Chirps and Cheeps

A Photo Journal of My Birding Adventures & Observations

My birding blog site


  Good Friday Birding at Tifft

Published: April 06, 2012
Tags: Parks and Preserves, Tifft Nature Preserve, Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, Osprey, Blue-winged Teal, Ring-necked Duck, Ring-billed Gull, Lesser Scaup, Song Sparrow, Black-capped Chickadee, Red-winged Blackbird, Tree Sparrow, Canada Goose

It was good to be birding at Tifft Nature Preserve again, basking in the sunlight and enjoying the sounds of life returning to the area.  It was a peaceful Good Friday activity that helped me to focus on all my Savior has given me.

I didn't see some of the birds that were on my "hope list", such as an Eastern Bluebird, Eastern Towhee, or Golden-crowned Kinglet - but I did see the pair of Ospreys that nest there AND several life listers!  I decided to start paying attention to the waterfowl, so that increases my odds of seeing new species .

I did see and hear several "regulars": Black-caped Chickadee, Northern Cardinal, American Robin, Canada Goose, Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Red-winged Blackbird, and some early Tree Swallows.

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Canada Goose

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Ring-billed Gull

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Ospreys have returned to nest on the platform

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An Osprey in flight

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An Osprey in flight

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Song Sparrow

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Blue-winged Teal

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Lesser Scaups

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Ring-necked Duck

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A Great Egret on the left and a Great Blue Heron on the right

Reply from: Joel on 4/7/2012 1:02 PM
 My son and I were there on Friday as well. I didn't see the teal or the scaup but we did see a couple of buffleheads. I am also new to paying attention to aquatic fowl so these were firsts for us as well. Happy birding!
Reply from: Lynn on 4/13/2012 11:54 AM
 Sounds like you had a peaceful, reflective time on Good Friday and were blessed by some nice sightings. Great photos too, Sue.
Reply from: marie owczarczak on 5/11/2012 12:26 AM
 Hi! We were at Tift Farms and saw the Osprey. Love their wing span when in flight! I also went to Iroquois Nature sanctuary in Basom NY. They have a bald eagles nest that you can see across one of the lakes. It's awesome watching the male get food for the female who, we assume, is sitting on eggs. (she never left the nest)You may want to go there to get some photos. They have purple martins also (about 12-14 of them) as well as an Osprey nest that was occupied by male/female-it was fun to watch!! Happy Birding! Marie Owczarczak


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