Want to learn more about photographing hummingbirds? The local photography club will be hosting a program on just that topic on Tuesday, February 8, 7 PM at the Kemp Center for the Arts. No RSVP is required; just show up. For more information, contact Terry McKee at dgm59@aol.com.
Good birding!
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
How Do Non-birders See Birders?
When I was growing up, Jane Hathaway on the Beverly Hillbillies was the quintessential birder. Not the persona most want to portray to the world. Although I haven't seen a birder parody on TV for some time, people who are not birders often have stereotypes of what birders are like. My husband went with me to look for the whooping crane on New Year's Eve for a little while and was amazed that there were male birders--in fact, men were the only other birders we saw that day. I don't know where he got the impression that only women watch birds. The North Texas Bird and Wildlife Club is about an equal mix.
Non-birders just don't get the hobby. Case in point is an article that came out in Slate magazine last week, The Birder: The Ominous Rise of Amateur Ornithology. I may not agree with everything he says, but it's always interesting to get the perceptions of others.
Good birding!
Non-birders just don't get the hobby. Case in point is an article that came out in Slate magazine last week, The Birder: The Ominous Rise of Amateur Ornithology. I may not agree with everything he says, but it's always interesting to get the perceptions of others.
Good birding!
Monday, January 17, 2011
OK! Got Twitter to Work
I had to get a twitter pro to help (Tina of Excuse Editor), but she figured out why the tweets were not coming over to this blog. As you can see to the left, they are coming over now. Guess it goes to show I can learn new things, albeit painfully.
I don't know if this will be a permanent feature, but we'll try it out and see how it goes. Let me know what you think.
Good birding!
I don't know if this will be a permanent feature, but we'll try it out and see how it goes. Let me know what you think.
Good birding!
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Yes! Tundra Swans
Six tundra swans were still hanging out at the far end of Bridwell tank on this cool, wet and windy morning. They are big enough to get a reasonable look with a good pair of binoculars, but a scope would have been nice.
It was good to see them. In addition, there were a few other birds hanging around the tank or on the other side of the road in Lake Arrowhead: gadwall, mallard, Canada geese, double-crested cormorant, great blue heron, white-crowned sparrow, American kestrel, red-tailed hawk and American coots. I also drove around to the boat ramp on the west side of Lake Arrowhead and picked up a couple of white pelicans. On the drive out and back, also saw numerous meadowlarks, great-tailed grackle, mourning doves, as well as a couple of killdeer and a northern harrier.
I got back and had a Harris's sparrow cleaning up under my feeders at home. I have seen this bird a few times now in the yard, but it appears I have only one. Darn it! There was also a white-winged dove perching on a swinging suet feeder, pecking at the suet. I have never seen them try suet before, but I am beginning to think those birds will try anything.
Good birding!
It was good to see them. In addition, there were a few other birds hanging around the tank or on the other side of the road in Lake Arrowhead: gadwall, mallard, Canada geese, double-crested cormorant, great blue heron, white-crowned sparrow, American kestrel, red-tailed hawk and American coots. I also drove around to the boat ramp on the west side of Lake Arrowhead and picked up a couple of white pelicans. On the drive out and back, also saw numerous meadowlarks, great-tailed grackle, mourning doves, as well as a couple of killdeer and a northern harrier.
I got back and had a Harris's sparrow cleaning up under my feeders at home. I have seen this bird a few times now in the yard, but it appears I have only one. Darn it! There was also a white-winged dove perching on a swinging suet feeder, pecking at the suet. I have never seen them try suet before, but I am beginning to think those birds will try anything.
Good birding!
Saturday, January 15, 2011
The Best Laid Plans
My intent this morning was to head out to Clay County to look for the tundra swans near Lake Arrowhead after I stopped in to care for my charges at Wild Bird Rescue. During the winter we don't have a lot of birds, but some good ones--currently, we have 2 screech owls, a barred owl, red-tailed hawk and of course, Missi, our educational Mississippi kite.
