opisska
rabid twitcher
To top up the birdlist a bit, I did two small trips around Madison. On Sunday I walked though the Arboretum for some 12 kms - even though I started at 6 am, I almost died of heat, it was not the greatest day, but it brought a plenty of Grey Catbirds, an Eastern Wood-Pewee (to my surprise that there are two of those) and a scary Empridonax flycatcher, with which I have to bless the ID forum once again.
Today we went to Cherokee Marsh with a colleague who happened to have a car which had to be returned only at 10 am. The weather was much more pleasant after a morning rain, which also the birds seemed to appreciate and the area was quite lively, producing Field Sparrows and a Chimney Swift - to great entertainment of my friend, who had lived in the US for a few years and thus couldn't wrap his head around me not having these "common" birds. We also met an interesting congregation of warblers, but we are still arguing as to whether those were juvenile Yellow (boring) or Mourning (not boring!).
I must admit that without my wife, my consistency in making a trip list really suffers, especially regarding very common birds - I have for example a strong feeling I must have seen a Snowy Egret or a Cormorant or a Swan, but can't recall a specific sighting for those, so I won't be counting them. My incomplete birdlist is thus so far at 83, out of which 19 are lifers. Not the greatest trip ever, but considering the general deadness of many areas, it's actually surprising. I mean, it shouldn't be surprising, because it basically always is, but that kind of discussion is way too meta.
Opisska out.
Today we went to Cherokee Marsh with a colleague who happened to have a car which had to be returned only at 10 am. The weather was much more pleasant after a morning rain, which also the birds seemed to appreciate and the area was quite lively, producing Field Sparrows and a Chimney Swift - to great entertainment of my friend, who had lived in the US for a few years and thus couldn't wrap his head around me not having these "common" birds. We also met an interesting congregation of warblers, but we are still arguing as to whether those were juvenile Yellow (boring) or Mourning (not boring!).
I must admit that without my wife, my consistency in making a trip list really suffers, especially regarding very common birds - I have for example a strong feeling I must have seen a Snowy Egret or a Cormorant or a Swan, but can't recall a specific sighting for those, so I won't be counting them. My incomplete birdlist is thus so far at 83, out of which 19 are lifers. Not the greatest trip ever, but considering the general deadness of many areas, it's actually surprising. I mean, it shouldn't be surprising, because it basically always is, but that kind of discussion is way too meta.
Opisska out.
