Information about our property
Non-avian Vertebrates Illustrated List
April 12th: Highlights were 1 Wilson's Snipe (#122) in the front cornfield, a flyover Greater Yellowlegs that landed in our neighbor's pond, and 3 Blue-winged Teal (2 drakes and a hen) in the pond with the yellowlegs. Unfortunately, the teal were not actually on or over our property, so they go onto the edge list. However, I will be checking our pond closely the rest of the day, hopefully they'll come over here for a visit. A Brown Thrasher started eating sunflower seeds from our bird feeders this morning, our dog chased a Wild Turkey, and I finally saw my first warbler of the year (unsurprisingly, a Yellow-rumped). Full eBird species list here.
April 10th: A flock of about 100 Pectoral Sandpipers was a nice surprise, but unfortunately was in the field across the road, so can only make it onto the "Edge Species" list. Saw my first gnatcatcher of the year this morning, and heard both resident owl species (Great Horned and Eastern Screech) yesterday. Phoebes are quite vocal right now, as are the Brown Thrashers.
April 8th: Species #121 for the property was Bonaparte's Gull on April 1st. Dimi and I were walking on State Route 47 along the edge of our property when I looked up and saw 6 gulls flying north. Turned out to be migrating Bonaparte's Gulls. Still haven't seen any warblers, but many other spring species around (Brown Thrasher, Eastern Phoebe, etc.).
March 29th: American Pipits (#120) in the front cornfield this morning; it's a bird that I am not all that familiar with, so it was nice to have some time to watch them and get a few pictures. Still looking for my first warbler of the year; lots of woodpeckers, especially flickers, around now. Saw an adult male harrier pass silently over the woods this morning while I was searching unsuccessfully for large woodpeckers. Added a new mammal to the property list, saw a Muskrat swimming in the pond on Sunday.
March 8th: Woodcocks displaying yesterday evening, many peent calls heard, and saw one flying. Western Chorus Frogs were very audible last night, and we had an Eastern Pipistrelle in our basement a few days ago (pictures of the last two are here). Lots of bird activity this morning, I heard Killdeer, Northern Cardinals, American Robins, and American Woodcocks before sunrise.
March 2nd: Heard the twittering of American Woodcock wings in the morning before sunrise. Haven't heard any displaying yet, but will be listening in the evenings.
January 21st: Finally added Horned Lark (#119) last weekend. Birdfeeding has attracted many of the common winter birds (numbers in parentheses are maxima seen at any one time): Northern Cardinal (16), Dark-eyed Junco (21), American Goldfinch (8), Blue Jay (9), and about 12 other species. Saw a Golden-crowned Kinglet today, the first one of those in a while.
January 6th: Earlier this week saw 4 Rusty Blackbirds in the corn stubble behind our house. Have seen a few more Hooded Mergansers and 2 Mallards on the pond this winter. Most common birds around now are woodpeckers, American Tree Sparrows, Northern Cardinals, chickadees, nuthatches, and titmouses. Often see kestrels on the wires by the road. Going to put up a birdfeeder soon, that may increase our avian diversity.
November 21st: 3 Hooded Mergansers today, plus 2 Rusty Blackbirds! American Tree Sparrow also new for the property list.
October 29th: Not much birding lately; sparrows and kinglets around, but not much else noticed
October 17th: Beautiful morning, 8 sparrow species, including Fox Sparrow, which is new for the property. Yellow-rumped Warblers continue to be overwhelming. eBird checklist
October 16th: Very windy recently, many Yellow-rumped Warblers and kinglets around. Palm Warbler seen today. Many new pictures added (see below; House Wren, Lincoln's Sparrow, Eastern Phoebe, and Northern Cardinal represented by especially nice pictures)
October 8th: Nine sparrow species, including Savannah, Dark-eyed Junco (both new for the property), Swamp, Lincoln's, White-crowned. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker also seen.
October 7th: Winter Wren new for the property, seven sparrows and six warblers.
October 3rd: Three new birds for the property: Brown Creeper, White-crowned Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow; continuing Blue-headed Vireo, Palm Warbler, Tennessee Warbler
October 2nd: Six new birds for the property: Bald Eagle, Blue-headed Vireo, Lincoln's Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet; many Yellow-rumped Warblers, few other warblers (Palm and Nashville Warblers present)
October 1st: New for the property: Green-winged Teal, Great Horned Owl; unidentified Catharus thrush (probably Gray-cheeked, but can't be sure); Coyote seen in the woods; couldn't find many warblers today, limited to redstart, magnolia, and yellow-rumped
Previous sighting reports archive
Species List: 125 total (as of May 3rd 2012)
Click on links in the table below for pictures taken on our property. I am attempting to document as many species as possible, and some of these pictures are identifiable but not very good quality (i.e., may not be as aesthetically pleasing as the pictures on my wildlife pictures page). However, I've marked the species (with an asterisk*) that have better quality pictures.
Edge Species: The table below contains species seen close (less than 200ft, just a few feet in a couple of cases) to our property, but not actually on or above it. These will hopefully be added to the main list in the future.
| Blue-winged Teal |
| Pectoral Sandpiper |
| Willow Flycatcher |
| Acadian Flycatcher |
| Bobolink |