2013 and beyond

It's pretty simple: the most birds seen or heard from one's yard during 2013 will be the "winner". Want in? O.k....then do it despite that.

2013 promises to be a lot less mean but still a carbon-free birding competition, even if slightly less exciting than a MEGA x EPIC hybrid.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Cistothorus!?!

I worked the warblers along the edge of the wetland for a while and was circling the cattails to get to the other 30'x40' clump of vegetation that occasionally will hold a thrush or two due to it's dense understory. As I approached it I heard a harsh chip note that I at first thought was going to be yet another Common Yellowthroat (they have gone from none a week ago to at least 7 this morning). The bird was extremely close though and I could see the leaves moving only ten feet from where I was standing. I began some hardcore pishing and the bird popped right out and showed itself for maybe ten seconds before moving back into the foliage about a foot in. I managed a couple of quick "record shots" like this one as I was afraid I wouldn't get another chance to photograph it.
Luckily for me, the bird flew about fifteen feet down and began working the edge of the goldenrod. Then I began fighting with the auto focus on my camera which seemed to want to focus on every single branch either in front of or behind the wren... I got this shot off before it went back into the shade of the weedy stalks a little further in.I got this final shot of the bird before a greens keepers rolled up on a mower and scared the bird further back into the vegetation.
I don't know about you guys, but I'm stunned to get this species here. This is a bird I never recorded at my folks house in WI which had breeding BOBO, SAVS, EAME and a 7 acre hay field. Rarity-meter worthy or not?

4 comments:

  1. Wouldn't call it a rarity, but it is pretty kickass, good score

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  2. Whatever Haas.

    Great yardbird- but semi-expected for your habitat.

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  3. tough species to get in migration....

    BTW - Sent with love from the Swamp Kat

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