Life List 224 - ABA List 138!

I didn't get to bird much today, however, I was able to get in about 1 hour at Eagle Creek and it turned out to be an hour well spent - 2 more lifers.  Let me clarify though, that any time birding is time well spent!  I basically birded from one spot and was able to see several shore birds including my two new additions of Spotted Sandpiper and Greater Yellowlegs.  A few other highlights were Semi-palmated Sandpiper, and Great Egret.

A perfect October 5th, 2008!

Finally, I was able to get out and look at some birds.  I was running a bit late this morning but spent some much needed alone time birding around the Marina @ Eagle Creek Park, Indianapolis.  I was quickly rewarded with a large flock of Yellow-rumped Warblers which appeared mostly to be of the "Myrtle" variety.  Some other highlights were a Ruby-crowned Kinglet and an awesome Golden-crowned Kinglet giving plenty of good looks at his "crown".  I also followed a Black and White Warbler for several minutes and at times was almost close enough to jump up and touch it - such a striking Warbler!

At 12n, I was off to attend a luncheon to celebrate the Amos Butler Audubon Society's accomplishments for the 2008 Birdathon!  All teams were recognized for their outstanding birding and fundraising efforts!  In all, the Birdathon raised approx. $28,000 this year - WOW!  After lunch, there was a silent auction that offered an amazing assortment of products, giftcards, etc. from area businesses and other Birdathon supporters.  I, of course, bought several items at SUPER deals - however, I quickly learned once I brought my items home that there was no deal good enough to prevent my wife from lecturing me about my frivolous spending habits!

After the lunch, I headed back to Eagle Creek to check out the shorebirds.  Some other birders has mentioned earlier several birds that I had yet to gain as lifers so I was hoping that they would still be poking around in the mud for my birding enjoyment.  To my amazement, they were all present!  I quickly gained 4 new lifers - Pectoral Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Semi-palmated Plover,  and Solitary Sandpiper!  

The weather was crisp, clear, and warm!  Not a cloud in the sky!  Birding was good, complete with four new lifers AND after a terrible first 3 quarters, the Colts made an awesome comeback and beat Houston - could there be a better day!

Birding Depression!

Have you ever been so busy that you can't find time to bird?  If so, does it drive you nuts? Do you find yourself looking at every bird picture you can find.  Browsing "Wild Bird" or "Birdwatcher's Digest" fantasizing about trips you wished you had money to take?  Staring out your window hoping for a Rufous Hummingbird?

Well, here I am... officially in a rut aching for a few minutes to bird!  Last weekend I was able to get out for about 2 hours - just enough time to want more.  I thought I had my first Least Sandpiper (6 actually) but didn't claim them because I just wasn't sure!  I had the scope on 60x and still couldn't feel 100%... maybe next time.

The birding forecast for this weekend is grim as well.  However, if I can find an hour or two, rest assured I will be looking up toward the sky hoping to see some sort of feathered life!

Another Change!

After much thought and after changing my blog several times for no good reason over the last few weeks, I have decided to go back to the original format!  I love birds, I love orchids, I love carnivorous plants... and so many other nature related things that my heart just won't let me run them all together.  So, I have decided to keep my birding blog a birding blog and have created another blog that will allow me to write about my friends in the flora world.

Have you ever seen anyone so indecisive?

Feel free to check out my new blog at http://floracrazed.blogspot.com

Random Thoughts!

I changed my blogs up a little so that I could (at times) write about some of my other interests that I routinely obsess over!  I often wonder how healthy these obsessions are?  Not that it matters much either way!

Recently, I added two new birds to my life list - Chestnut-sided Warbler and Nashville Warbler.  I am always excited for the new additions but never content as I know there are so many left to see!

The Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have been at the backyard feeders in record numbers for my place... migrants I suppose, taking daily breaks to get charged up for many remaining miles of travel.  The American Goldfinches are beginning to increase in numbers at the feeders as well... now that the young are on their own, days are shorter, nights are cooler, they are ready to eat thistle vs. the insects that they have been eating all summer.

Three Orchids blessed me with blooms this week... all Lady's Slippers (Paph's) - White, Green, and a Yellow.

I planted some Venus Fly Trap seeds a couple of weeks ago from my plants outside so I now have about 50 Flytrap orphans!  Most people prefer not to mess with Venus Fly Trap seeds since it takes the plant about 3-5 years to mature but I say "why not" I hope to be around it 3-5 years so I'll take another 50 Flytraps!  The first picture is the newest sprouts and the bottom pictures is seedlings that are about 10 months old.

Well, that's about it, I turned 33 today so I guess I will just take it easy, eat some Red Velvet cake that my family bought me and watch my feeders all day.  What a life!

Warblers!@!@??!

FINALLY,  this week I was able to take some time off from work to go birding!  As mentioned prior, time has not been on my side lately - between work, football, soccer, etc. most of the birding I have done lately has been through the windshield of my car!

Anyway, I have been to Eagle Creek Park 2x, Salamonie Reservoir, and Southwestway Park only to find that I have been more frustrated than relaxed mostly because of the one group of birds that we ALL love to identify - WARBLERS!  Now, I know that many of you tenured Birders might find this humorous, but these hyper little creatures had me cursing far more this week than any confession could attempt to neutralize!  

My typical Warbler sighting went something like this...  Look!  There's one! Where did it go! Up there! Behind the leaf! No behind the branch! The next tree! Got it! No I don't, it moved! It has some yellow on its... SHIT!  I can't find it!  Its gone... and, of course, the process repeats itself!

So, thus far this week, my confirmed Warbler sightings were - Prothonotary, Blue-winged, Common Yellowthroat, Black and White, Yellow, and Yellow-throated.  Unconfirmed sightings would be somewhere in the millions!

On a less frustrating note, I was able to add at least on  new lifer this week - Common Nighthawk.  I also stalked what I believe was a Winter Wren for sometime on the north side of Lilly Lake.

This takes me to my new life list total of 215!  I love birding!

3 New Additions!

My dilemma of finding time to bird lately continues, however, I have been able to get out 2x this week and to my delight I have added three new birds to my life list taking it now to 214! I am looking forward to the forthcoming weeks of fall migration in hopes I will catch some lifers that I missed this spring.

My newest additions are - Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Yellow-throated Vireo, and Black Tern.