Sunday, June 20, 2010

Little (Big) Day!

Team Walmart... my wonderful Walmart Team that braved the heat to help raise money for bird conservation. We had a such great time!
On June 5, myself along with a great group of Walmart associates got together to participate in the Amos W. Butler Audubon Society's annual Birdathon. This was our third year doing the event. Despite many setbacks on a date, we were finally able to get together.
Our primary destination was Brown County State Park. An absolutely gorgeous park in Southern, IN. Although migrant season was mostly over, we were still treated to some great birds - mostly in one tree! Don't we love Mulberries? Some of the birds we saw were Scarlet Tanager, Summer Tanager, Eastern Towhee, Baltimore Oriole, and Eastern Wood Pewee.

Scarlet Tanager... does it get more beautiful? One of many colorful birds taking advantage of the ripening Mulberries.

After we had lunch, we spent a few more hours in the park. A couple of us then headed back toward Indianapolis. We decided to stop at Southwestway Park and I was sure glad we did! We found the park to be bouncing with Indigo Buntings, Red-eyed Vireo's, Yellow-breasted Chats, Song Sparrows, and Common Yellow-throats! What a great combination of birds in just the short distance we covered.

Indigo Bunting... this gorgeous female posed for several minutes at Southwestway park. Now, if I can just get a male to do the same!

Cedar Waxwing... one bird I can never get enough of. Find fruit, find Waxwings. Gotta love em'.
In all we saw more than 40 species of birds. A small number for a big day but we had a great time finding the ones we did and this is what the day was all about! We had fun and spotted some fantastic birds!

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Salamonie Reservoir

Memorial Day weekend did not bring much as far as rare or uncommon birds into the view of my binoculars but, as expected, the weekend did bring a good time looking at some very overly dramatic birds... well at least two of them...

House Wren... I love Wren's, I mean, who couldn't? They are always nearby announcing their presence by scolding you for yours. The are cute, eat lots of bugs an are full of attitude. A cool bird!

Killdeer... another bird I think we often take for granite. They are not at all uncommon but go out of their way to make themselves known and when you take the time to look at them they are absolutely gorgeous!

Spotted Sandpiper... the most uncommon bird of the weekend. I had to chase this critter back and forth several times before getting a good enough look to identify. A nice spot!

Indiana State Bird

Indiana State Bird
Northern Cardinal