The return! So I didn't mean to neglect this for so long, but I got a new job and was getting into a rhythm with the schedule. Without further ado, here's the first of a few retroactive updates I have to post:
I had decided that instead of cropping out so much of my photos I was going to start cropping out smaller portions, and just resizing them more so you can get a general idea of the scenery surrounding the birds. In this case however that was pointless, the owl was completely ensconced in late summer foliage and was only partially visible, so here’s your token cropped-shot of a juvenile Great-Horned Owl, or at least several parts of it which are visible. I’m thinking I may start using smaller thumbnail versions and linking to a flickr gallery or something, but if in 100 years I’m dead and gone and for some inexplicable reason famous, maybe someone will go back and read these bird logs. In that case I doubt flickr will still be around or the hyperlinks still valid, so I’ll just keep posting these resized versions of full sized pictures in here until I come up with a better idea. If you’re reading this in the online version of this log, then ignore the previous several sentences and keep reading .
Right away I also realized that I could hear a Kingfisher somewhere in the area, that dry rattle they make is absolutely unmistakable. I haven’t seen one in quite some time; I think the last time was at some point last year at Willow Pond and even then it was brief. The last time I saw one even vaguely clearly was back at South Loomis Street when I lived in Southwick growing up. I was hoping I’d get a chance to see one today, and I was not disappointed. But first we noticed a flock of small birds flitting around in the trees towards the more open end of the lake. There were flocks of robins gorging themselves on berries in the area, but also smaller birds flitting around. It was hard to get them with my binoculars since they moved around so much, so I decided to use my camera like a spotting scope and snap some pictures for later identification. The pictures came out very backlit, but I believe what you are looking at here is a Red-Eyed Vireo in fall plumage. Again, I’d leave the broader composition of the photo in, but it’s just a giant mess of backlit leaves.
I wanted to come out birdwatching in August more than I actually did, in fact I don’t think I ended up going at all; I have no pictures to speak of. August is a relatively quiet month, there aren’t any migrants passing through. Most birds are done breeding for the year, or are almost there, and are bulking up for their migrations that are to follow. I figured I’d go back this Saturday at the beginning of September since migration season should be starting soon. I was also curious if the owls would still be around.
We headed for the dell on arriving since that’s usually the area that most of the action has been occurring my last few trips earlier in the summer. Andy was there as well and a couple other people looking for the Great-Horned Owl. We heard it calling somewhere around us and after some wandering around we made it around a corner and the owl was about 6’ away on a branch just chilling at eye level. It was quite the sight to behold. It didn’t stay long enough for any of us with bigger cameras to get set up. Wendy got a couple shots of it, so I’ll have to snag them from her and post them. At this point we were about 100 yards away from the dell, and it appeared the owl had winged it back in that direction. We traveled back there and found it pretty high up in one of the trees a bit away from the dell still. It looked particularly drowsy and was only mildly annoyed at our presence.
I had decided that instead of cropping out so much of my photos I was going to start cropping out smaller portions, and just resizing them more so you can get a general idea of the scenery surrounding the birds. In this case however that was pointless, the owl was completely ensconced in late summer foliage and was only partially visible, so here’s your token cropped-shot of a juvenile Great-Horned Owl, or at least several parts of it which are visible. I’m thinking I may start using smaller thumbnail versions and linking to a flickr gallery or something, but if in 100 years I’m dead and gone and for some inexplicable reason famous, maybe someone will go back and read these bird logs. In that case I doubt flickr will still be around or the hyperlinks still valid, so I’ll just keep posting these resized versions of full sized pictures in here until I come up with a better idea. If you’re reading this in the online version of this log, then ignore the previous several sentences and keep reading .After this Wendy, myself, and Andy decided to head over to Auburn Lake, which I have been to several times this summer, the bridge that goes over it is where the Phoebes had nested this past summer. Upon arriving we were greeted by a flotilla of mallards that looked like they wanted trouble, so we kept moving around the perimeter of the lake. I have to say that after migration season ended for Warblers it seemed like most of the action in the area shifted away from the dell and to this lake, it’s where a good chunk of my better sightings came this summer (and since I’m writing this in the log about 6 weeks after this early September trip I can say that this area would be a hotbed during fall migration as well). Anyway, here’s the picture of the ducks, cruising in for trouble. 
Right away I also realized that I could hear a Kingfisher somewhere in the area, that dry rattle they make is absolutely unmistakable. I haven’t seen one in quite some time; I think the last time was at some point last year at Willow Pond and even then it was brief. The last time I saw one even vaguely clearly was back at South Loomis Street when I lived in Southwick growing up. I was hoping I’d get a chance to see one today, and I was not disappointed. But first we noticed a flock of small birds flitting around in the trees towards the more open end of the lake. There were flocks of robins gorging themselves on berries in the area, but also smaller birds flitting around. It was hard to get them with my binoculars since they moved around so much, so I decided to use my camera like a spotting scope and snap some pictures for later identification. The pictures came out very backlit, but I believe what you are looking at here is a Red-Eyed Vireo in fall plumage. Again, I’d leave the broader composition of the photo in, but it’s just a giant mess of backlit leaves. So after following a bunch of vireos around we went back to the Kingfisher, which was perched exposed on a branch over the lake. It actually was flying in a circuit around the lake to three different spots, all of which made for good photographs. At this point I was going to post about how the Kingfisher got its name. Then I checked Wikipedia: “The etymology of kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) is obscure; the term comes from king's fisher, but why that name was applied is not known”. Well…ok then. Stop reading this and look at this picture of a Kingfisher instead. I need a 300mm lens. 
So the next sighting at the lake was from me; Andy told us there was a Little Green Heron stalking about in the area so I began scanning the shores. I somehow spotted this thing from across the lake. I have no idea how I managed to see this thing from about 40 yards away without using my binoculars. I feel like a tough guy now. Anyway, we got some good pictures of it, before it flew to another spot in the vegetation and I got a couple decent photographs of it. It was in the shadows so they’re not the best quality. Actually, first here’s another picture of a Kingfisher taken from much closer. It has a stick across its face. Deal with it.
Ok, now here’s a picture of the Heron. Again, I cropped out a ton of vegetation. Unless you’re reading this on the blog, in which case ignore this comment and continue looking at these poorly lit photos.
So after this we discovered a Red-Tailed Hawk that was loping about in the low lying regions of the trees around the lake. We chased it around and got some really nice shots of it. Here’s one of the better ones. I’m happy with the shot. The lighting wasn’t great as the sun had gone in at this point, but the hawk cooperated by staying in well-lit areas on exposed branches. Apparently this is the male Andy was saying. The hawk’s name is Hamlet I’m told. You can see the band on his leg there. This year they had a couple babies that are still in the area as well, but I haven’t really seen them. This guy here is actually immense. I wish I had a hawk this big to sit on my shoulder when I walked around town. After this it flew to a couple other spots and I got some more shots, but the batch that contained the picture I’ve posted here was the best of them. After this Wendy and I packed up and headed back home. Here, look at this hawk:
