Migratory Bird Count - Riverton Twp. 5/12/2018

   For the second year in a row I covered the whole of Riverton Township during the Mason County Spring Migratory Bird Count.  Dave Dister tipped me off on Blue-winged Warblers in my count area.  I had scouted the area during the mid-week but was unable to find them.  Fortunately today was a different story.  I heard 3 singing males and was able to secure some properly lit photos of one of them.

   Another good bird was this Hooded Warbler (1st Spring Female?).

   Baltimore Orioles were seen in several locations.

   Other birds were....

Vesper Sparrow

Eastern Bluebird

Tree Swallow

Green Heron

Yellow-throated Vireo

Female Buffleheads. The one on the right appears to be eating a waterbug.

Solitary Sandpiper, alone with its reflection.

Sandhill Cranes

Bobolink

Gray Catbird

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Black and White Warbler

Brown Thrasher

Yellow-rumped Warbler

American Redstart

Red-eyed Vireo

Yellow Warbler

Eastern Kingbird

   Back at my house, I added a few more species during an afternoon feeder watch.

Red-headed Woodpecker

Lincoln's Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow

Chipping Sparrow

White-Crowned Sparrow

I ended my Riverton survey with 66 species and was able to add another 7 in my yard when I got home.

Indigo Bunting 5/9/2018

    I was able to add a new bird to the yardlist this morning when I got home from work.  I didn't even have a chance to enter the house when I noticed an Indigo Bunting (#121) singing near the top of an oak tree.  It later came down to ground level where I was able to get an obstructed-view photo of it.

  Other first of the year visitors that I obtained photos of were Scarlet Tanager and Yellow-throated Vireo.  Others firsts not photographed were Red-eyed Vireo, Hermit Thrush, Tennessee Warbler, Cape May Warbler, Black-Throated Green Warbler and Gray Catbird.

Female Scarlet Tanager

Yellow-throated Vireo

Clay-colored Sparrow, yesterday's guest of honor

    The Baltimore Orioles finally found the grape jelly that was left out for them on Sunday.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Blue-headed Vireo

Clay-colored Sparrow 5/8/2018

    Added a new bird to the yardlist in the form of a cooperative Clay-colored Sparrow (#120).  It made a few afternoon visits to the birdbath after picking seeds up off the ground.  It was so close to my vantage point at an open window in the home office that extension tubes were required to increase (or is it decrease?) the close focus of my 500mm lens.

    Other birds in the yard today include.....

White-crowned Sparrow

Nashville Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Only the second Yellow Warbler ever in the yard

   Pine Siskins numbers that were over 100 late last week have dwindled to about 25.  The stragglers have lingered to the point that they.........

...........are getting on each others' nerves and.....

............have started making new Pine Siskins.

Pine Siskin....Model year 2018 

  On Sunday a male Baltimore Oriole perched above the hummingbird feeder.

First Oriole of the Year 5/5/2018

    A female Baltimore Oriole bypassed the orange slices that I've been putting out and went straight for the hummingbird feeder.

   At the backyard feeder a male Ruby-throated made periodic visits.

   Also a small group of 3 Broad-winged Hawks tried to muster up a kettle.

New Arrivals 5/4/2018

  An inch of rain also brought a bunch offspring migrants down to my yard.

Blue-headed Vireos have been around since Tuesday

   Three warblers made their first of the year appearances today.

Black and White Warbler

Pine Warbler

Nashville Warbler

   Last year was the first spring since I moved to this house in 2015, that I had Red-headed Woodpeckers visit, so I wasn't really sure if they would be back this year.  Today I had two calling and hammering for about an hour.

  Other first of year birds that weren't photographed.  White-crowned Sparrow, Rose-breasted Grosbeak and a pair of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds.  The yard list is up to 78 for the year.

  The sun will be out tomorrow and I'm plan on getting some shots of the hummingbirds.  Stay tuned.

Lincoln's Sparrow 5/1/2018

  Added a new bird to the yardlist this morning.  Lincoln's Sparrow (#118)

  It hung around for a least a couple of hours and posed with different backgrounds.