Be Sure To Be An eBirder

Somewhere between the Arctic and Southwest Florida is a place to relax and do some good birding.

The Eastern Bluebird above (image 1) was photographed at Casa Almeida in September 2017.

One of those great places to bird is in Killingworth, Connecticut. With the ability to observe action at a leisurely pace, typically 15 minutes before sunrise and beyond with a desire to increase my bird list, it has been great fun to document my sightings. In fact, immediately after my last report I had the good fortune to see a "double-crested" Eastern Bluebird.

The American Goldfinch above (image 2) was photographed at Casa Almeida in September 2017.

Leisurely here doesn't mean to imply that birding fails to require a large degree of effort. A typical morning has averaged more than a few hours of observation. There is sometimes a surprise or two that breaks up the routine such as the incidental when glancing out the window to observe an unusually large count of 15 Northern Flicker seeking sustenance in the lawn and flower beds which occurred the day of this publication.

The Rose-breasted Grosbeak above (image 3) was photographed at Casa Almeida in September 2017.

Much time has additionally been devoted to making reports to eBird. You are invited to check out the lion's share of wildlife images processed this month that are available to view there. In the coming months I will be evaluating my continued membership with Pbase.

The American Goldfinch above (image 4) was photographed at Casa Almeida in September 2017.

If you have not already done so, I strongly encourage you to investigate eBird and contribute your observations to it. It is a magnificent resource of give and take. My thanks to eBirders Greg Hanisek and Tom Obrock for assisting me in correctly identifying several birds this month.

The Eastern Wood-Pewee above (image 5) was photographed at Casa Almeida in September 2017.

The Black-throated Green Warbler above (image 6) was photographed at Casa Almeida in September 2017.

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The Eastern Phoebe above (image 7) was photographed at Casa Almeida in September 2017.

A Bird Sanctuary In Killingworth, CT Pt. I

The creation of a sanctuary for birds with a few feeders offering a variety of food to sustain them in the winter months was actually an afterthought.

The Brown Creeper above (image 1) was photographed at Casa Almeida in January 2017.

This was when flowering plants and shrubs were planted in the late Fall at the Almeida residence among native Mountain Laurel in Killingworth, Connecticut, a town named in 1667. A few bird feeders were hung among the plants and trees, and dozens of birds responded.

The Dark-eyed Junco above (image 2) was photographed at Casa Almeida in January 2017.

The Eastern Bluebird above (image 3) was photographed at Casa Almeida in January 2017.

The Dark-eyed Junco above (image 4) was photographed at Casa Almeida in January 2017.

The Tufted Titmouse above (image 5) was photographed at Casa Almeida in February 2017.

In fact, hundreds of birds hung around through the Winter with their numbers increasing as more feeders were added. Upwards of 90 American Goldfinch were observed at one time at their peak presence primarily feeding on Nyjer seed made available to them.

The Downy Woodpecker above (image 6) was photographed at Casa Almeida in February 2017.

The American Goldfinch above (image 7) was photographed at Casa Almeida in February 2017.

The White-breasted Nuthatch above (image 8) was photographed at Casa Almeida in February 2017.

The Tufted Titmouse above (image 9) was photographed at Casa Almeida in February 2017.

Predation was an eventuality and it was observed a few times. There was one occasion when a bird was seen actually taken down. A Sharp-shinned Hawk engaged a Dark-eyed Junco in a spruce tree in the area of the feeders. An extraordinary sight it was to see the hawk in action.

The Brown Creeper above (image 10) was photographed at Casa Almeida in February 2017.

The House Finch above (image 11) was photographed at Casa Almeida in February 2017.

The Black-capped Chickadee above (image 11) was photographed at Casa Almeida in February 2017.

The American Goldfinch above (image 12) was photographed at Casa Almeida in February 2017.

A variety of sustenance provided in the feeders included the Nyjer seed, suet, an all purpose mix and dried mealworms with the Brown Creeper the only species seen with regularity not attracted to any of them. 400 pounds of Nyjer seed was consumed in a few months. For a bird attracted to it that weighs less than an ounce, the goldfinch (for the most part) went through it amazingly quickly.

The Mourning Dove above (image 13) was photographed at Casa Almeida in February 2017.

