Bird Survey, round two!

So, this post is a week overdue. I happen to be an EXCELLENT procrastinator when I have a busy schedule, or maybe I just prioritize SO well, that I know that work and housekeeping is more important than online networking. We'll go with the second one. Anyhow, on the 31st of May, I met Andie for our second session of bird surveys. If you missed the first post on the matter, Andie is an old classmate of mine who is currently working on a graduate degree. She is doing bird, amphibian, and wetland vegetation surveys in the area. We met at 6:30 am, and traveled to our first plot. When we arrived there was no bear this time, probably because I had my camera this time. But some species that we DID see and hear were Eastern Phoebe, Common Yellowthroats, Gray Catbirds, Common Ravens, Field Sparrows, Wood Thrushes, Chipping Sparrows, a few Blue Jays, nothing to get too excited about.

Eastern Phoebe

Look close, he was pretty far away and it was difficult to get a good focus...although the lighting was pretty good!!!

Field Sparrow

We didn't get a whole lot of excitement at our second site either. The species observed were the same, other than Eastern Bluebirds, Red-winged Blackbirds, Eastern Towhees, White-breasted Nuthatches, Pileated Woodpeckers, American Robins, Great Crested Flycatcher, Cedar Waxwings, and a quick glimpse at a Red-shouldered Hawk! No pictures though.........OF COURSE!!! So here are a few shots of pitcher plants, which are pretty cool!!! They collect and contain water with their leaves!

Pitcher Plant

Pitcher Plant

One of last year's dead flowers, next to this year's new flower.

Pitcher Plant blooming

Pitcher Plants blooming

After conducting our bird surveys, I decided to run to the Laborde Branch flood plane to check for anything cool. I forgot that during my first semester of college, fall of '08, they were planning to timber there. This made it hard for me to find any kind of forest birds that I needed for my year list. Though I did get a really bad picture of a Chestnut-sided Warbler.

Chestnut-sided Warbler

I also shot this Gray Catbird making food deliveries to it's nest for a few minutes.

Gray Catbird

While shooting the catbird, a bird with some red coloration flew overhead. When I looked up, I saw a Scarlet Tanager perched above me. I lifted my camera, and he took off. He perched on the other side of the tree, and I did my best to get a few shots...no go. But here's a picture of a Black-capped Chickadee that about hit me in the head.

Black-capped Chickadee

This Monday, I will be meeting Andie again for another session of bird surveys. Afterwards I will be headed to Pymatuning State Park for a few days of fishing/birding with my dad, before coming back home to do some ELK CALF COLLARING!!!!! I'm a little excited for that one, if you couldn't tell. Stay tuned!!!

Here are a couple photos that I shot while fishing Kyle Lake a little over a week ago. The Eastern Kingbird was a hungry little fella, he caught two large dragonflies that were in what I assume courtship flights, and the Common Loon was very close for that species.

Eastern Kingbird

Immature Common Loon