Chirps and Cheeps

A Photo Journal of My Birding Adventures & Observations

My birding blog site


  Recent June Outings

Published: June 22, 2014
Tags: General Observations, American Bittern, Acadian Flycatcher, Louisiana Waterthrush, Cliff Swallow, Black Tern, Purple Martin

I've done a bunch of birding the last several days since returning from Long Island - but at a much slower pace! Some of the places I birded were: Hunter's Creek, Chestnut Ridge, Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, and Tonawanda Island. I haven't added any life birds since my trip, but I have seen a couple of  FOY's (First of Years).

I really enjoyed my time at Hunter's Creek. It was the first time I've hiked there and I loved the cool and silence of the woods. I was hoping to find an Acadian Flycatcher there - and was fooled a few times but the truncated songs of some Red-eyed Vireos, but alas, no true Acadian made itself known to me.  In addition to a Pileated Woodpecker, 2 Hairy Woodpeckers, and a couple of Eastern Wood-Pewees, I saw some Ovenbirds, American-Redstarts, a Hooded Warbler, and, surprisingly, 3 Blackburnian Warblers.  That was very nice!

The next day, Chestnut Ridge produced the Acadian, a relatively larger and more olive flycatcher than a Willow or Alder. I had stopped along the creek to watch and photograph a pair of Louisiana Waterthrushes I had come upon, when, a few minutes later, I heard the unmistakeable "PEET!" of the Acadian Flycatcher further down the creek.  I slowly made my way towards it and was rewarded with the sight of this year bird - and eventually his two-syllable "PEET-SAH!" call a few times.  He was quite vociferous, calling on and off as I watched him dive for insects, which was a real treat too!

Later in the week, a couple of trips to Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge brought some wonderful views of 5 different American Bitterns, several Black Terns, Purple Martins, and some nice sights of nesting birds.

I found one more year bird at Tonawanda Island, where I was told Cliff Swallows are nesting for the first time. It was a real sight to watch these swift-moving swallows swoop in and dab more mud onto their growing gourd-shaped nests on the underside of the bridge. And I heard it takes about 1,000 dabs of mud to complete one of these nests!  I really enjoyed getting a chance to study them at close range. This stocky swallow is easily identified by its short, straight tail and the adult's bright white forehead. It was a very educational stop for me and I highly recommend it!

blog photo
Louisiana Waterthrush

blog photo
Louisiana Waterthrush

blog photo
Louisiana Waterthrush

blog photo
Acadian Flycatcher - "PEET!"

blog photo
Yellow Warbler with a fresh catch

blog photo
Yellow Warbler

blog photo
Cedar Waxwings are showing up all over these days!

blog photo
2 American Bitterns (one is an immature, most likely)

blog photo
American Bittern

blog photo
American Bittern

blog photo
It's hard to see but there's a young Downy Woodpecker peeking out from its nest cavity

blog photo
A parent White-breasted Nuthatch removes a fecal sac from its nest cavity

blog photo
A female American Redstart sitting on her nest

blog photo
Eastern Phoebe giving me a nice close-up

blog photo
A rare good view of a Yellow-billed Cuckoo

blog photo
Purple Martin hawking a dragonfly

blog photo
Carrying it to its young

blog photo
And the delivery!

blog photo
Black Tern

blog photo
Black Tern

blog photo
Osprey at nest - there was at least 1 young one up there, but it wouldn't pop its head out again!

blog photo
Osprey

blog photo
A view of the whole mud nest of one of the swallows as it's peeking out

blog photo
Cliff Swallow

blog photo
Hard at work

blog photo
Back out for more mud!



button link to my bird search