Birding Italy (May 2016)

We were very blessed to have guide, Menotti Passarella of Birding Italy, assist us in viewing exceptional birds within the Po Delta and surrounding areas.   Menotti graciously picked us up from Mestre (Venice), Italy and spent the entire day touring the country side in search of birds!   He is a brilliant birder, very knowledgeable, and we had exceptional birding. We saw 76 species throughout the day and are very thankful of his expertise and the time that he spent with us.

Below is a small video of highlights from our day spent with him.

Heather & Anthony

California (USA) 2016

In late January 2016, I was in California on business and was hoping to be able to bird during my spare time.  I didn’t know where to start, we (my husband & I) have never formally birded California before (a few incidentals recorded in San Diego in 2013 prior to a cruise), but to actually “bird California” was new to us.   I did a GOOGLE search and found quite a few groups, including the “Los Angeles Audubon Society”.   On their web site, they had listed a field trip on Sunday, January 24th – my only “spare morning” while in the Los Angeles area.   It was a trip to “Newport Back Bay” and would take almost two hours to drive to.  I contacted the society, confirmed exact directions, plugged it into the GPS and off we went.   In a nutshell?   a fantastic experience.  The group leaders were so accommodating and shared their knowledge of the area and the birds – several which were lifers to us that they went out of their way to point out.   We were so appreciative of their generosity of the knowledge that they shared and how they went out of their way to ensure we had a good time.   Meeting fellow birders like those from the L.A. Audubon Society make it all worthwhile!

We saw many lifers, but highlights included:  Black Phoebe, Say’s Phoebe, Allen’s Hummingbird (digiscoped photo above by Anthony Baskey), Anna’s Hummingbird, the threatened California Gnatcatcher, and the endangered Ridgway’s Rail.

For a complete list of birds seen on this field trip (and our complete list for California during the week) – see our California 2016 trip report page.

 

 

Panama 2015

Squirrel Cuckoo Metropolitan Park, Panama

For our entire trip report – please visit the Panama 2015 Field Trip page.

Summary Highlights:
February 15th – arrival in Panama City – Radisson Summit & Golf Hotel
February 16th – Clayton & Metropolitan Park with Yeray Seminario of Whitehawk Birding & Conservation
February 17th – Hotel Grounds
February 18th – Kent Livezy – Birding Pipeline Rd
February 19th – Cerro Azul with Beny Wilson – Whitehawk Birding and Conservation
February 20th – Kent Livezy – Birding Pipeline Rd – Panama Discovery Centre
February 21st – Hotel Grounds
February 22nd – Hotel Grounds
February 23rd – Kent Livezy – Birding Pipeline Rd
February 24th – El Valle with Yeray Seminario of Whitehawk Birding & Conservation
February 25th – Hotel Grounds and then Departure back to the Great White North