However, when I got up, the fog was thick--knowing the area the swans were reported is well back from the road, I knew there would be no chance of seeing the birds at that distance with this much fog, so a change in plans was needed.
When I got to Wild Bird Rescue, I decided to walk down to the little inlet and see just how bad the visibility was over the lake. I couldn't see more than about 15 yards with any clarity. In spite of that, the 5 minutes I spent there yielded some good birds, to include several hundred red-winged blackbirds coming up out of the reeds for the day, a Cooper's hawk, a couple of coots, a pied-billed grebe, a marsh wren, a belted kingfisher, and six great blue herons that were spaced every few yards along the bank.
I got very close to the Cooper's hawk. I think he was concentrating on the red-winged blackbirds and contemplating breakfast. He was fairly low in a tree along the bank, so I wasn't more than 5 yards from him and had a chance to get a good look before he decided to move to a taller tree across the inlet.
The marsh wren was a special treat. I hear them occasionally, but they tend to stay in the thick of the reeds and when they pop out, it is only for a second or two. This morning, the wren was scolding and hopping around on top of the reeds, then flew across the path, right in front of me, so I had the opportunity to get a good look.
All in all, a very fruitful 5-minute investment. Right now, I am keeping an eye out on my feeders for Project Feederwatch, waiting for the fog to burn off so I can head out on my swan quest. The little ruby-crowned kinglet as usual, cannot resist the suet cake.
Good birding!
However, when I got up, the fog was thick--knowing the area the swans were reported is well back from the road, I knew there would be no chance of seeing the birds at that distance with this much fog, so a change in plans was needed.
When I got to Wild Bird Rescue, I decided to walk down to the little inlet and see just how bad the visibility was over the lake. I couldn't see more than about 15 yards with any clarity. In spite of that, the 5 minutes I spent there yielded some good birds, to include several hundred red-winged blackbirds coming up out of the reeds for the day, a Cooper's hawk, a couple of coots, a pied-billed grebe, a marsh wren, a belted kingfisher, and six great blue herons that were spaced every few yards along the bank.
I got very close to the Cooper's hawk. I think he was concentrating on the red-winged blackbirds and contemplating breakfast. He was fairly low in a tree along the bank, so I wasn't more than 5 yards from him and had a chance to get a good look before he decided to move to a taller tree across the inlet.
The marsh wren was a special treat. I hear them occasionally, but they tend to stay in the thick of the reeds and when they pop out, it is only for a second or two. This morning, the wren was scolding and hopping around on top of the reeds, then flew across the path, right in front of me, so I had the opportunity to get a good look.
All in all, a very fruitful 5-minute investment. Right now, I am keeping an eye out on my feeders for Project Feederwatch, waiting for the fog to burn off so I can head out on my swan quest. The little ruby-crowned kinglet as usual, cannot resist the suet cake.
Good birding!
Friday, January 14, 2011
Red-tailed Hawks
Red-tailed hawks are very common in this area, especially in winter. If you are interested in these birds, I suggest you check out the slide show on the Oklahoma State University Veterinary School website.
Good birding!
Good birding!
Experiment with Twitter
Well, I've been hearing so much about Twitter, I decided to play with it. I don't really see how it can be all that exciting, but I may not understand it. Anyway, decided giving it a try with a hobby is relatively low threat. If you have a twitter account and want to follow (not that I expect to make many tweets), then you can find me @birdwithpenny. If you're a tweeting birder (doesn't that sound strange?), let me know and I will follow you for a while.
Unfortunately, the name of my blog was already taken as a Twitter user name, so I had to come up with something else. I can't say the result was all that original, but it fits.
For now, I have the tweets posting to this blog. We'll see how it goes. It may turn out to be a real short experiment and it might turn out to be really cool.
Good birding!
Unfortunately, the name of my blog was already taken as a Twitter user name, so I had to come up with something else. I can't say the result was all that original, but it fits.
For now, I have the tweets posting to this blog. We'll see how it goes. It may turn out to be a real short experiment and it might turn out to be really cool.
Good birding!
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