Birding, or fishing...

This past Saturday was the trout opener for Pennsylvania. My friend Jarin asked if I wanted to go out, and we decided to go north and hit Sinnemahoning State Park. He had never been there, but I had been fishing up there with my dad for as long as I can remember. I have spent many first days of fishing season laughing and telling stories on the tail gate of dads truck with a sandwich in hand.

My brother Sam, our friend Cody, and me waiting for 8 o'clock

From left to right, Cody, me, and Sam having lunch.

My brother and me with stringers of fish from first fork. Seems like last week.

I have been to first fork fishing and have been very lucky, and I have been there and been skunked. Saturday, we were skunked. Out of everyone I talked to, not one caught a fish. But I hear that they hammered them just north of us. No matter, I love being there. Seeing the elk, eagles, and osprey were highlights of the day. I didn't manage any photos of the eagles or osprey, but did get a few of deer, mergansers, and geese.

White-tailed Deer at First Fork

White-tailed Deer at First Fork

It looks like this one was hit by a car...?

Common Mergansers male on right

Pair of Canada Geese

Canada Goose

Pair of common mergansers

Though the fishing wasn't great, the weather was perfect. It was a great day outside, but we wanted fish!! So we heeded to Weedville to hit a small mountain stream, Red House Run. When we arrived, we decided to cook up some food. You can't fish on an empty stomach, so I pulled out the Coleman grill and whipped up some venison and butter, while Jarin made a side of cheese and broccoli rice. I think from now on instead of my dad's pound of lunch meat, pound of cheese, loaf of bread, and a jar of pickles, I will go with a stove for a hot lunch. Sorry dad!

Jarin stirring his rice with

If you don't have cooking utensils, chop up a stick with your machete. Improvise!

At Red House, we each caught a few native brook trout, one of my favorite fish to catch. I believe that this years' first day was a success.

Wednesday after class Jarin and I hit Kyle lake. We each caught a few bass, he caught more. (The only reason I admit to this is because he might read it...) And I snapped a photo of this Red-Winged Blackbird.

Red-Winged Blackbird

Yesterday, my friend from high school met me and Jarin for some pond fishing by the boy scout camp. Now, when I hear still water fishing, naturally I grab my still water fishing gear. This includes plugs, spinner baits, top waters, etc. Jarin and I got there early, and weren't doing so hot. When my high school friend Jeff came, he informed us that trout don't hit spinner baits, rubber frogs, and crank baits.... If Jeff had told us we were fishing for TROUT in still water, things may have been a little more exciting for us. Communication was lacking this day evidently. Jarin and I caught nothing...we saw a bluegill and northern water snake. BUT, the trip wasn't a waste of time. It was a beautiful day, and I shot 2 osprey for a few minutes, one with a sucker!

An osprey perched in a tree. Check the talons on that thing!

Osprey with a sucker, I didn't see the catch. I heard calls and looked up and there he was, circling with his dinner. Osprey hold their fish a certain way to cut down wind resistance, these birds are very impressive. One of my favorite birds of prey.

Osprey with a sucker

Osprey with a sucker

Osprey with a sucker

Osprey with a sucker

The second Osprey Kiting waiting for his dinner.

Osprey with a sucker, shaking the water off.

Osprey with a sucker, air drying

Since Jarin and I were not ready for trout, we ran to Sabula Lake. The water is still pretty low there, but I managed to bring in a large mouth bass on a shallow runner crank bait, and catch this photo of a Common Loon.

Common Loon

This past week has been pretty enjoyable. I got to spend allot of time outdoors, got a few photos, and even caught a few fish! I really can't complain.

A special thanks to Jarin for coming prepared Saturday, and Jeff for his lack of information. The trip wasn't a complete waste!

Finches, mergansers, woodys, and rookeries.

 I have been snapping photos of birds that I have been seeing roadside, at my feeders, flying over the house, etc. Here are a few of some house finches that are constantly emptying my feeders and some turkey vultures that have been flying around for the past few days.

Male house finch

Male house finch

Male and female house finch

Male house finch

 Male house finch

Turkey Vulture

Turkey Vulture

Turkey Vultures

 Today, I finally got to go out and spend some time birding, the first time this month. I added a few new ticks to my year list, including the 3rd and final merganser species for Pennsylvania for the year, the wood duck, and tree swallow. I am still not happy with my waterfowl and waterbird lists for the year, but there is still some time plus fall migration to pick up species that I have missed.

Female Red-Breasted Mergansers

I counted over 200 ring-necked ducks today, with some wigeon, lesser scaup, horned grebes, and buffleheads mixed in.

Ring-necked ducks, American Wigeon, and Bufflehead

American Wigeon

Horned Grebe

Horned Grebe

I was passing through on the causeway when a male wood duck caught my eye, so I parked the jeep and went back with my camera. When I got to where the wood duck was, I noticed that there was a female with him. He was in the open, and she was behind some cattails that I was using for cover.

Wood Ducks

 I was hoping that they would both give me a clear photo opp, but they took off before she cleared the cattails. Flight pictures are pretty cool, so I followed them in my view finder, focused, and right when I took the photo, I caught a piece of a cattail...fail. Maybe next time!

Wood Ducks

 I got a picture of this Great Blue Heron flying right after the wood ducks had flushed.

Great Blue Heron

Things were pretty slow at the Anderson Creek end of the reservoir, but I did see this canda goose doing its' best to play hide and seek with me. The goose stayed like this with its' head down untill I left and was going down the road.

Canada Goose

I stopped at the Great Blue Heron colony to see if anything had changed. Still no herons, and there was a Bald Eagle on the nest. The bird was tending the nest for about ten minutes, then settled in. It looks like I won't be getting any pictures of baby blue herons this year, but the possibility of getting some shots at some eaglets looks pretty good!!

Bald Eagle

I stopped by Kyle Lake to see if there was anything good. NOPE! Just some tree swallows. But I can't complain, that's a new tick for me.

Tree Swallows

It was nice to finally get outside for a little while. It made for a good day in the field, untill I came home to a group of European Starlings at my feeders...

European Starling

Lazy Birding

The past week or so, I have been "lazy birding". Pretty much explains itself. I haven't entered many complete checklists, or checklists at all unless it is a new tick on my year list. Mainly because of school work pilling up and trying to find a summer job, I don't have as much time as I would like. But, here are a few photos I have taken recently.

American Wigeon

American Wigeon

Ring-necked Ducks

American Wigeon, in this photo you can see the white patches on the forehead of the males.

Ring-necked ducks and male redhead

Female Belted Kingfisher, males lack the rusty red belt

Female Belted Kingfisher

Female Belted Kingfisher

Female House Finch

Male House Finch, orange variant

Male House Finch, orange variant