Young Birder Blog Birding #5 (May 2012)

Compiled by Alexandria Simpson

It’s May again and as the poet John Milton wrote,

Hail, bounteous May! that doth inspire
Mirth and youth and warm desire;
Woods and groves are of thy dressing
Hill and dale doth boast thy blessing.

As usual here in Central Texas, we are already having summer-like weather. Scissor-tailed Flycatchers, Northern Mockingbirds, and Bewick’s Wren are often heard scolding intruders. Most birds are still singing, though less often and less enthusiastically than they were earlier in the spring. With warm weather over all of the country now, it’s no wonder that young birders are busy soaking in the sunshine and good birds, while adding to their life and year lists.

On her blog, Katydids and Bluebirds, Katie Boord celebrates her 13^th birthday by going birding, of course.  Happy birthday, Katie!

I have had a very busy but enjoyable week! I turned 13 on Wednesday, and (since it was my birthday and my mom had to give in) we went on a trip to Lichterman Nature Center in Memphis, TN. Unfortunately, about 6 classes of schoolkids were there as well. I usually don't have anything against schoolkids, but when I'm trying to bird, loud noises are the last thing I need.

My fellow Student Blog Editor, John Shamgochian, shares his May 6^th birding adventures and some neat photos at John’s Birding Blog.

The grass was damp from the early morning dew. From down the grass covered hillside blackbirds, warblers, and sparrows screeched, whistled and jingled. Bobolinks' black and yellow heads peeked up from the green depths of the meadow. It was May and I was loving it!

Liam Wolff, The Colorblind Birder, looks back on the month of April and the life and year birds he has gained so far this year.

So far of all the years I've been birding (eight this August), I must admit that this year has been one of the most exciting bird-wise. I have gained 8 definite lifebirds, plus 2 unverified lifers in the first five months. April was pretty awesome for migration! I recorded 31 year-ticks and attained 2 definite lifers and 2 unverified lifers.

At her Wild At Heart blog, Kristina Polk writes a rather long and nicely detailed post about her experiences The Biggest Week in American Birding in Ohio.

Could it have been a year already?

The Biggest Week in American Birding—in the warbler capital of the world. Promise of brightly feathered raindrops sprinkling the trees, glistening in the sun. Hundreds of birders, new and old, coming together for one fantastic celebration of avian migration.

It was time.

And, last but not least across “the pond” in Scotland Aberdeenshire Young Birder, Joseph Nichols, wishes for his scope on a family outing.

As it was just a family day out, I didn’t have the scope on me (which I’d left back in Aberdeen anyway) and thus relied solely on my bins that day. We didn’t get to Holkham until just before midday, by which time there had been negative news of both the harrier and the heron. I didn’t let this stop me from enjoying myself though, checking the freshmarsh from both Washington and Joe Jordan Hide whilst I was there. The area was filled with the commoner warbler species, including a reeling Grasshopper Warbler outside Washington. 

 

Comments

[Joseph Nichols]

Thanks very much for advertising my blog here. Very interesting to read of accounts from America; especially reading about birds that are mega rare vagrants over here but are widespread over there.

I admire the way in which you have collated young birders blogs in a number of your posts too. As a 'species' young birders are few and far between so its always good to give us coverage over the tons of blogs from adult birders. Feel free to advertise my blog again if you wish; on my blog you'll see links to many other British young birders' blogs if its of interest.

Best wishes,

Joseph

[Katydids and Bluebirds]

Thanks for the mention! :)

~Katie