Swarovski Blogging Event Day One
July 31, 2008
Article in: Updates
I am getting ready to hang out with several bloggers from around the country and tour Swarovski Optik’s facility in Cranston, Rhode Island. So far our trip out here has been great, including a few life birds (more about them later!) and several states I’ve never been to before (including Rhode Island).
Here’s a view we had from Fort Adams State Park yesterday with the bridge from Newport to Jamestown, Rhode Island in the background.
I’ll post more info about our travels in the upcoming days (weeks?) as today will be busy and tomorrow we are going on an all-day field trip in Massachusetts to look for terns and shorebirds.
Fingers crossed for a rarity!
~Birdfreak
Rhode Island Ospreys
July 29, 2008
Article in: Birding
Welcome to Rhode Island!
We have made it to Rhode Island with a backlog of photos and information. We’ve been pretty busy but here is a shot of an Osprey nest at Rhode Island Audubon’s Marsh Meadows.
Notice that the Ospreys are being videotaped and there is a House Sparrow to the left that is out of place.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
July 27, 2008
Article in: Birding
On our journey to Rhode Island, we stopped in Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio before making our first night’s destination in Erie, Pennsylvania.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park is nestled along the Cuyahoga or “crooked river”, south of Cleveland and north of Akron. Despite being in a heavy populated area, Cuyahoga feels untouched and wild. We didn’t have too much time to explore (or ride the train) but were able to have numerous great views of the valley, river, and a cool waterfall – Brandywine Falls.
We did not find too many birds other than Turkey Vultures floating lazily by and Ohio’s state bird, the Northern Cardinal.
More updates of our trip as time allows!!
Phriday Photo – Eight-legged Water Strider
July 25, 2008
Article in: Photography
Upon finding an eight-legged water strider we questioned whether the apparently clean stream was in fact full of radioactive runoff. Turns out, it was just a mating pair! Yes, they only have four legs each.
Birdfreak is getting ready for a trip to the east coast, specifically New York and Rhode Island. Excited level: dangerously high.
Devilish Trails Lead to Blood-colored Birds
July 24, 2008
Article in: Birding
Devil’s Lake State Park near Baraboo, Wisconsin is the most visited in the state, and may very well be the most gorgeous. The best views require a rough hike that gains large amounts of elevation in a fairly short stretch. Perhaps it isn’t the lake that is the Devil’s, but the trails.
By the time we reached the top, dripping of sweat and trying to catch our breath, we were rewarded with a blood-red Scarlet Tanager, serenading us (or telling us to leave his hilltop).
Scarlet Tanager
In a momentary lapse of proper birding judgment mixed with hopefulness, we mistook a overzealous Chipping Sparrow for our long sought-after Worm-eating Warbler (can you say nemesis bird?). This diabolical sparrow was probably laughing the entire time as we descended the rocky hills.
Despite Devil’s Lake being extremely popular and a bit evil, the views will take your breath away (or what’s left after reaching the top).
American Crow
Yeah…it was steep
Hemlock Draw – Sauk County Wisconsin
July 23, 2008
Article in: Birding
A draw or hollow refers to a valley or long narrow gorge between two clefts of rock. – The Nature Conservancy
In our south central Wisconsin search for the Worm-eating Warbler (and other great birds), we took a hike at Hemlock Draw Nature Preserve. Many species found here are typical of northern Wisconsin, making it a unique and interesting habitat.
Cedar Waxwing – Looking for Berries
We started off through a wooded area and when we reached the creek, the trail appeared to end. There was considerable erosion of the creek bank (where the trail should have been) because of recent flooding. The creek was low, however, and we had a splendid time exploring. Cool rocks, frogs, water striders, Acadian Flycatchers, and a Winter Wren were some of the highlights, almost making up for the fact that Worm-eating Warblers were absent.
The Birdfreak Team performed a hiking no-no on this trail and forgot to bring water. This cut the hike short and we had to head back. The best bird sighting occurred right near the beginning of the trail at the end of our hike. A Hooded Warbler scolded us from a few feet away and we all got a great look.
Hooded Warbler
