Usa!

[RockyRacoon]

I just got back from America yesterday, and it was GREAT! Lots of birds seen, I'll just post a list for now, and add trip report stuff later, because it would take too long to post it all in one go.

Highlights: Turkey Vulture, Coopers Hawk, Red-headed Woodpecker, Brown-Headed Nuthatch and Cedar Waxwing.

Others:
Carolina Wren
American Robin
Brown Creeper
Canada Goose
Mallard
Barn Swallow
Carolina Chickadee
Red-tailed Hawk
Brown-headed Cowbird
Chipping Sparrow
Killdeer
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Red Cardinal
House Finch
House Sparrow
Downy Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Mourning Dove
Feral Pigeon
American Crow
European Starling
Common Grackle
Blue Jay
Eastern Towhee
Northern Mockingbird

Possible:
American Kestrel?
Sparrow sp.
White-eyed Vireo?
Gull sp.
Rough-winged Swallow?
Great-Blue Heron?
Black Vulture?

There are birds everywhere in UKland! Everywhere, I missed Dartford Warbler, Wheatears, Stone-Curlew and Gargeneys on my local patch! Sigh...

I have to go birding!

[weather]

That's a fine list Jake...Where were you in the States? What bird made you the most excited?

Mike

[robinm]

Sounds like an exciting trip Jake :t:

[buckskin hawk]

Looks like a great trip. I would like to see a Brown Headed Nuthatch. Looks like you were in the southeast. I haven't been able to bird much in the east but would love to plan a trip.

I have trouble with the juvenile turkey vulture and Black vultures but if you see a black headed vulture this early it most should be a black.

[RockyRacoon]

I was near Atlanta in Georgia, the reason I thought I saw a Black Vulture was because a very dark coloured one, with white on the primaries, but I am not sure enough!

One of the best hours of the trip was when I went down to the golf course one morning, I managed to see Chipping Sparrows, Killdeer, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Brown-headed Cowbird, lots of American Robins, Eastern Bluebirds, and Mourning Doves there. I should've clinched the ID on Rough-winged Swallow, but I was so shocked on seeing a hinrundine after so long I failed to get the ID stuff done.
But when I went to the woodland nature reserve, that was the best day, there were Brown-headed Nuthatches everywhere, and Eastern Bluebirds, lots of Downy Woodpeckers, one Red-headed and one Red-bellied Woodie, the Cooper's Hawks showed brilliantly, two males have an argument, and the Carolina Wrens, Tufted Titmouses, Blue Jays, Cardinals and the Carolina Chickadees were all noisy. And I also saw two Hermit Thrushes there. The sparrow sp. I saw there too, Lincoln's Sparrow? Shame I couldn't find a Pilated Woodpecker, but I was pleased with my day.

Is it me or do Northern Mockingbirds sound like Song Thrushes?

[RockyRacoon]

My uncle would've probably had a huge garden list, I saw Brown-headed Nuthatch, Mourning Doves, Cedar Waxwing, Carolina Wren, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse and Northern Cardinals all in his garden. And I think I saw a White-eyed Vireo there too, but I lost it, it dived into cover.

The first bird I heard when I got home was a Chiffchaff! I was really pleased, I managed to see one yesterday. As well as a Green Woodpecker, Yellowhammers and Linnets.

Apparently a Serin and a Caspian Gull was seen on my local patch at Brighton Marina yesterday! I think this is the best my patch has been ever! I can't get down there until the 2nd of April!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Nutcracker]

Is it me or do Northern Mockingbirds sound like Song Thrushes?

Yes they do!! Quite incredibly similar!

[pauco]

Good to see you had such a great hol Jake, and what a list of birds! :t:

[scottishdude]

Sounds like you had a great time. If you ever go to Florida I can give you some contact. I saw 66 species last year and a further 29 this year, with at least 32 of the ones a saw last year too

Wouldn't mind knowing where you went?

cheers

Jamie

[buckskin hawk]

My uncle would've probably had a huge garden list, I saw Brown-headed Nuthatch, Mourning Doves, Cedar Waxwing, Carolina Wren, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse and Northern Cardinals all in his garden. And I think I saw a White-eyed Vireo there too, but I lost it, it dived into cover.

The first bird I heard when I got home was a Chiffchaff! I was really pleased, I managed to see one yesterday. As well as a Green Woodpecker, Yellowhammers and Linnets.

Apparently a Serin and a Caspian Gull was seen on my local patch at Brighton Marina yesterday! I think this is the best my patch has been ever! I can't get down there until the 2nd of April!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have been to the Great Smokie Mountains in eastern Tenn. in August and wasn't impressed with the variety of birds. It was a beautiful place. I haven't been down to Georgia. I want to take a trip either along the SE coast or along the southern border from El Passo to San Diego this summer.

[MikeDale]

Nice one Jakey,

No Ruby-throated Hummer then, never mind. I'll take a photo of one for you ;) Did you get anything on the gull's because if you describe then we can probably get you another new tick.

Mike

[samuel walker]

very glad you made it over to this side Jake.Happy to see you got some nice additions.
Sam

[Katy Penland]

Wow, Jake, how about sharing a few of your birds with me, huh? I would've had 5 lifers on your list! ;)

[Valerie]

You must be on such a "high" Jake....lucky boy.... :clap:

I think I need a trip to the USA

_____________
Val

[RockyRacoon]

Nice one Jakey,

No Ruby-throated Hummer then, never mind. I'll take a photo of one for you ;) Did you get anything on the gull's because if you describe then we can probably get you another new tick.

Mike

Nothing, just that it was definatly a gull, probably a Ring-billed but nothing except they were Gulls.

[Eagle]

Jake

Sounds like a great trip!

[Dave B Smith]

Jake,
Sounds like you had a great trip. If you get another chance to visit, here's an ID tip for separating the vultures. First, Turkey Vultures rock! In flight that is, from side to side. They also hold their wings higher when they soar. Black Vultures hold their wings in a horizontal plane when soaring, their wings are broader, and a whitish patch near the tips is visible from below. Of course if the vulture is close enough, the Red head on the Turkey or the Black head on the Black Vulture will always clinch an ID.

[Eagle]

Jake,
Sounds like you had a great trip. If you get another chance to visit, here's an ID tip for separating the vultures. First, Turkey Vultures rock! In flight that is, from side to side. They also hold their wings higher when they soar. Black Vultures hold their wings in a horizontal plane when soaring, their wings are broader, and a whitish patch near the tips is visible from below. Of course if the vulture is close enough, the Red head on the Turkey or the Black head on the Black Vulture will always clinch an ID.

That red head on the Turkey Vulture looks like bluetac, only red, Jake!!

[Tero]

Possible:
American Kestrel?
Sparrow sp.
White-eyed Vireo?
Gull sp.
Rough-winged Swallow?
Great-Blue Heron?
Black Vulture?
Rough winged swallows are indeed around, much more than many others. Herons are common. Kestrels are around, and more common than peregrines. I have never seen a Merlin.

It was probably not the best time for vacationing, I have skipped a few weeks birding lately myself. That is always the thing with vacation birding> you go out rain or shine.

Nice list.

[njlarsen]

I passed through Georgia on a trip at christmas back in 1994. At that trip, I have just written down "Black Vulture -- from South of Atlanta to Florida border". I drove through the rest of Georgia in the dark and dont know if the vultures would have been present north of Atlanta also. Turkey vulture was seen on the same stretch also, sometimes at the same time at the black.

HTH
Niels