A Fresh Take On Birding

Tuesday, 21 June 2011

A little spice to the dull days..

I slept over to a friend of mines house by long pond yesterday.Hes not a morning person so i headed out by myself to see what i could see down by long pond.I walked the side with all the trees first never seen hardly anything.I also walked the other side, i seen many warblers,sparrows,and herd some different calls.I got to meet a fellow birder ! Lets just say she knew her stuff.I walked back around with her and we herd/seen a brown creeper ! and i think a thrush.We continued walking to Kenny's pond and got to see the osprey.we were almost done the walk when she herd a different high pitched call it was a Merlin ! we followed the sound.........There was a goshawk chasing the Merlin ! It was an odd sight to say the least !

I was very pleased with the findings and headed back to my friends house.Along the way i stoped to check t a nest box i had set up.There were no droppings or sign of bird activity so i opened the top for a look and out shoots a chickadee off the head ! I took a quick look in and seen 1 hatched egg and 5 still not hatched ! I hope i didn't disturb her to much and she returns to the nest !

I'm heading now to Nevile's pond to check out whats up there !
Stay Tuned !

Friday, 17 June 2011

June 17, 2011

The swallows that started building a nest in my nest box in my back yard have started incubation now i think.They were courting today so I'm guessing if they haven't started they will be very soon.
As i posted earlier i will be getting my lens soon and when i do I'm hoping to go birding to other places.I usually olny go birding by my house or Nevile's pond and every now and then i go birding at long pond.
I hoping that i will be able to meet some more people and can maybe car pool with them when they go birding some time ! I have never been to cape st.Marys and i herd its a place i must see so I'm hoping to go and see it sometime
The weather hasn't been fit to go out side the last few days i hope "summer" gets here soon !

SCHOOLS OUT FOR SUMMERR !!

Today was my last day of junior high !
It has been a long time coming and next September ill be in high school !
ONLY 3 YEARS LEFT !!!!!
I went out today and put a down payment on my lens and i should have it in about 3 weeks !
I decided to get the Canon 300mm f/4.0 I cant wait to get it and get out there and get some more photos its killing me to go down to the pond or anywhere with out my camera, i see great photo opportunity's everywhere and when i get my lens i hope to learn to take better photos and get tips on how to use my camera !

Wednesday, 15 June 2011

Flickr

I just started my own flickr account check it out !
http://www.flickr.com/photos/64076520@N05/

Tuesday, 14 June 2011

Rough Times..

As Ive posted before I'm saving up for a new lens.Its taking me FOREVER !!
I have been studying for exams,passing out resumes and trying to save every last cent.I am defiantly getting to know the term "if you want something you have to work for it" When i get this lens the next thing i will be getting will be a good case because there is no way i can afford to break or scratch it.
Aways enough about my struggles and back to birding !

I have been seeing 1 male yellow warbler in the same place now for over a week. I'm assuming it is his territory.I'm seeing more and more duckings and the starlings are almost done raising young.The swallows have started incubation and shouldn't be to long now before the young hatch.The whole colony must be back by now because there are ALOT of them.They do interesting things like fighting until they hit the water, or the whole colony gets into one big cluster and plays around ! Seeing all this just makes me want my lens more and more...

Here's a photo i found in my files from a few Weeks ago enjoy !

Wednesday, 8 June 2011

Just another day...NOT

I took a quick trip to Nevile's pond today.I was on the hunt for a picture of a yellow warbler.After about 30 minutes of following the call of one i FINALY got a glimpse of a bright male ! I was rushing to get my camera on and before i got it focused it had went back into thick cover.I turned my camera off,disappointed i went over to take a look at the swallows.The i herd the sound again, and there she was..... a female about 4 feet from me.I AGAIN never got a photo because of my slow focus.
I went and got a few pictures of the swallows and then i trted again but with no luck.
I also had a VERY close incounter with an osprey ! I seen if from a far but it slowley moved closer and closer untell it was right over my head ! It then plundged into the water about 20 feet from me and made a 6 foot splash ! Alltho it dident get a fish and then moved on i was pleased !

Just A Few Other Things..
I had swallows move into a nest box in my backyard today !
I am hoping to build and place next winter an osprey nesting platform in neviles pond !
If you are intrested in getting involed and helping out please e-mail me.

Also this will be the last post i have with photos untell late july.Thats when i will have my new lense.

Sunday, 5 June 2011

My Most Favourite Place on Planet Earth

St.Brendan's Island Is my most favourite place on earth.The animals the ocean the people and just the feeling you get when your there you just cant beat.It has a rugged coast line but a rich bounty of fish and crustaceans attract seabirds and shore birds.The local people were raised off the land and sea and now make there days pay from the ocean.
I stayed at my nans with her and my uncle.Each morning we would wake up 4:00 and check all the lobster pots and nets.Along the way i seen bald eagles that my uncle feeds daily.They come with in 15 feet of us.My uncle and his fishing buddy don't take much attention to them but I'm completely in awe.Between the diving gannets the high hills and the roar of the sea gull and tern nesting colony in the back ground it is a picture perfect setting
We check all 160 pots and before i know it, its 1:30
Time flys when your in such and pristine place with nature unfolding all around you.