Spring Migrants Are Flooding In!

In my last couple of outings new spring migrants have been pouring in! These are just a few that I was able to get photos of with my point and shoot. I'm not that good at getting bird photos so that gives you an idea of how may there must be. Top photo is a Blue-winged Warbler. They have a song that sounds like Bee-buzzz.

This little guy is a Palm Warbler. They are constantly wagging their tails up and down.

This is a White-eyed vireo. They are very vocal with a variety of odd calls.
Rose-breasted Grosbeaks have a song that is a little bit like an American Robin but they are more melodic and seem to have more notes to their songs.

The action started earlier this year. There's still a lot left to the month of may and there's still a lot that I'm hoping to see this spring! Anything new near your homestead?

5 Ways To Prevent Restless Birder Syndrome

Birding or birdwatching should be a pleasant and enjoyable activity but in order to get the most out of it you have to be in the right frame of mind. Some birders derive most of their pleasure from chasing after rare birds and growing their list of species seen as quickly as possible. There is nothing wrong with that method. I do it to a certain extent myself at times but I find that it can cause me to be a restless birder. 

If you find constantly looking for the next "good" bird or that place where all the action is, you might be suffering from restless birder syndrome. 

Here are 5 ways you may be able to avoid succumbing to restless birder syndrome: 

1) Pick a place that you think has good habitat for birds that isn't popular among other birders: This will help you avoid having preconceived expectations based upon what others have seen there previously.

2) Commit to staying at this place for the entire morning:

By doing this it will help you relax and just take in your surroundings.

3)Study each bird individually and equally, even if you're only watching an ordinary house wren:

If you know you're going to be at this place for the full morning then there is no need to be in a hurry. You may notice some details that you haven't noticed before.

4)Stay in one place as long as possible: By staying in one place you are less likely to scare birds into hiding. They tend to reveal themselves when you have the patience to do this and you might also see birds that you might otherwise have overlooked.

5) Observe bird behavior: Now that you've slowed down the pace and opened up your observational skills you might be able to pick up on what the birds are doing, not just identifying their species. 

This type of birding may seem too slow for some but it can be just rewarding as high paced listing. Just as importantly, it will help you avoid being afflicted with the dreaded restless birder syndrome!

Red-headed Woodpecker Close To Home

For the longest time the only Red-headed Woodpecker we've had close to home was a fake one we put on an old fencepost as a gag. It fooled a few people who took a quick glance because it's set up a good distance from the house. I have seen enough of the fake one. I prefer the real deal!

Red-headed Woodpeckers are still fairly rare in Connecticut but seemed to have increased in numbers over the last couple of years for some reason. Usually, I have to drive quite a bit out of town to find one but there have been a couple of them 10 minutes away the next town over for quite a while now at the Helen Carlson Bog. Having them so close to home is a nice convenience. I was able to see two of them this morning!

Checking On The Great Blue Heron Nests

We are fortunate to have a heron rookery in the area with dozens of nests. They are quite a distance across a flooded area high up in the trees but it like a scene from the dinosaur era.

They are constantly flying around outside the nest so sometimes you do get a little closer. It has become a yearly ritual to check on these nests to get a count on how many herons are around. Some years we have seen as many as 200 of them. This year the numbers have been a little more modest.