NO MORE MR. NICE GUY - NOW I NEED TO REACH 90

A very early start to the day and I worked late too. That opened the door of opportunity to lots of bird watching and I tallied my Biggest Big Day of my life - 86 bird species in one day!!!
Wow!! It seemed like every time I turned around something new was coming my way. And... I had a lot of missed birds today as well, so that means I could someday get an even bigger Big Day number. So far this month I have seen 106 different bird species. And God created each and every one. Thank you Lord!!!!!!!!!!

The last bird I saw today - the Yellow-throated Vireo

American Crow

American Goldfinch

American Kestrel

American Redstart

American Robin

Bald Eagle

Baltimore Oriole

Barn Swallow

Black-capped Chickadee

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Blue-headed Vireo

Blue Jay

Blue-winged Teal

Brown-headed Cowbird

Canada Goose

Cedar Waxwing

Chimney Swift

Chipping Sparrow

Clay-colored Sparrow

Cliff Swallow

Common Grackle

Common Yellowthroat

Double-crested Cormorant

Downy Woodpecker

Eastern Phoebe

Eastern Towhee

European Starling

Field Sparrow

Gray Catbird

Great Blue Heron

Great Crested Flycatcher

Great Egret

Green Heron

Hairy Woodpecker

Hermit Thrush

House Finch

House Sparrow

House Wren

Killdeer

Least Flycatcher

Least Sandpiper

Lesser Yellowlegs

Lincoln Sparrow

Magnolia Warbler

Mallard

Mourning Dove

Nashville Warbler

Northern Cardinal

Northern Flicker

Northern Waterthrush

Orange-crowned Warbler

Osprey

Ovenbird

Palm Warbler

Pied-billed Grebe

Pileated Woodpecker

Pine Warbler

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Red-tailed Hawk

Red-winged Blackbird

Ring-billed Gull

Ring-necked Pheasant

Rock Pigeon

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Sandhill Crane

Savannah Sparrow

Sedge Wren

Solitary Sandpiper

Song Sparrow

Sora

Swainson's Thrush

Swamp Sparrow

Tennessee Warbler

Tree Swallow

Turkey Vulture

White-breasted Nuthatch

White-crowned Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow

Wild Turkey

Wilson's Warbler

Winter Wren

Wood Duck

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Yellow-throated Vireo

American Crow

American Goldfinch

American Kestrel

American Redstart

American Robin

Bald Eagle

Baltimore Oriole

Barn Swallow

Black-capped Chickadee

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Blue-headed Vireo

Blue Jay

Blue-winged Teal

Brown-headed Cowbird

Canada Goose

Cedar Waxwing

Chimney Swift

Chipping Sparrow

Clay-colored Sparrow

Cliff Swallow

Common Grackle

Common Yellowthroat

Double-crested Cormorant

Downy Woodpecker

Eastern Phoebe

Eastern Towhee

European Starling

Field Sparrow

Gray Catbird

Great Blue Heron

Great Crested Flycatcher

Great Egret

Green Heron

Hairy Woodpecker

Hermit Thrush

House Finch

House Sparrow

House Wren

Killdeer

Least Flycatcher

Least Sandpiper

Lesser Yellowlegs

Lincoln Sparrow

Magnolia Warbler

Mallard

Mourning Dove

Nashville Warbler

Northern Cardinal

Northern Flicker

Northern Waterthrush

Orange-crowned Warbler

Osprey

Ovenbird

Palm Warbler

Pied-billed Grebe

Pileated Woodpecker

Pine Warbler

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Red-tailed Hawk

Red-winged Blackbird

Ring-billed Gull

Ring-necked Pheasant

Rock Pigeon

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Sandhill Crane

Savannah Sparrow

Sedge Wren

Solitary Sandpiper

Song Sparrow

Sora

Swainson's Thrush

Swamp Sparrow

Tennessee Warbler

Tree Swallow

Turkey Vulture

White-breasted Nuthatch

White-crowned Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow

Wild Turkey

Wilson's Warbler

Winter Wren

Wood Duck

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Yellow-throated Vireo

5 FOYs - No Counting Today

Today I had a late start and a short day and was pooped from yesterday's 14 hour day. So today I did not count birds, just enjoyed them. I found 5 FOY birds (first of the year). They are: Green Heron, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Least Flycatcher, Black-throated Green Warbler, and Swainson's Thrush. So far I have seen 89 bird species this month.                     God is good!!!

