Chirps and Cheeps

A Photo Journal of My Birding Adventures & Observations

My birding blog site


  Southerntier Birding - Boblinks, Upland Sandpipers, and More

Published: May 06, 2014
Tags: General Observations, Boblinks, Upland Sandpiper, Eastern Meadowlark, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Yellow Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Pine Warbler, Palm Warbler

A little birding in the Southerntier yesterday afternoon and this afternoon brought a few new year birds.

At Knox Farm in East Aurora, I was delighted to find at least eighteen Bobolinks flying about the fields singing their peculiar songs. Their songs remind me of R2D2's voice from Star Wars!  There was also a pretty pair of Eastern Bluebirds and many Tree and Barn Swallows about.  I usually find some Eastern Meadowlarks among the Bobolinks but I didn't find even one this trip.

This afternoon, I headed down to Java and found the Upland Sandpipers Tom Kerr found a few weeks ago. Bobolinks, Meadowlarks, and Tree Swallows were also in the fields and sky.  It took a little while and some patient scope work, but I finally found one of the three known sandpipers off in the distance. It was pretty far out and I didn't think I was going to get a photo - until I left.  When I drove away and turned the corner, I was amazed to find two of the sandpipers standing in the grass alongside the road. I quickly grabbed my camera and got a few shots off before they took off and flew to a field on the other side of Route 77.

After that quick stop, I hiked through Beaver Meadow. There, I found a Northern Waterthrush, my best bird of the day, and a couple more warblers, 3 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, and 3 Eastern Towhees. I never got a photo of the waterthrush; it just kept dodging my attempts in the very low light of the evening bog.  What a songster, though; he kept repeating his beautiful song without tiring!

blog photo
Boblink

blog photo
Boblink

blog photo
Boblink

blog photo
Boblink

blog photo
Eastern Bluebird (female)

blog photo
Eastern Bluebird (male)

blog photo
Tree Swallow (female)

blog photo
Swamp Sparrow

blog photo
Yellow-rumped Warbler

blog photo
Palm Warbler

blog photo
Yellow Warbler

blog photo
Pine Warbler

blog photo
Upland Sandpiper

blog photo
Upland Sandpiper

blog photo
Eastern Towhee

blog photo
Eastern Towhee

blog photo
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - look at all the sappy holes this guy drilled!

blog photo
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Reply from: Ann on 5/17/2014 7:17 AM
 Wonderful. Thanks for sharing. I so enjoy your photos and narrative.


button link to my bird search