The White-breasted Nuthatch above (image 14) was photographed at Casa Almeida in February 2017.

The Downy Woodpecker above (image 15) was photographed at Casa Almeida in February 2017.

The Red-bellied Woodpecker above (image 16) was photographed at Casa Almeida in February 2017.

Problems began to arise shortly after Black Oil sunflower seed feeders were added with extremely effective countermeasures to be mentioned in the next post.

The Northern Flicker above (image 17) was photographed at Casa Almeida in February 2017.

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The Eastern Bluebird above (image 18) was photographed at Casa Almeida in February 2017.

Please also see A Bird Sanctuary In Killingworth, CT Pt. II
Please also see A Bird Sanctuary In Killingworth, CT Pt. III
Please also see A Bird Sanctuary In Killingworth, CT Pt. IV

Feature: Fred W. Coyle Freedom Park

Fred W. Coyle Freedom Park is one of the newest parks to open in southwest Florida offering another great opportunity to stretch your legs beyond the beaches.

The Red-shouldered Hawk above (image 1) was photographed at Fred W. Coyle Freedom Park in February 2016.

While a pedestrian bridge has been proposed to connect the park to the "greenway" to its south, it is my belief that the idea should fail. Without this connection to Freedom Park, bicycle traffic will be minimized which is necessary for the visitor's ideal connection to a wildlife experience.

The American Goldfinch above (image 2) was photographed at Fred W. Coyle Freedom Park in February 2016.

The Prairie Warbler above (image 3) was photographed at Fred W. Coyle Freedom Park in February 2016.

Fred W. Coyle Freedom Park officially opened on 6 October 2009. The average cost for each of its near 50 acres was an amazing $384,000 in taxpayer dollars. The park is bordered by a highway to its south and west, a golf course to the north and undeveloped land to the east.

The Red-shouldered Hawk above (image 4) was photographed at Fred W. Coyle Freedom Park in February 2016.

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird above (image 5) was photographed at Fred W. Coyle Freedom Park in February 2016.

Stormwater treatment is a primary purpose of the park. Water that is directed into a near five acre pond from the highways and surrounding neighborhoods is then redirected into a few other "water filters." These comparatively insignificant waters then enter Naples Bay and the Gulf of Mexico cleaner via the Gordon River.

The Orange-barred Sulfur above (image 6) was photographed at Fred W. Coyle Freedom Park in February 2016.

The Palm Warbler above (image 7) was photographed at Fred W. Coyle Freedom Park in February 2016.

This venue appears to be a boon for the seeker of wildlife. As the dust has cleared from construction activity at Freedom Park it's clear that a good diversity of creatures will at least make a pit stop for their sustenance.

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird above (image 8) was photographed at Fred W. Coyle Freedom Park in February 2016.

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird above (image 9) was photographed at Fred W. Coyle Freedom Park in February 2016.

With great fortune I had the opportunity to observe and photograph a Broad-billed Hummingbird (BBIH), a rare visitor to Florida and Freedom Park. Wildlife aficionado Hemant Kishan described the BBIH here as a southeast Arizona specialty.

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird above (image 10) was photographed at Fred W. Coyle Freedom Park in February 2016.

The Broad-billed Hummingbird above (image 11) was photographed at Fred W. Coyle Freedom Park in February 2016.

Follow the list of species that are seen at this park, and reported to eBird, certain to exceed 200 in time. Additionally, Freedom Park will at some point offer a memorial to those lost on 9/11.

The Broad-billed Hummingbird above (image 12) was photographed at Fred W. Coyle Freedom Park in February 2016.

The Broad-billed Hummingbird above (image 13) was photographed at Fred W. Coyle Freedom Park in February 2016.

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The Broad-billed Hummingbird above (image 14) was photographed at Fred W. Coyle Freedom Park in February 2016.

North Florida Winter Trip: Part I

With what was certainly a tremendous amount of effort, bud Tom Obrock created an itinerary for our annual North Florida birding trip that was almost as much fun to read as making the trip itself.

The Laughing Gull above (image 1) was photographed at Bayport Park in February 2016.

