July, 2009
Birding Guide: Eastern Shore of Virginia (Pt 1)
The Eastern Shore of Virginia is a critical staging area for migratory birds along the mid-Atlantic flyway. Each fall, favorable wind conditions funnel migratory birds down the DelMarVa Peninsula where they rest and refuel on its largely undeveloped coastline.
Birding Guide: Eastern Shore of Virginia (Pt II, Birding Sites)
While spring migration is noteworthy on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, the fall migration is not-to-miss. Like clockwork, favorable wind currents push migrating birds through the area. Weary from their journey, they find precious refuge at countless points along the shoreline. As a result, birding is good just about anywhere, but is especially good at the southern tip, where birds concentrate before crossing the Bay.
Birding Guide: Eastern Shore of Virginia (Part III: Links)
The Eastern Shore of Virginia contains the longest stretch of undeveloped coast on the eastern seaboard. Here’s a list of the best natural areas on the peninsula with recommendations for lodging, food, and area attractions.
Wandering Winding Down, Writing Winding Up
May, June, and July have been a swirl of travel, birding, photography, deadlines, and outdoor pursuits. I’ve traveled to the Adirondacks for four days, to the East Coast for five, and then back to the Adirondacks for another week. I’ve slogged through buggy bogs, toured isolated islands by boat and ferry, canoed winding rivers, climbed three mountains, and toured the High Peaks in a six-seat Cessna.
25 Newly Described Neotropical Bird Species
More than 25 new birds species have been described in the neotropics since the year 2000
Happy Independence Day, America!
Tonight we celebrated Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. We re-read the Declaration of Independence. We ate red, white, and blue popsicles. We thanked the troops, past and present, for their service and sacrifice. And we said goodnight to each other, and to our great nation.
Morning With A Mockingbird
Northern mockingbirds are bold. While on the east coast, one jostled me awake at midnight with his incessant chatter–blue jays, cardinals, sparrows, car alarms–he gave it his ALL. While chasing light at the beach the next morning, I encountered this dapper fella (above and below). He told me he wanted his photo taken, so I [...]
Skywatch Friday
Sunrise in Ocean City, MD The 5:00 am sun blinded me during my east coast visit, so I rose and padded my feet to the beach to chase some light. To my delight, my Nikon rendered the sunrise as sweet as an orange creamsicle.
Roseate Spoonbill – Delaware’s First Record
Here’s a reason to use Twitter: it can put you onto a rare bird faster than a New York minute!
The first Roseate Spoonbill ever to grace Delaware’s shores was observed the Sunday before my trip to Maryland. The bird—believed to be a first-year juvenile —was first observed in Fenwick Island (Assawoman Bay) in the extreme southeast corner of the state, close enough to the MD line to make MD listers green with envy (and hoping for a strong north wind).
Bluebirds in My Backyard – I knew this day would come
I knew this day would come. I hoped for it, I planned for it. But after three solid years of living on this corner lot in upstate New York and never even SEEING a bluebird for miles, my hopes were growing dim.
