I did it. I "finally" got up from behind my desk and got out birding. Trouble is, someone forgot to inform the birds ...
Despite an extremely late night on Friday, I painfully rolled out of bed Saturday morning, fixed myself some coffee, and bundled up for a day of birding. After an unusually warm autumn, winter had finally started to show its face with snow falling gently outside.
The trip was a preliminary "scouting" expedition to find some birds in advance of next weekend's "rally" (A "big day" competition, for most of us North American birders).
Our first stop in Haminalahti produced the only highlight of the day -- a nice Northern Hawk Owl (Hiiripöllö) perched atop a tree, turning its head 'round in a dozen directions and scanning the surrounding fields patiently for breakfast. With the exception of Great Tits (Talitiainen) and Greenfinches (Viherpeippo) attending a nearby feeder, the action was starting out pretty slowly.
And it stayed that way. The rest of our stops during the morning and early afternoon produced little of anything ... hardly any of the regular species, and certainly nothing of note. Even though it has been a warm fall and the lakes remain unfrozen, the only duck on the day was a Mallard (Sinisorsa) and no other water birds. Except for the wind rustling the trees, the forests were equally as quiet.
At least the fresh air and snow was refreshing ...
Excuses, excuses. Seems I'm having to come up with a lot of them lately.
And here's the most recent -- I haven't been birding lately because I've either been poked away in my office or jet-setting around the world. Not bad, eh??
Truth be told, I just got back from a trip to Washington DC for a conference. Despite my having made a mess of my travel plans, it was a very worthwhile venture. The conference itself was great, and I walked away having learned lots and picked up some new ideas. Even better, I had the chance to see and spend some time with my friends and colleagues from back home in Newfoundland.
In the bit of spare time I had, I did manage to take in some Washington sights -- including a number of beautiful memorials, the Smithsonian Museums, and the National Art Gallery. And while I didn't get birding (unless Starlings, Pigeons, House Sparrows and one Mockingbird count?!?!), I did get to see something just as spectacular ...
Fortunately, my visit to the National Art Gallery coincided with an exhibition of some of Audubon's original "Birds of North America" prints ... a selection from one of only two full collections known to exist!! It was nothing short of awe-inspiring to see these oversized paintings -- the detail and time that Audubon put into his work, the methods he used to combine art with field identification, and how his skill and quality improved over time. An absolute treat for me ...
I'm going to get out birding soon. Honestly. I mean it this time ...
I know, I know. I haven't posted in more than two weeks. That's because I have nothing to post. I haven't been out birding ... not even once.
I recently spent a week in England, visiting a friend and her family. It was a great time - one full day in London, and the rest in Nottingham. Did lots of fun and interesting things ... visited castles and beautiful churches, walked in Sherwood Forest and learned lots about the legends of Robin Hood, took in a great ghost walk in historic Nottingham, hung out in pubs and drank whiskey in fine company, and even hiked the seaside cliffs of Flamborough. But no birding.
Things have been busy at the university since I got back -- my project is winding down and there's lots to do. Throw in the fact that I have to prepare for a conference in Washington DC next week, and my days are full.
So ... I've been birding vicariously on the internet, and feeling the pain of many excellent species being seen back home in Newfoundland - especially after the "fallout" in Atlantic Canada which followed the tail-end of Hurricane Wilma last week.
Enough already ...