BIRDING AND INTERNET
Solitary Sandpiper
Today I joined my friends Tim B. and Mike D. for a birding adventure for early shorebirds moving through the area. It was a beautiful sunny day but it seemed very quite with only a few songbirds vocalizing. Highlights were Solitary Sandpipers, Northern Harrier, flock of Kingbirds, and a Sharp-shinned Hawk.
Video of a Solitary Sandpiper Preening Itself.
I have to thank Tim for attracting the honey bee when it started chasing me and for him taking one (being sting) for the team! After the bee attack, we went in searching for the Clay-colored Sparrow nesting here in Cattaraugus County. We did find a few sparrows . . . . but we were not sure if we were looking at a Clay-colored or a Chipping Sparrow (both were in the area and we had some very bad looks). I guess that I will not be able to count the Clay-colored Sparrow for a 2007 bird!! Boo hoo and will have to try for it earlier next year!
American Kestrel and Broad-winged Hawk
Satellite Tech guy finally got my Satellite Internet installed after 9 long hours yesterday and then 6 additional hours today!! I just got it installed but all I can say is “SWEET”!! The wait was well worth it since he nailed it perfectly what amazing signal strength!! YEAH!!
Raven was what was on the back of the Satellite!! Looks like a more than perfect name since it gave so many problems to the Satellite Tech Guy!
Mon@rch's Nature Blog 
Congrats on getting faster internet. Now you can post mor3 pictures faster!
12 August 2007 at 9:54 pm
Yay! That was an installation worth waiting for, right?
You will love it. Now we will have more devine Monarch photos to see.
Can’t wait (wink).
12 August 2007 at 10:22 pm
You finally got the internet that you have been wanting to get YAY! I bet it was a lot faster uploading the video. Some great birds also, on the video were you telescoping?
12 August 2007 at 11:08 pm
Oh, boy! High speed internet! Now I expect to see a lot more videos of bird banding and more. I don’t know how you managed it before with video and all those wonderful pictures. I have DSL (Verizon) but my speed isn’t what it should be. I think it is old wiring in this part of town. I’m very interested in how well that satellite works for you. If the weather affects it or if there is a downside.
12 August 2007 at 11:41 pm
Oh… so THIS is why your new favorite words are Highspeed and Internet. Cool! Please don’t tell me you’ve making these amazing posts and such in the past with a dialup connection???
13 August 2007 at 6:16 am
Congrats on the satellite connection. Looking forward to seeing what you post now.
13 August 2007 at 6:26 am
congrats on the internet. i love seeing your pictures and videos
13 August 2007 at 6:45 am
Just think how much more time you’ll have to take and upload photos! ;c) Congrats on the new speed….weeeeeeeee….. hang on!
13 August 2007 at 6:45 am
I am so spoilt by high speed that I cannot tolerated a dial-up connection. Hope you didn’t have to pay by the hour for the hook-up! You, not sure of a sparrow? Maybe there is hope for me.
13 August 2007 at 6:53 am
@ Barb – I didn’t want to go to bed last night but did pull myself away from the computer! So many blogs that are now easily at my fingertips!
@ Mary – for sure and the Tech guy did an AWESOME job lining the satellite up! Guess these waves are different than the TV waves and harder to get precise. He was able to get a 90% signal which is VERY good for satellite setups!
@ Birdbander – yeah and you are onto me with digiscoping! Thanks bud and much “MUCH” faster for sure! Hmm, should I give you the password to my wi-fi?
@ Linda – now I will be more incline to capture videos knowing that I am more easily able to upload them for sure! A 10mb video file would take me 1 ½ ish hours to upload (I would go for a walk, make dinner, do laundry, etc.. during that time). Hmm, maybe I will not have time for laundry now?? This might be a problem? I just got this and the tech guy said that I would be having some problems with rain (not necessary with snow)! But, built up of snow/ice on the dish could cause some problems! We will see what happens with Raven!
@ Jen – giggle, sure is! giggle! 100% dial up my friend but it isn’t that way any more!
@ Toni – thanks and if you could only pull me off the internet, maybe I would have time to take some pictures for it!! LOL
@ Rick – thanks and love your comments!
@ Jayne – Thanks and I guess now I need to be more creative to make the blog a step up! Well, I guess I will have to try!
@ Ruth- I can’t tolerate it and not even had the high speed for 12 hours! I have many “hmm, not sure’s” but many times I don’t post those on my blog! LOL!
13 August 2007 at 8:47 am
I always have loved Ravens ;D
Congrats again
13 August 2007 at 10:13 am
You have to love high-speed internet. We have Verizon FIOS at 20MBps (about 3x what Comcast and DSL are in our area).
Glad you got out birding for the fun of it – migration is starting, so I’ll be out looking for warblers (although one of my favorite warbler spots is being ruined).
13 August 2007 at 10:56 am
I enjoyed your video! Very fun.
The hawk photo is beautiful!
Glad you have high speed, life is very good!
Every time I see the Monarchs I think of you!
Sherry
13 August 2007 at 5:44 pm
High speed Internet is sweet for sure, Tom! Yay!!! Now we’ll see more cool videos and photos like the ones you showed us today – Yay!! Glad you didn’t get stung but I feel bad for your friend.
13 August 2007 at 5:44 pm
YEA!
13 August 2007 at 6:40 pm
Thanks everyone, Very much enjoying the internet! THANKS!
14 August 2007 at 12:10 pm
Glad you got your satellite hookup. Just remember when you zoom through those uploads, that some of us still download via dial-up. Upload a few short video clips for us.
15 August 2007 at 6:04 pm