Black-throated Green Warbler

NEW PERSONAL BIG DAY RECORD - 68 IN ONE DAY

The Big Day record has been broken. And now I need to set my sights on reaching 70. It was an unbelievable birdy day yesterday. I was knocking them off left and right when I was stuck at 65 bird species - tying my all-time high. I needed to return my last client of the day and then I was going to be done for the day. As I cruised down Larpenteur Avenue I came to an unexpected "T" in the road at Lake Phalen. I guess I didn't look at the map close enough but I needed to get to the other side of the lake and I could either go left or right. I decided to go right and it's a good thing I did. Looking out in the middle of the lake I saw the bird that broke the record; a Trumpeter Swan. Later I also saw a Common Loon and then a couple of Turkey Vultures to add icing to the cake. 

Now on my 3rd day of taking allergy pills and so far all is getting better. These are terrible terrible things to deal with and I don't wish that on anyone. Hoping for a full recovery soon of whatever is causing me the trouble. "In this world you will have trouble" says Jesus. "But take heart, I have overcome the world." Thank you Lord. Thank you. We can rest in your care. Amen.

Black & White Warbler

American Crow

American Goldfinch

American Kestrel

American Robin

Bald Eagle

Baltimore Oriole

Barn Swallow

Belted Kingfisher

Black & White Warbler

Black-capped Chickadee

Black-crowned Night Heron

Blue-headed Vireo

Blue Jay

Blue-winged Teal

Brown Creeper

Brown-headed Cowbird

Brown Thrasher

Canada Goose

Cedar Waxwing

Chimney Swift

Chipping Sparrow

Clay-colored Sparrow

Cliff Swallow

Common Grackle

Common Loon

Double-crested Cormorant

Downy Woodpecker

Eastern Bluebird

Eastern Phoebe

European Starling

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Great Blue Heron

Great Egret

Hairy Woodpecker

Hermit Thrush

Herring Gull

House Finch

House Sparrow

Killdeer

Lincoln's Sparrow

Mallard

Mourning Dove

Northern Cardinal

Northern Flicker

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Northern Waterthrush

Orange-crowned Warbler

Palm Warbler

Pileated Woodpecker

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Red-tailed Hawk

Red-winged Blackbird

Ring-billed Gull

Ring-necked Duck

Ring-necked Pheasant

Rock Pigeon

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Savannah Sparrow

Solitary Sandpiper

Song Sparrow

Swamp Sparrow

Trumpeter Swan

Turkey Vulture

White-breasted Nuthatch

White-throated Sparrow

Wild Turkey

Wood Duck

Yellow-rumped Warbler

MAY IS GOOD FOR BIRDS AND ALSO ALLERGIES

A good day of birding, but a better health diagnosis has now come my way. It now appears that I have an allergy to the current tree pollen and have started on allergy pills. So far so good. My God is alive and present and I love how He protects me. He made this beautiful day and allowed me to go to work today and I tallied 50 bird species. I counted 7 sparrow species (counting the Dark-eyed Junco which is thrown in with the sparrows). And identified 5 warbler species today as they are continuing to move in. I got beautiful views of a Common Yellowthroat (warbler). 

