbled Murrelet <br />Horned Puffin <br />Tufted Puffin <br />Black-billed Magpie <br />Northwestern Crow <br />Yellow Warbler <br />Rock Pigeon</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p> </p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:7028eff3-111b-4273-b363-76f775967cd9" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Alaska" rel="tag">Alaska</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/birds" rel="tag">birds</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/birding" rel="tag">birding</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/birdwatching" rel="tag">birdwatching</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/nature" rel="tag">nature</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/cruising" rel="tag">cruising</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/ships" rel="tag">ships</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Holland+America" rel="tag">Holland America</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Amsterdam" rel="tag">Amsterdam</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/April+Grunspan" rel="tag">April Grunspan</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Kodiak" rel="tag">Kodiak</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/bears" rel="tag">bears</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/whales" rel="tag">whales</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Humpback+Whale" rel="tag">Humpback Whale</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Humpback+Whales" rel="tag">Humpback Whales</a></div> aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118627963856556265.post-75457353590830221622012-07-07T17:43:00.001-07:002012-07-07T17:43:18.448-07:00Alaska: Gulf of Alaska (Take Two) and the Hubbard Glacier, June 25, 2012<p>Because today was a cruising day and we wouldn’t reach the Hubbard Glacier until late afternoon, Avie and I ate a late breakfast in main dining room. Then we went up on deck to do some pelagic birding.</p> <p>We began up on the Main Deck (second story) at the stern. When we weren’t seeing much we moved up to Lido Deck. Finally we climbed up to the Sports Deck where there was some protection from the wind and misty rain.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-1IFh8Ppxcqs/T_jXiSSArHI/AAAAAAAAIes/u6Vg7Agf1Ck/s1600-h/P10008533.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000853" border="0" alt="P1000853" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-CX874zhdmfU/T_jXi0wN14I/AAAAAAAAIe0/clNVdPs5F8A/P1000853_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>Among the birds we saw were Shearwaters, a few Black-legged Albatross, and some of the Swallow-like Storm Petrels. We might also have had a few Laysan Albatross, but they were in the distance and moving away from us.</p> <p>The weather deteriorated, so we took a break for lunch. </p> <p>After lunch we decided to try the Main Deck again. The birding was sparse. Then we began to see land on the port side of the ship, as we entered Yakutat Bay. The birding quickly picked up.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-qyMxriq-49c/T_jXjXm8OUI/AAAAAAAAIe8/IoOfpWSUMPE/s1600-h/P10008633.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000863" border="0" alt="P1000863" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-aHIRcpXqvmw/T_jXjlY20bI/AAAAAAAAIfE/tSg6W_60jaQ/P1000863_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>As we got closer to the Hubbard Glacier, we moved past Yakutat Bay into Deception Bay. We began to see Black-legged Kittiwakes, Glaucous-winged Gulls, large flocks of Harlequin Ducks in their handsome summer plumage, and another large flock of Surf Scoters.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-_tCLhAt6BHI/T_jXkfwyPjI/AAAAAAAAIfM/TpNL5y9F5RA/s1600-h/P10008703.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000870" border="0" alt="P1000870" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ze2BsrScRwA/T_jXlPj-tOI/AAAAAAAAIfU/uIhJKGT2VJw/P1000870_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>We also got a few Mallards in the small rivers entering the Bay from the mountains on the starboard side.</p> <p>Then the glacier came into view and we were captivated by its size and grandeur. Even from a distance, it was enormous. The ice was similar in pattern to sedimentary stone, with its layers.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-xaBFAudyaIA/T_jXlq1IrUI/AAAAAAAAIfc/7SwR-lYmfmk/s1600-h/P10009013.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000901" border="0" alt="P1000901" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-YIODaJGeJY8/T_jXmAa3OII/AAAAAAAAIfk/Eclx3qTggoQ/P1000901_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-OkuaHWkvFPw/T_jXmlLxmiI/AAAAAAAAIfs/rf7MpXrRj40/s1600-h/P10009163.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000916" border="0" alt="P1000916" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-N_0kREb7InU/T_jXnG5dFpI/AAAAAAAAIf0/lW7Y3IRiMcw/P1000916_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-FHCClLgNlIY/T_jXnp1d-sI/AAAAAAAAIf8/_CCU-4AEd6I/s1600-h/P10009173.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000917" border="0" alt="P1000917" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ac13aPQ8f1I/T_jXoI2lfaI/AAAAAAAAIgE/QIFsfYASL98/P1000917_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ZvWsKWMFKyg/T_jXo04X76I/AAAAAAAAIgM/Vi0i3okRNyw/s1600-h/P10009293.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000929" border="0" alt="P1000929" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-HuAeWRA3D8U/T_jXpSrZEFI/AAAAAAAAIgU/TYYFZSJyAHk/P1000929_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="259" /></a> </p> <p>The Hubbard is still advancing, sometimes as much as 100 feet in a day. As a result, it’s very active and calved quite frequently during our time there. We realized how far from it we really were because the sound of the calving, like thunder, was delayed about two seconds. </p> <p>As we pulled away from the glacier, we passed an island called Egg Island, with nesting Black-legged Kittiwakes (though nowhere in the numbers we had seen previously).</p> <p>No new birds, today. But certainly some impressive numbers for a couple of species of Duck we had only seen in the far distance before this.</p> <p>The list:</p> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="1" width="300"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="300">Common Loon <br />Black-footed Albatross <br />Northern Fulmar <br />Sooty Shearwater <br />Leach’s Storm-Petrel <br />Cormorant sp. <br />Mallard <br />Harlequin Duck <br />Surf Scoter <br />Bald Eagle <br />Black Oystercatcher <br />Glaucous-winged Gull <br />Black-legged Kittiwake <br />Pigeon Guillemot <br />Tufted Puffin</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p> </p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:1f3056c3-4b08-4ee5-9195-0bf32e034f45" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Alaska" rel="tag">Alaska</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/birds" rel="tag">birds</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/birding" rel="tag">birding</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/birdwatching" rel="tag">birdwatching</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/nature" rel="tag">nature</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Hubbard+Glacier" rel="tag">Hubbard Glacier</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/cruising" rel="tag">cruising</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Holland+America" rel="tag">Holland America</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Amsterdam" rel="tag">Amsterdam</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/glacier" rel="tag">glacier</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/April+Grunspan" rel="tag">April Grunspan</a></div> aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0