Overall List of Birds observed/heard: location/date is place first observed

		Location	S/P	Date
1	Great Tinamou	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	18 Feb 2015
2	Gray-headed Chachalaca	Radisson Summit Hotel and Golf Panama	PA-PN	17 Feb 2015
3	Magnificent Frigatebird	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	18 Feb 2015
4	Anhinga	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	18 Feb 2015
5	Brown Pelican	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	20 Feb 2015
6	Rufescent Tiger-Heron	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	18 Feb 2015
7	Great Egret	Clayton	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
8	Snowy Egret	Clayton	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
9	Little Blue Heron	Clayton	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
10	Cattle Egret	El Valle de Antón	PA-CC	24 Feb 2015
11	Green Heron	Clayton	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
12	Capped Heron	Clayton	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
13	Black Vulture	Clayton	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
14	Turkey Vulture	Clayton	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
15	Swallow-tailed Kite	Cerro Azul–The Hummingbird House	PA-PN	19 Feb 2015
16	Ornate Hawk-Eagle	Cerro Azul–The Hummingbird House	PA-PN	19 Feb 2015
17	Snail Kite	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	20 Feb 2015
18	Broad-winged Hawk	Radisson Summit Hotel and Golf Panama	PA-PN	21 Feb 2015
19	Gray-lined Hawk	Clayton	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
20	Short-tailed Hawk	El Valle de Antón	PA-CC	24 Feb 2015
21	Swainson’s Hawk	Radisson Summit Hotel and Golf Panama	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
22	White-throated Crake	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	18 Feb 2015
23	Gray-necked Wood-Rail	Clayton	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
24	Purple Gallinule	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	20 Feb 2015
25	Common Gallinule	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	20 Feb 2015
26	Southern Lapwing	Clayton	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
27	Wattled Jacana	Clayton	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
28	Spotted Sandpiper	Clayton	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
29	Solitary Sandpiper	Clayton	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
30	Pale-vented Pigeon	Radisson Summit Hotel and Golf Panama	PA-PN	15 Feb 2015
31	Scaled Pigeon	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	20 Feb 2015
32	Short-billed Pigeon	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	20 Feb 2015
33	Ruddy Ground-Dove	Clayton	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
34	White-tipped Dove	Parque Natural Metropolitano	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
35	Gray-chested Dove	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	18 Feb 2015
36	Squirrel Cuckoo	Parque Natural Metropolitano	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
37	Greater Ani	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	18 Feb 2015
38	Tropical Screech-Owl	El Valle de Antón	PA-CC	24 Feb 2015
39	Common Pauraque	El Valle de Antón	PA-CC	24 Feb 2015
40	White-collared Swift	El Valle de Antón	PA-CC	24 Feb 2015
41	Short-tailed Swift	Clayton	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
42	Band-rumped Swift	Radisson Summit Hotel and Golf Panama	PA-PN	17 Feb 2015
43	White-necked Jacobin	Cerro Azul–The Hummingbird House	PA-PN	19 Feb 2015
44	Green Hermit	Cerro Azul–The Hummingbird House	PA-PN	19 Feb 2015
45	Long-billed Hermit	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	20 Feb 2015
46	Stripe-throated Hermit	Cerro Azul–The Hummingbird House	PA-PN	19 Feb 2015
47	Purple-crowned Fairy	Clayton	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
48	Black-throated Mango	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	18 Feb 2015
49	Rufous-crested Coquette	Cerro Azul–The Hummingbird House	PA-PN	19 Feb 2015
50	Garden Emerald	Radisson Summit Hotel and Golf Panama	PA-PN	17 Feb 2015
51	Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer	Cerro Azul–The Hummingbird House	PA-PN	19 Feb 2015
52	Crowned Woodnymph	Cerro Azul–The Hummingbird House	PA-PN	19 Feb 2015
53	Blue-chested Hummingbird	Cerro Azul–The Hummingbird House	PA-PN	19 Feb 2015
54	Snowy-bellied Hummingbird	Radisson Summit Hotel and Golf Panama	PA-PN	22 Feb 2015
55	Rufous-tailed Hummingbird	Parque Natural Metropolitano	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
56	Violet-capped Hummingbird	Cerro Azul–The Hummingbird House	PA-PN	19 Feb 2015
57	Violet-bellied Hummingbird	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	20 Feb 2015
58	Slaty-tailed Trogon	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	18 Feb 2015
59	Black-tailed Trogon	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	20 Feb 2015
60	Gartered Trogon	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	18 Feb 2015
61	Black-throated Trogon	Parque Natural Metropolitano	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
62	Tody Motmot	El Valle de Antón	PA-CC	24 Feb 2015
63	Whooping Motmot	Clayton	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
64	Rufous Motmot	Cerro Azul–The Hummingbird House	PA-PN	19 Feb 2015
65	Broad-billed Motmot	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	20 Feb 2015
66	Ringed Kingfisher	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	18 Feb 2015
67	White-necked Puffbird	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	20 Feb 2015
68	White-whiskered Puffbird	Plantation Road, Gamboa	PA-CL	23 Feb 2015
69	Spot-crowned Barbet	El Valle de Antón	PA-CC	24 Feb 2015
70	Collared Aracari	Radisson Summit Hotel and Golf Panama	PA-PN	21 Feb 2015
71	Black-mandibled Toucan	Clayton	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
72	Keel-billed Toucan	Radisson Summit Hotel and Golf Panama	PA-PN	15 Feb 2015
73	Black-cheeked Woodpecker	Radisson Summit Hotel and Golf Panama	PA-PN	17 Feb 2015
