- Birders who Blog, Tweet and Chirp button
Today, a new web site has launched for Birders who Blog, Tweet and Chirp. The original Facebook group, who was founded by Dawn Fine, has grown by leaps and bounds and the new site was developed for birders and nature lovers who blog and/or use Twitter and Chirptracker. Birders from across the country are welcomed!
The first official outing of the group was in Massachusetts on June 13th at Plum Island. Birders from several New England states attended. You can read my story about the outing here. More outings are planned, with the next one in Connecticut on July 11th.
The reason for a web site separate from Facebook is the concern for space and ease of use. Members will be able to interact with others in their region and state. A photo gallery is included to post photos of events or your personal birding adventures. It’s a great place for bird watchers to share their knowledge, their sightings and their favorite spots.
The best part of the site is the ability to set up outings for birders in your region, just like we did on June 13th. A calendar of events is available to look for outings in your area, or announce your own.
It’s awesome meeting up with the folks who own the blogs that you visit frequently. All it takes is a little before hand preparation and announcing your interest in having an outing with fellow bloggers, Twitter and ChirpTracker users.
As this is a new site, there will be new features added on occassion. Comments and suggestions are greatly appreciated. Check it out and take it to another level interacting with your fellow birders who blog, tweet and chirp!
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A sailboat sits in the fog off the Kennebec River. Bath, Maine | Click photo for larger view.
I bid a farewell to June. The fog, rain and cloudy skies have grown old. The persistent east and southeast winds coupled with the damp and dreary weather has kept temperatures below normal. There were only four days of sunshine this month, but those sunny days either started out cloudy, or ended cloudy before the sun had a chance to set. The photo to the left tells the story of how most days looked from our home.
Birds have been very active. Fledglings are coming to our feeders with their parents and going through bird seed, suet, grape jelly and nectar like there’s no tomorrow. The only thing is, it’s not very pleasant standing in the rain to get photos. Plus the lighting just plain stinks when weather conditions are such as they are.
So, within the dry confines of our home, I watched the activity. Any photos that I have taken were from a bedroom window with the camera settings at a high ISO and slow shutter speed. Maybe I should invest in a better beamer for days when the sun will not cooperate.
Enough complaining. let’s get to the birds! Here is what I have been seeing as far as fledglings:
Downy Woodpecker – 3 fed by adults
Hairy Woodpecker – 4 (3 females and 1 male) eating on own and being fed
Black-capped Chickadee – 5 fed by adults
Tufted Titmouse – 4 fed by adults
White-breasted Nuthatch – 5 eating on own and being fed
Red-breasted Nuthatch – 6 eating on own and being fed
Gray Catbird – unknown – they are everywhere mostly being fed (3 pair nesting in our yard)
Chipping Sparrows – unknown – fed by adults
Tree Swallows – 6 still in nest box. Should be leaving soon
Ruby-throated Hummingbird – unknown – males protecting nest areas. Estimate at least 6 nesting in yard and immediate area.
Rufous-sided Towhee – unknown – seen adult feeding 2
Rose-breasted Grosbeak – 4? – eating on own
Eastern Phoebe – unknown – still on nest
Great-crested Flycatcher – unknown – still on nest
There are several species of Warbler and at least 3 nesting pair of Baltimore Orioles nesting on our property. No fledglings seen as of yet from these species.
There are other species that I suspect are nesting in our yard, and many more close by. Northern Cardinals are nesting in the area, but I haven’t seen any fledglings as of yet. Pileated Woodpeckers are nesting on the ridge across the road from our home, but no fledglings seen. Eagle and Osprey nests are still being attended to by adults in the area, but no young seen yet.
I am hoping that one of these days the weather will break and we will get into true summer weather soon. Then I can get out and do some nest watching and add to the above list.
In the meantime, I photographed some of the activity around the feeders. Forgive the quality. I hate shooting when there is no sun! As always, clicking a thumbnail will open a shadowbox with an enlarged view.
