Saturday, October 12, 2013

Migration season

Migration timetables are different for different species.  I am no longer seeing Plovers and Sandpipers on the beaches.  Now is the time for Sparrows and Warblers to stop by at a fruiting bush or to find some tasty caterpillars or insects to fuel their journey south.   The month of September gave us beautiful blue sky weather all month.  This type of weather pulls me outdoors with binoculars in the mornings.
    Viewing the White-rumped Sandpiper and a Semi-Palmated Sandpiper together was a good chance to study their differences.  
    Fall is a bittersweet time.  Its sad to see
the edges of ferns turning brown,  and grasses becoming golden.    Brightly colored Maples, Ashes, and bushes give beautiful views for a short time while sheltering the migrating birds.
In the mornings I look at the sunny edges of fields and forests, looking at Sparrows,  Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Warblers (Yellow-rumped and Pine) and sometimes Eastern Bluebirds.  Sparrows seen are:  Song, Savannah, Swamp, White-throated, Lincoln's, and Chipping.  This last photo is an Internet picture of one of my favorite Sparrows, a Lincoln's.   I cannot claim it, however.

And then I saw a Junco.  Oh no, not Winter birds already.   We need to keep Fall happening for a longer time.