Common Yellowthroat (warbler)

And there are plenty of Brown Thrashers out and about. I have an early start tomorrow and may get to go explore a different park. We'll see what I can come up!!! God Bless

HEAVEN IN MAY

Hello once again. There is no better time to bird in Minnesota than in May. I was back at work yesterday and tallied my best ever (while at work) 62 bird species in one day. 2nd highest Big Day that I have ever recorded. Some highlights were: 4 different swallow species (Bank, Barn, Cliff, and Tree), Northern Waterthrush (warblers starting to move in), Winter Wren, and Sora.

Sora

And here is the list of birds I saw on Friday, May 2nd.

American Crow

American Goldfinch

American Robin

Bald Eagle

Bank Swallow

Barn Swallow

Barred Owl

Belted Kingfisher

Black-capped Chickadee

Blue Jay

Blue-winged Teal

Brown-headed Cowbird

Brown Thrasher

Canada Goose

Cedar Waxwing

Chipping Sparrow

Cliff Swallow

Common Grackle

Common Loon

Common Merganser

Double-crested Cormorant

Downy Woodpecker

Eastern Bluebird

Eastern Phoebe

European Starling

Field Sparrow

Great Blue Heron

Great Egret

Hairy Woodpecker

Hermit Thrush

Horned Lark

House Finch

House Sparrow

Killdeer

Mallard

Mourning Dove

Northern Cardinal

Northern Flicker

Northern Waterthrush

Osprey

Pied-billed Grebe

Pileated Woodpecker

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Red-tailed Hawk

Red-winged Blackbird

Ring-billed Gull

Ring-necked Duck

Ring-necked Pheasant

Rock Pigeon

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Rusty Blackbird

Sandhill Crane

Song Sparrow

Sora

Tree Swallow

Turkey Vulture

White-breasted Nuthatch

White-throated Sparrow

Wild Turkey

Winter Wren

Wood Duck

Yellow-rumped Warbler It truly is heaven in May. I (as Paul states) would prefer to be with my Heavenly Father - but it appears that I have more work to do. God Bless

SOME PHOTOS FROM THE TEXAS TRIP

Black-bellied Whistling Duck

Fulvous Whistling Duck

Great Kiskadee

Olive Sparrow

Plain Chachalaca

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

BLESSED WITH BIRDS

Just back from 5 days in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas. High temps anywhere from 105 - 90. It feels odd to be back to this cool weather and not as many birds. My trip list totaled 115 bird species with 4 new Life Birds. My new birds were: White-collared Seedeater (a code 3 bird), Scaled Quail, Least Tern, and Red-crowned Parrot. My wife played a big part in finding the parrot. I was looking around this park in Harlingen, Texas for what seemed like an hour until I was ready to give up. We decided to go to our favorite birding spot by the airport so I turned the car around and headed back in the direction we came from. Right after turning around she says "there's one." It flew right in front of our car. What luck. Thank you Lord. The seedeater find was a great team effort. My wife thought she saw some movement deep in the cane (a plant where the bird likes to hang out) and then I heard it shortly after. It popped out long enough to get some diagnostic photos and then it was time to give high fives. It was a very brief look at the Scaled Quail as well; an awesome 50th birthday present. We drove about 7 miles north of Rio Grande City, Texas to a ranch that allowed interested parties to go birding (for a small fee of course). Upon arriving we were looking for the owner but bumped into one of his tenants first. After introducing himself, he motioned to movement in the brush and noted that there was a Scaled Quail passing through. I just got the binoculars on it in time to see the beautiful white crest on top of its head and then it was gone. The Least Tern is the smallest of terns (only 9 inches) and is simply beautiful to watch as it dives into the water for food. It was quite busy at South Padre Island's Birding Center all day on Monday the 28th. It was a fun getaway and a fun way to celebrate my birthday. We were blessed with birds, great gulf views, tasty food, and safe travel. My North American Life List now totals 426 birds; a small number compared to many. But I love my hobby and I love my Lord. God Bless

P.S. I will post some photos from our trip soon. Also I am looking forward to bird guiding on Saturday the 10th.