Over the past couple of weeks, I have been off on one of my more ambitious vacations. It started out with a week at Lake George in upstate New York, where I go almost every year. I was pleasantly surprised by some new birds (and some I had never seen there before):
Philadelphia Vireo*
Least Flycatcher*
Ruffed Grouse*
Common Lonn (in 14 years never seen there)
Merlin (same as above, only it was a group of young that were playing about) and another I can't remember, o well.
Then it was on to Canada, to check out some of the National Parks. Lots of beautiful habitat and plenty of good birds.
NEW YORK
Eastern Wood-pewee*
Warbling Vireo*
Solitary Sandpiper*
Spotted Sandpiper*
MAINE
Black Guillemot*
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher*
Alder Flycatcher*
Nashville Warbler*
NEW BRUNSWICK
Common Loon (with a soft fluffy baby!)
Olive-sided Flycatcher*
Golden Eagle (seen before, but somewhat oiut of range)
NOVA SCOTIA
Boreal Chickadee*
Least Sandpiper*
Atlantic Puffin (Awwww)*
Bank Swallow*
Northern Gannet*
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
Ring-necked Duck*
Black-legged Kittiwake*
Arctic Tern*
RETURN TO NEW BRUNSWICK
Blue-headed Vireo*
Pine Warbler*
Palm Warbler*
Black Tern*
Arctic tern (with an almost fledgling)
Yes, I know, some in there I should have already, but a lot of nice ones! This brings my life list to exactly 265 species.
On the tour we took to see the puffins we got a real treat. Although the puffins were cute, the eagles stole the show. Th captain, a local, knows some eagles personally, and sometimes tosses them a snack. Tosses it so it lands about 10 feet from the boat. The eagles swoop down, sweep back their wings, fan their tails, drop their legs and plunge. At the last minute, talons snap open and the fish is grabbed. Awesome pictures! (to be posted)
Oh yeah, except for three days, we saw at least an eagle a day, and on the boat tour we saw over 30 individuals.
Aside from birds there were moose and bears (seen, but always a thrill), shrews, seals, and numerous others. Photos to come!
TCondorOwl92,
Great new additions to your life list.