74	Red-crowned Woodpecker	Clayton	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
75	Cinnamon Woodpecker	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	18 Feb 2015
76	Lineated Woodpecker	Radisson Summit Hotel and Golf Panama	PA-PN	17 Feb 2015
77	Crimson-crested Woodpecker	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	18 Feb 2015
78	Collared Forest-Falcon	Clayton	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
79	Yellow-headed Caracara	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	20 Feb 2015
80	Bat Falcon	Radisson Summit Hotel and Golf Panama	PA-PN	17 Feb 2015
81	Orange-chinned Parakeet	Clayton	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
82	Brown-hooded Parrot	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	20 Feb 2015
83	Blue-headed Parrot	Clayton	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
84	Red-lored Parrot	Clayton	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
85	Yellow-crowned Parrot	Clayton	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
86	Fasciated Antshrike	Parque Natural Metropolitano	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
87	Barred Antshrike	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	18 Feb 2015
88	Black-crowned Antshrike	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	18 Feb 2015
89	Checker-throated Antwren	Plantation Road, Gamboa	PA-CL	23 Feb 2015
90	White-flanked Antwren	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	18 Feb 2015
91	Dot-winged Antwren	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	18 Feb 2015
92	Dusky Antbird	Parque Natural Metropolitano	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
93	White-bellied Antbird	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	18 Feb 2015
94	Chestnut-backed Antbird	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	20 Feb 2015
95	Bicolored Antbird	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	20 Feb 2015
96	Spotted Antbird	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	20 Feb 2015
97	Black-faced Antthrush	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	20 Feb 2015
98	Plain-brown Woodcreeper	Parque Natural Metropolitano	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
99	Cocoa Woodcreeper	Clayton	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
100	Plain Xenops	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	18 Feb 2015
101	Brown-capped Tyrannulet	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	18 Feb 2015
102	Southern Beardless-Tyrannulet	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	18 Feb 2015
103	Yellow-crowned Tyrannulet	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	18 Feb 2015
104	Forest Elaenia	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	18 Feb 2015
105	Yellow-bellied Elaenia	Clayton	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
106	Lesser Elaenia	El Valle de Antón	PA-CC	24 Feb 2015
107	Olive-striped Flycatcher	El Valle de Antón	PA-CC	24 Feb 2015
108	Ochre-bellied Flycatcher	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	20 Feb 2015
109	Paltry Tyrannulet	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	18 Feb 2015
110	Black-capped Pygmy-Tyrant	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	18 Feb 2015
111	Southern Bentbill	Parque Natural Metropolitano	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
112	Common Tody-Flycatcher	Clayton	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
113	Brownish Twistwing	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	18 Feb 2015
114	Olivaceous Flatbill	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	18 Feb 2015
115	Yellow-margined Flycatcher	Clayton	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
116	Golden-crowned Spadebill	Plantation Road, Gamboa	PA-CL	23 Feb 2015
117	Ruddy-tailed Flycatcher	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	18 Feb 2015
118	Sulphur-rumped Flycatcher	Radisson Summit Hotel and Golf Panama	PA-PN	22 Feb 2015
119	Bright-rumped Attila	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	18 Feb 2015
120	Dusky-capped Flycatcher	Cerro Azul–The Hummingbird House	PA-PN	19 Feb 2015
121	Great Crested Flycatcher	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	18 Feb 2015
122	Lesser Kiskadee	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	20 Feb 2015
123	Great Kiskadee	Clayton	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
124	Boat-billed Flycatcher	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	20 Feb 2015
125	Rusty-margined Flycatcher	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	18 Feb 2015
126	Social Flycatcher	Clayton	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
127	Streaked Flycatcher	Parque Natural Metropolitano	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
128	Piratic Flycatcher	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	18 Feb 2015
129	Tropical Kingbird	Clayton	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
130	Fork-tailed Flycatcher	El Valle de Antón	PA-CC	24 Feb 2015
131	Purple-throated Fruitcrow	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	18 Feb 2015
132	Blue Cotinga	Cerro Azul–The Hummingbird House	PA-PN	19 Feb 2015
133	Lance-tailed Manakin	El Valle de Antón	PA-CC	24 Feb 2015
134	White-ruffed Manakin	Cerro Azul–The Hummingbird House	PA-PN	19 Feb 2015
135	Blue-crowned Manakin	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	18 Feb 2015
136	Golden-collared Manakin	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	20 Feb 2015
137	Red-capped Manakin	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	18 Feb 2015
138	Masked Tityra	Parque Natural Metropolitano	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
139	Northern Schiffornis	El Valle de Antón	PA-CC	24 Feb 2015
140	White-winged Becard	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	20 Feb 2015
141	Yellow-green Vireo	Parque Natural Metropolitano	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
142	Lesser Greenlet	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	18 Feb 2015
