In spite of rain and thunder in the forecast, six people joined Dave Gislason and I on the CBC field trip to Connecticut Hill. While looking for a singing chestnut-sided warbler with my thermal infrared camera, I found instead a ruby-throated hummingbird sitting in its tiny lichen-lined nest high in a tree:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/cayugabirdclub/permalink/1346545885383223/ We also got good close looks at some of the many alder flycatchers singing in the area, apparently involved in turf battles and thus less concerned about our presence. In the woods a "yurr"-ing veery gave fleeting looks in the bush, alongside what I thought was a cowbird fledgling, except it wasn't trilling incessantly like they seem to usually do. At least two ovenbirds then seemed to surround our vantage, singing here then disappearing, popping up there then flying off before I can scope it, but returning fairly close to give good but fleeting looks. I wondered if we weren't too close to their nest for their comfort. Not far up the trail my thermal camera found the day's second nest, a red-eyed vireo about 10-feet from the ground, a boldly-eyestriped face looking down with its red eye discernible in the scope. Continuing across the pond as the drizzle increased, we settled under some pine trees from where a trilling voice gave Diane a fleeting look at a pine warbler, but the bird just flew higher and was not to be seen or heard again. Meanwhile, sitting quietly out in the rain was a chestnut-sided warbler giving great scope views, though we wondered why it wasn't taking cover from the cold rain. https://www.facebook.com/groups/cayugabirdclub/permalink/1346545875383224/ Meanwhile up in a low tree were at least nine cedar waxwings resting, then foraging in some berry bushes. A brilliant rose-breasted grosbeak flew in close at eye level for great looks before leaving with a female. In our last leg through the woods we found a small cup nest on the ground, and not long after my thermal camera found a second red-eyed vireo nest: https://www.facebook.com/groups/cayugabirdclub/permalink/1346545882049890/ We ended up with a pretty awesome outing, in spite of the weather; rather, this reaffirms my experience that birding trips in the rain - as long as it isn't windy - always seem to turn out great, with the birds seeming to get closer than usual. Our big visual miss for the day was the hooded warbler singing two different songs from up high as we traversed its territory next to the parking lot. Thanks again to all who participated. Suan PS. Those wanting more info about trails in the area can contact Dave Gislason at dgif...@yahoo.com _____________________ http://suan-yong.com -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
