West Rock, Birds and a Morning Hike

This weekend, I took a hike up a park.  While East Rock is well know to New Haven and Connecticut Birders, West Rock is often forgotten and ignored.  For instance, East Rock has, on ebird(c) 195 species while West Rock sits at 74.  Even the neighboring Edgewood Park also can only boast 102.  But that's how it goes sometime.

So the park was a buzz with birds.  There were lots of birds all over the park.  From the Parking lot to the Rock's Summit, I could hardly take a step without seeing some birds.  Chickadees and Vireos were all over the place.  Jays popped up all over the place.  Nuthatches and Woodpeckers were feasting.  Warblers were singing and kissing the air.  The famous residents of West Rock are Ravens and Peregrine Falcons weren't anywhere to be found.  Perhaps migration has helped them along.  There also Vultures soaring about.  I also found some fox droppings on the trail.  The Park was definitely a haven for all things nature and birds and I can't wait to get back.

While some parks get ignored, it seems that city parks in New Haven are getting more and more attention.  Many people are starting to work harder and harder towards making these parks better and more accessible.  Introducing more native plants and more landscaping with bird-habitat.  It seems that at one time or another, every park in New Haven undergoes positive changes and new plantings, I can't wait to see what they'll do next and what birds will pop up!  I think I might adopt a local park to bird once a week to try and boost the local bird list and appreciate more of New Haven's local parks.  Any feedback on this idea would be appreciated.

Black-Capped Chickadee

Hairy Woodpecker

A Dragonfly

Not West Rock, But a local pond with a Female Northern Shoveler and Euraisan Wigeon!

2013 Year List: 265

Eurasian Wigeon

Butternut Squash, Butter-Butt Warblers, and other Signs of Fall

Since my last post exemplified the extraordinary, an American Golden-Plover, I thought my next post should celebrate something ordinary.  One of the true signs of fall is the arrival of Yellow-Rumped Warblers for me.  Their kissing calls mark the coming of fall in many ways.  Although most people will tell you about the cool brisk breezes, the changing autumn leaves, and the omnipresence of pumpkin as the true signs of fall.  But for birders, birds announce the change of the seasons.

For me, the Yellow-Rumped Warbler is one of those signs of fall.  This flighty warbler is one of my true signs of autumn.  This warbler is unique in that most of its wintering range is in North America and not the Neotropics.  There are wide ranges of biodiversity with birds and even within bird families.  Some warblers like the inside of the tree, some the outside, some the brush.  You can have several different type of warblers in a single tree, eating completely different kinds of insects in completely different parts.  The variety of Yellow-Rumped Warblers also helps us to appreciate the differences of individuals in the bird world as each butter but can pose a challenge for IDing under certain lights.  In the end, getting out and appreciating Yellow-Rumpeds helps us to understand the world of warblers better.  So get out and bird!

A Frog in a Pond

The Butter-Butt in a Tree

More Butter-Butt

Can you find the Butter-Butt?

2013 Year List: 263

Yellow-Rumped Warbler on All About Birds - Link