143	Green Shrike-Vireo	Parque Natural Metropolitano	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
144	Black-chested Jay	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	20 Feb 2015
145	Southern Rough-winged Swallow	Parque Natural Metropolitano	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
146	Gray-breasted Martin	Clayton	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
147	Mangrove Swallow	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	20 Feb 2015
148	House Wren	Parque Natural Metropolitano	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
149	Black-bellied Wren	Parque Natural Metropolitano	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
150	Rufous-breasted Wren	Parque Natural Metropolitano	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
151	Rufous-and-white Wren	Parque Natural Metropolitano	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
152	Plain Wren	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	18 Feb 2015
153	Buff-breasted Wren	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	18 Feb 2015
154	White-breasted Wood-Wren	Plantation Road, Gamboa	PA-CL	23 Feb 2015
155	Gray-breasted Wood-Wren	El Valle de Antón	PA-CC	24 Feb 2015
156	Song Wren	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	20 Feb 2015
157	Long-billed Gnatwren	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	20 Feb 2015
158	Tropical Gnatcatcher	Radisson Summit Hotel and Golf Panama	PA-PN	17 Feb 2015
159	Clay-colored Thrush	Clayton	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
160	Tropical Mockingbird	Clayton	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
161	Northern Waterthrush	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	18 Feb 2015
162	Black-and-white Warbler	Cerro Azul–The Hummingbird House	PA-PN	19 Feb 2015
163	Prothonotary Warbler	Radisson Summit Hotel and Golf Panama	PA-PN	21 Feb 2015
164	Tennessee Warbler	Cerro Azul–The Hummingbird House	PA-PN	19 Feb 2015
165	Mourning Warbler	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	18 Feb 2015
166	Bay-breasted Warbler	Parque Natural Metropolitano	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
167	Yellow Warbler	Clayton	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
168	Chestnut-sided Warbler	Clayton	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
169	Rufous-capped Warbler	Radisson Summit Hotel and Golf Panama	PA-PN	21 Feb 2015
170	White-shouldered Tanager	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	18 Feb 2015
171	Tawny-crested Tanager	El Valle de Antón	PA-CC	24 Feb 2015
172	Crimson-backed Tanager	Clayton	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
173	Blue-gray Tanager	Clayton	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
174	Palm Tanager	Clayton	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
175	Golden-hooded Tanager	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	18 Feb 2015
176	Speckled Tanager	Cerro Azul–The Hummingbird House	PA-PN	19 Feb 2015
177	Plain-colored Tanager	Parque Natural Metropolitano	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
178	Bay-headed Tanager	Cerro Azul–The Hummingbird House	PA-PN	19 Feb 2015
179	Scarlet-thighed Dacnis	Cerro Azul–The Hummingbird House	PA-PN	19 Feb 2015
180	Blue Dacnis	Clayton	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
181	Shining Honeycreeper	Cerro Azul–The Hummingbird House	PA-PN	19 Feb 2015
182	Red-legged Honeycreeper	Parque Natural Metropolitano	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
183	Green Honeycreeper	Cerro Azul–The Hummingbird House	PA-PN	19 Feb 2015
184	Blue-black Grassquit	Radisson Summit Hotel and Golf Panama	PA-PN	17 Feb 2015
185	Thick-billed Seed-Finch	Radisson Summit Hotel and Golf Panama	PA-PN	17 Feb 2015
186	Variable Seedeater	Clayton	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
187	Bananaquit	Cerro Azul–The Hummingbird House	PA-PN	19 Feb 2015
188	Yellow-faced Grassquit	Cerro Azul–The Hummingbird House	PA-PN	19 Feb 2015
189	Rosy Thrush-Tanager	Parque Natural Metropolitano	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
190	Buff-throated Saltator	Parque Natural Metropolitano	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
191	Streaked Saltator	Radisson Summit Hotel and Golf Panama	PA-PN	22 Feb 2015
192	Orange-billed Sparrow	Parque Natural Metropolitano	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
193	Black-striped Sparrow	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	18 Feb 2015
194	Hepatic Tanager	Cerro Azul–The Hummingbird House	PA-PN	19 Feb 2015
195	Summer Tanager	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	18 Feb 2015
196	Red-crowned Ant-Tanager	El Valle de Antón	PA-CC	24 Feb 2015
197	Red-throated Ant-Tanager	Parque Natural Metropolitano	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
198	Rose-breasted Grosbeak	Radisson Summit Hotel and Golf Panama	PA-PN	15 Feb 2015
199	Blue-black Grosbeak	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	20 Feb 2015
200	Red-breasted Blackbird	Radisson Summit Hotel and Golf Panama	PA-PN	17 Feb 2015
201	Great-tailed Grackle	Radisson Summit Hotel and Golf Panama	PA-PN	15 Feb 2015
202	Shiny Cowbird	El Valle de Antón	PA-CC	24 Feb 2015
203	Yellow-backed Oriole	Parque Natural Metropolitano	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
204	Yellow-tailed Oriole	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	18 Feb 2015
205	Baltimore Oriole	Radisson Summit Hotel and Golf Panama	PA-PN	15 Feb 2015
206	Yellow-billed Cacique	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	18 Feb 2015
207	Scarlet-rumped Cacique	Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)	PA-CL	18 Feb 2015
208	Yellow-rumped Cacique	Parque Natural Metropolitano	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015
209	Chestnut-headed Oropendola	Radisson Summit Hotel and Golf Panama	PA-PN	23 Feb 2015
210	Yellow-crowned Euphonia	Radisson Summit Hotel and Golf Panama	PA-PN	17 Feb 2015
211	Thick-billed Euphonia	Clayton	PA-PN	16 Feb 2015