Tom and I met as scheduled at 5:30am to head north from Fort Myers on 1 February. Tom had recommended that we make seven stops on the first day of travel. The arrival at Hernando County's Bystre Lake, our first stop, was delayed by several hours due to a flat tire. A very brief visit at this beautiful venue unfortunately did not afford any photo-ops.

The scene above (image 2) was photographed at Bayport Park in February 2016.

The Osprey above (image 3) was photographed at Bayport Park in February 2016.

The Common Loon above (image 4) was photographed at Bayport Park in February 2016.

The scene above (image 5) was photographed at Bayport Park in February 2016.

Our next stop was Bayport Park north of Tampa where the diminutive Weeki Wachee River spills into the Gulf of Mexico. Virtually all the birds seen at this venue were distant enough to require binoculars to get great views of them save a small number of Ring-billed Gulls that pursued one of their own with a fish. The action was too quick and close to photograph, but I tried.

The Little Blue Heron above (image 6) was photographed at Bayport Park in February 2016.

The Laughing Gull above (image 7) was photographed at Bayport Park in February 2016.

The Red-breasted Merganser above (image 8) was photographed at Bayport Park in February 2016.

The Ruddy Turnstone above (image 9) was photographed at Bayport Park in February 2016.

The walk under the magnificent oak trees laden with Spanish Moss at Tuscawilla Preserve was a reminder of the deep old south. This venue looked ridiculously dry while considering the abundant rainfall which is attributed to the 2015 El Niño weather event. There was a lot of poison ivy seen here.

The Horned Grebe above (image 10) was photographed at Bayport Park in February 2016.

The Eastern Bluebird above (image 11) was photographed near Bayport Park in February 2016.

The Yellow-rumped Warbler above (image 12) was photographed at Tuscawilla Preserve in February 2016.

The American Goldfinch above (image 13) was photographed at Tuscawilla Preserve in February 2016.

In advance of a storm approaching the southeast, a first visit was made at Sweetwater Wetlands Park in Gainesville, Florida. This magnificent place was previously known as the Paynes Prairie Sheet Flow Restoration Project. Tom and I explored a very small footprint of what can be seen along the 3.5 miles of boardwalk and trails available at this jewel.

The Blue-winged Teal above (image 14) was photographed at Sweetwater Wetlands Park in February 2016.

The Sora above (image 15) was photographed at Sweetwater Wetlands Park in February 2016.

The Wilson's Snipe above (image 16) was photographed at Sweetwater Wetlands Park in February 2016.

The Limpkin with prey above (image 17) was photographed at Sweetwater Wetlands Park in February 2016.

With daylight waning, we made our way toward the University of Florida where a potential life bird for the both of us had been seen reliably at Dauer Hall. It seemed we might miss this species similar to Chimney Swift as it didn't appear at the time when last reported.

The Blue-winged Teal above (image 18) was photographed at Sweetwater Wetlands Park in February 2016.

The Black-bellied Whistling-Duck above (image 19) was photographed at Sweetwater Wetlands Park in February 2016.

The Black-bellied Whistling-Duck above (image 20) was photographed at Sweetwater Wetlands Park in February 2016.

The Glossy Ibis above (image 21) was photographed at Sweetwater Wetlands Park in February 2016.

My photos of the Vaux's Swifts at and after sunset were captured at double my normal maximum ISO setting of 1600 with a shutter speed of 1/200. It was remarkable nonetheless observing the Vaux's Swift enter the chimneys of the residence hall where they would roost overnight. It was a great end to the day while missing only two stops. No photo pun intended.

The Black-bellied Whistling-Duck above (image 22) was photographed at Sweetwater Wetlands Park in February 2016.

The Eastern Phoebe above (image 23) was photographed at Sweetwater Wetlands Park in February 2016.

The American Coot above (image 24) was photographed at Sweetwater Wetlands Park in February 2016.

The Common Gallinule above (image 25) was photographed at Sweetwater Wetlands Park in February 2016.

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The Tufted Titmouse above (image 26) was photographed at the University of Florida (Dauer Hall) in February 2016.

The Vaux's Swift above (image 26) was photographed at the University of Florida (Dauer Hall) in February 2016.

Please also see North Florida Winter Trip: Part II