Day Before the Storm (part 2)
Wild Turkey wondering through the snow!
Today was a wonderful day with 43 species and a ton of photos. I decided to spit the post up between waterfowl (part 1) and non waterfowl (part 2). I started my day over at Red House Lake and one of the first birds I saw were 2 Eastern Meadowlarks (CHECK, first for 2007)!! I jumped out of my truck and took a long series of photos of these two first of the year birds (for the blog). Then I got a little too close and they flew away!! Going to review my pictures, I realized that I didn’t have a memory card in my camera!! Ugg – no pictures of Meadowlarks today!! I then headed to the woods in search of a Goshawk territory that I know about. Didn’t get dive bombed but did quickly observe the Goshawk passing overhead (CHECK, first for 2007)!! While searching for the Goshawk, I also come across an American Woodcock, Turkey Vulture and a Common Raven. This Wild Turkey (in picture above) greeted me once I returned back to my truck!
Winter Wren with nesting material.
I headed over to Quaker Lake and enjoyed chasing some waterfowl around (see previous post). I then decided to wonder into the tornado blowdown area to see if I could get any new thrush species (which I didn’t find)!! I come across this Winter Wren who I captured with some nesting material in its bill. It had happened so quickly and the bird disappeared as quickly as I had found it. They are so cute and well worth walking through this muddy area!! Even with temperatures the way they are, there are numerous birds starting to nest. I also had 2 Ruffed Grouse making me jump on 2 different occasions about 5 feet off the ground.
Golden-crowned Kinglet showing me its bling bling.
I walked around Red House Lake before calling it a day. I am so glad that I did because there were a few dozen Golden-crowned Kinglets that keeping me entertained. While photographing these kinglets, I heard a Pileated Woodpecker that was fairly close. Looked around and didn’t see anything, so I continued trying to photographing the Kinglets! Cool, there is a Swamp Sparrow (CHECK, first for 2007). Then I noticed a couple who were walking stop and then start point at something! Yep, the Pileated Woodpecker that I photographed below which I had ignored (and almost not photograph because of the kinglets)!!!
Pileated Woodpecker looking for Carpenter Ants.
It was a wonderful day with me finding 43 species of birds and 3 first for 2007’s. I hope the weather allows me to see just as many great birds during my BOS count tomorrow and maybe locate an Eastern Phoebe or Tree Swallow (which I didn’t locate today). I am still worrying about my insect eating feathered friends and should be warming up soon.
Mon@rch's Nature Blog 
Awesome shots!-I’ve never had a good view of a Winter Wren. I haven’t seen an Eastern Meadowlark this year.-Nice captureof the Golden Crown and the Turkey too.
14 April 2007 at 11:11 pm
I’m concerned about the insect eating birds also – yes, way down here! The weather warmed for a few days but the nights are deadly. YOU had a great day and saw more in a day than most of us see in a month. I love that wren with nesting material. Sweet! The Gold Crown and the Meadowlark would be lifers for me. But not the turkey vultures…I (my car) nearly fell into a ditch today to photograph about six of them. No photos – no success. Maybe next time!
14 April 2007 at 11:28 pm
Aren’t Meadowlarks just so cool? Love the wild turkey. Great blog Monarch… I’ve added you to my bird bookmarks. :c)
15 April 2007 at 8:02 am
Oh, oh, oh–the lovely photos you did get. (Note to self–always make sure a memory card is in camera!).
I have been thinking about you with the impending weather forecast–20 inches of snow predicted for the Adirondacks–hope you are far enough west to not get hit too hard. Keep us posted how you fare!
15 April 2007 at 10:10 am
@ Larry – thanks and was a great day! Sometimes they come in, sometimes they dont’ let me get close!
@ Mary – thanks and they were fun! You’re kidding about the TV and almost putting the car in the ditch!! Glad your alright!
@ Jayne – thanks and will go check out your site also!
@ KGMom – thanks and good rule to follow with the card! We might be just off the edge and not get as much (for once).
15 April 2007 at 2:08 pm
Great photo captures Mon@rch. I just rushed out and put some cut up yarn in a tree for the nesting birds here. I think the Cardinals are nesting already.
15 April 2007 at 3:06 pm
Wonderful pictures!
15 April 2007 at 5:08 pm
Got to love that turkey. Your Kinglet pictures are awesome! I had a very hard time getting a poor picture of one. They moved faster than my shutter.
15 April 2007 at 6:12 pm
@ Barb – thanks and don’t forget some drier lint which they like to use.
@ Rurality – thanks
@ Ruth – LOL, those kinglets do move fast and lighting wasn’t the best for me!
15 April 2007 at 10:57 pm
Jealous. Just darn jealous.
That’s all I have to say.
15 April 2007 at 11:02 pm
Splendid, splendid photos. I just discovered your blog over at Larry’s ‘The Brownstone Birder’. It’s always nice to make a new discovery! CHECK!
16 April 2007 at 1:58 pm
And more good shots – I’m hoping to get a better shot of a pileated this summer. The only one I’ve seen was last year at Valley Forge, and I barely got to see/photograph him. I’m jealous of the close-up looks you got.
16 April 2007 at 7:36 pm
@ Susan – after your windy weekend, I bet you would loved to been out birding! But, sounds like the education programs you did were fun also (inside)!
@ Cathy – thanks and glad you visited!! We love CHECK’s here!
@ Marty – thanks and the Pileateds are hard to get close to! This weekend I was able to get many great up close shots! Only wish it was sunny with better lighting!
16 April 2007 at 9:25 pm
We have a lot of these wild turkeys in the Boston area. I even saw one walking down the main street of my neighborhood.
17 April 2007 at 3:01 pm