#400 – The Common Redpoll

After waking up to several feet of snow in our backyard after the largest storm of the year – Anthony went out and dug trails to all the bird feeders such that they could all be topped up to feed what we knew would be very hungry birds!

It was so worth the effort as our VERY FIRST Common Redpoll visited Casa Baskey and it was a first sighting for both of us.  Anthony saw him/her in the bush and I saw just enough of him/her on the deck rail to make the identification.  It was great!   Redpolls have been “in the area” but we kept missing the sightings and then lo & behold, one visits our backyard after a major winter storm to feast from one of our very many feeders.

Although it was gone before I could get the camera out, I will share this image of a territorial American Tree Sparrow ready to duke it out with a Dark-eyed Junco for prime real estate to get feed not in a manger!

Then, later the American Tree Sparrow was quite happy to share space with a Mourning Dove.

I do hope the common redpoll returns to our backyard, but in the meanwhile, since I have no photos to show him/her off – here is a link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology with information on this delightful little bird!

February 03, 2015 – Update!
This blog post was just announced by Cornell Lab of Ornithology – a great read about Redpolls and Siskins this winter season🙂

http://blog.allaboutbirds.org/2015/02/03/the-redpolls-are-coming-the-redpolls-are-coming-and-siskins-too/

#399 The Snow Goose

#399 to our life list – the beautiful Snow Goose.   Submitted observations from eBird and a local birders email group reported that a Snow Goose (blue morph) was in the area with a flock of Canada Geese.  On my birthday (Jan 31st), we decided to go out and try our luck at the location it has been visiting.

