2009 in review and au revoir Whitey

Chris and Mike got a little more serious as birders this year. We started slowly just observing the water fowl on the lake that we enjoy living on and the woodpeckers and other birds in the trees. We did take our first birding vacation to Cape May in the spring and continued with several day trips. We finally saw a red-headed woodpecker and a blue grosbeak. Now, we usually take the "birding camera" on vacation, although we try to spend more time in the sun and the sand with a drink in my hand.

One change this year is Whitey's departure. She was a daily fixture on the lake for our first two years here. We haven't seen her since the spring. She was semi-domesticated, hanging out with the Canada Geese and then coming into our yard to follow Chris around while she was gardening. She'd notice the lights going on in the morning and swim over asking for a snack. She could only fly 50 feet or so and didn't migrate. We're pretty sure she was a domestic Chinese Swan Goose. She may have left a legacy: some interesting hybrid geese spend a month or two here late summer and fall.

Au Revoir Whitey.

Red Bellied Woodpecker at the Suet Feeder

This red-bellied woodpecker found the suet feeder, letting the goldfinches have the nyjer.

Red Bellied Woodpecker at the Nyjer Feeder

 

 

 

We were surprised to see a Red Bellied Woodpecker at the nyjer feeder. I think the goldfinches were surprised too.

Backyard Birds

Tufted Titmouse

Carolina Wren blowing in the wind

Blue Jay

Junco

House Finch

Tufted Titmouse with a peanut

Northern Cardinal in the snow

Chickadee

Sandhill Cranes

We got to see the 3 Sandhill Cranes that had been reported in Franklin Township in Somerset County on the "New Jersey Birding" mailing list. See the link on the right to the archive. Thanks to Theodore Chase and others for providing the report and the specific location. We had to make two loops around Randolph before seeing them.

Dark-eyed Junco "Oregon" Race

Mike took a short trip to Corvallis, Oregon and had a few hours for birding. This junco (Oregon race) is more colorful than the ones we frequently encounter in our yard.

Western Scrub-Jay

We saw scrub jays frequently when we lived in California, but never noticed the white eyebrow before.

Elk

The elk at Finley NWR in Corvallis were impressive.

Iced Cormorant

Lake Nelson is mostly frozen. While Chris is sharpening her skates, the cormorants seem less happy with this development. Mike is considering moving the jacuzzi onto the dock and stocking it with fish.

Harlequin Ducks at Barnegat Lighthouse

We visited Barnegat Lighthouse State Park to see the Harlequin Ducks. Others have reported seeing 20 or more, but we only saw three. The lighting was good today and this year's pictures came out better than last year's. In fact, we are so happy with them that Mike has agreed that he'll never again drag Chris onto a jetty made of boulders with treacherous crevices in 35 degree weather and high winds where Mary twisted her ankle.

Ducks on Lake Nelson

Female Wood Duck

Wood Duck with Mallards

American Widgeon

A few migratory ducks are spending an occasional evening at Lake Nelson. Today, Chris was happy to see a female wood duck by the dock, although the mallards weren't particularly interested in the visitor. A widgeon came by yesterday. Neither stayed long, but the loon has been here more than a week.