Less Birding And More Birdwatching

I never plan to stop watching birds but my level of interest in it changes along with the ebb and flow of life. This year I plan to break all of my self-imposed rules. I will go outside of my county to chase a bird if I feel like it, and pay less attention to eBird. No rules, just spontaneity.

   In the beginning, watching birds was easy and relaxing. As the years go on you start to see more and more species. You become more aware of what you have or haven't seen and then start to become more serious about things like proper identification and documentation, particularly using eBird-(Snow Bunting above photo).I want to get back to that feeling just watching birds just for the simple joy of it, without making a list or having any particular plan-(Dunlin above).It will just be a natural part of taking a walk or a hike. Overthinking it has taken away taken away some of the joy of simplicity-(Common Eider).

Nature Before Birds

This month I decide to step away from trying to count birds and chase after rare birds. Instead, I've focused on trying to immerse myself in nature. It's been a couple of years since I've climbed to the top of a hill just for the view.I wondered when was the last time I hike out into the woods just to find out just what mica ledges are?People visit art galleries to appreciate art but isn't nature the greatest art galley of all?That didn't mean I was going to ignore birds altogether! I can I ignore a bluebird?

Or a Brown Creeper working its way up the side of a dead tree?

There was just enough time to catch a Bald Eagle before sunrise ready to take off when I got a little too close.

I've set aside this month to explore and appreciate instead of making goals which can detract from that. Then again, I guess setting aside time to explore and appreciate is just another type of goal?!

Thanks For Hanging A Bag Of Seed!

During the Christmas count we covered a section near the state forest. Someone had set a feeder in the middle of the woods which allowed us to have a nice view of a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.

15 Minute Pink-footed Goose

A birding friend alerted me that there was a Pink-footed Goose spotted near Lyman's Orchard which is right down the road from me. I only had 15 minutes to drive the 5 miles and spot the goose. There wasn't enough  time for me to get into the perfect viewing position. I  shielded my eyes from the sun so I could get the goose into my camera's viewfinder. 

They are common over in Greenland but considered rare around here. It was first time I've seen one so I was lucky it was still around when I got there!