It was COLD but so well worth the wait.  With Anthony’s power scope, we were able to locate it far off in the distance with a small sub-group of the larger flock of Canada Geese.   Anthony was able to digiscope the bird and we were delighted.   As our fingers began to lose their feeling from the sub-zero temperature, we were about to pack it up, when the small sub-group took flight and I was able to capture the beautiful bird with my own camera.  A personal fly by for my birthday!

It was quite an overcast day, so the photos are dark and grey – but I am delighted never the less for #399 … the Snow Goose.

South of Belwood Lake
Bridge over the Grand River

Portugal December 2014 – January 2015

Madeira Firecrest (Endemic)

Added a field trip page for our recent trip to Portugal (Madeira Islands and a short layover in Lisbon). Please visit the field trip page for more information.

Spectacled Warblers – Ponta do Pargo – Madeira, Portugal

Netherlands (& Brussels)

During the last week of April, I travelled to Breda, Netherlands on business.  Although there were no “specific” birding trips (incidental birding), I paid close attention to birds in the cities and parks of where I travelled (and even from the train!).

Lovely birds were seen (including a white stork in Amsterdam’s Vondelpark) and in total, while on business – 37 species were noted and recorded.   Many were lifers!  and I was very happy to have brought my binoculars and camera with me on this trip🙂

		Location	S/P	Date
1	Mute Swan	Hook of Holland	NL-ZH	02 May 2014
2	Black Swan	Hook of Holland	NL-ZH	02 May 2014
3	Egyptian Goose	Hook of Holland	NL-ZH	02 May 2014
4	Mallard	Breda	NL-NB	27 Apr 2014
5	Tufted Duck	Breda	NL-NB	27 Apr 2014
6	Ring-necked Pheasant	Brussels	BE-BRU	28 Apr 2014
7	Great Crested Grebe	Breda	NL-NB	27 Apr 2014
8	White Stork	Vondelpark	NL-NH	03 May 2014
9	Great Cormorant	Hook of Holland	NL-ZH	02 May 2014
10	Gray Heron	Breda	NL-NB	27 Apr 2014
11	Eurasian Moorhen	Breda	NL-NB	27 Apr 2014
12	Eurasian Coot	Breda	NL-NB	27 Apr 2014
13	Northern Lapwing	Hook of Holland	NL-ZH	02 May 2014
14	Bar-tailed Godwit	Hook of Holland	NL-ZH	02 May 2014
15	Black-headed Gull	Breda	NL-NB	27 Apr 2014
16	Herring Gull	Hook of Holland	NL-ZH	02 May 2014
17	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Breda	NL-NB	27 Apr 2014
18	Great Black-backed Gull	Hook of Holland	NL-ZH	02 May 2014
19	Common Tern	Vondelpark	NL-NH	03 May 2014
20	Rock Pigeon	Breda	NL-NB	27 Apr 2014
21	Common Wood-Pigeon	Breda	NL-NB	27 Apr 2014
22	Eurasian Collared-Dove	Breda	NL-NB	27 Apr 2014
23	Great Spotted Woodpecker	Vondelpark	NL-NH	03 May 2014
24	Rose-ringed Parakeet	Brussels	BE-BRU	28 Apr 2014
25	Eurasian Jay	Vondelpark	NL-NH	03 May 2014
26	Eurasian Magpie	Breda	NL-NB	27 Apr 2014
27	Eurasian Jackdaw	Breda	NL-NB	27 Apr 2014
28	Rook	Brussels	BE-BRU	28 Apr 2014
29	Carrion Crow	Breda	NL-NB	27 Apr 2014
30	Coal Tit	Brussels	BE-BRU	28 Apr 2014
31	Eurasian Blue Tit	Breda	NL-NB	27 Apr 2014
32	Willow Warbler	Hook of Holland	NL-ZH	02 May 2014
33	Eurasian Blackbird	Breda	NL-NB	27 Apr 2014
34	European Starling	Brussels	BE-BRU	28 Apr 2014
35	White Wagtail	Breda	NL-NB	27 Apr 2014
36	Common Chaffinch	Vondelpark	NL-NH	03 May 2014
37	House Sparrow	Brussels	BE-BRU	28 Apr 2014