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White-breasted Nuthatch juveniles
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White-breasted Nuthatch juveniles
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White-breasted Nuthatch juvenile
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White-breasted Nuthatch juvenile
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White-breasted Nuthatch juvenile
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White-breasted Nuthatch feeding
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White-breasted Nuthatch feeding
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Squirrel
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Male Baltimore Oriole eating grape jelly
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Male Baltimore Oriole
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Male American Goldfinch
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Juvenile Downy Woodpecker
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Groundhog
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Gray Catbird
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Fledgling male Hairy Woodpecker
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First summer Baltimore Oriole
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A sailboat sits in the fog off the Kennebec River. Bath, Maine | Click photo for larger view.
Happy birding!
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Several months ago, Dawn Fine from Dawn’s Bloggy Blog started a group on Facebook called Birders Who Blog, Tweet and Chirp. It’s like one stop shopping to find birders who own a blog, use Twitter and or ChirpTracker. This past Saturday, thanks to the efforts of Dawn and Christopher from Picus Blog, New England Birders who Blog, Tweet and Chirp had an outing at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge on Plum Island in Massachusetts.
New England BwBTC | Click for photo larger view
Everyone met at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge headquarters. After introductions and several group photos, we car pooled and headed out to the refuge at 8:30 a.m. That is everyone except Andy who had some car trouble. You may read his story at Nature Potpourri. Our leader was Christopher Ciccone, who I must say done an excellent job of leading our group.
The morning was beautiful with clear blue skies and comfortable temperatures. Our first stop was the parking area just after the entrance gate. Nesting Purple Martins were seen and photographed and then it was off to the beach. Sections of the beach are closed this time of the year to protect nesting Piping Plovers.
We wanted to meet with Janet Egan of Plover Warden Diaries at Sandy Point Reservation but the parking areas were full because of a fishing derby. Janet joined us later at the Hellcat Swamp.
I did not keep track of the birds that I saw on this outing. We did see Brown Thrashers, Snowy and Great Egrets, several Warbler species, a Marsh Wren (life bird for my wife Sharon!), Red-winged Blackbirds everywhere, Kingbirds, several Sparrow species, Swallows, Kingbirds, Flycatchers, Cedar Waxwings, Mute Swans, Orioles, Hummingbirds, Bobolinks and much more.
Beach closed for nesting Piping Plovers | Click photo for larger view
Around one o’clock, we headed off the refuge and went into Newburyport for lunch. We stopped at Courtyard Roast Beef and Sub and I had one of the best roast beef sandwiches that I have ever had. A sesame seed bun with piles of roast beef and just a touch of horseradish sauce… YUMMY!
After the meal, we all headed to Newmarket, NH to check out the nesting site of a Mississippi Kite. Although a female was on the nest, it was very hard to see. The male never showed up. I did see the eye and part of the head and tail of the female. Sharon and I added this bird to our life list!
We hated to do it, but late afternoon was upon us and we had a long ride home. After being on the road and birding for nearly 14 hours, Sharon and I were tired. We wished everyone safe travels and made promises to do another outing next year.
Sharon and I had an excellent time with fellow birders during this outing. We will surely miss everyone and will be counting the days until we can meet up with our birding friends once again. Everyone was so kind and helpful. We will always cherish the time we spent with these folks and wish them all all the best!
Dawn and Jeff from Dawn’s Bloggy Blog
Christopher from Picusblog
Laura and Mark from Interstitial Spaces
Bev from Behind the Bins
Catie from A Birding Girl
Janet Egan from Plover Warden Diaries
Andy from Natures Potpourri
Sharon from A New England Life
Lauren from A Worn Field Guide
Dan from Nature Observances
Steve from Shooting My Universe
Amanda from The Fledgling Birder
Mark from strack16
Thanks Dawn for the list!
Now onto the pictures! As always, clicking a thumbnail will bring up a larger view.
The Birds and The Birders
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Yellow Warbler
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Savannah Sparrow
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Red-winged Blackbird
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Purple Martin Pair
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Mourning Dove
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Mississippi Kite Nest
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Marsh Wren
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Marsh Wren
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Female Purple Martin
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Female Gadwall
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Birder’s Who Blog, Tweet and Chirp
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Scoping the Mississippi Kite
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Looking for birds
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Looking for the Mississippi Kite
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Marsh Walk
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Marsh Walk
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Birders on the beach
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Beach closed for nesting Piping Plovers | Click photo for larger view
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New England BwBTC | Click for photo larger view
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Birders on the beach | Click photo for larger view
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