tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5791077723521794200.post5990839904720346192..comments2023-09-16T04:08:25.750-07:00Comments on Butler's Birds: Vacation Birding sans Deracination: County Roots in CarolinaLaurence Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14766876797454283812noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5791077723521794200.post-90863130943302052252014-09-26T04:50:58.090-07:002014-09-26T04:50:58.090-07:00Im sorry... what did you say? I stopped reading an...Im sorry... what did you say? I stopped reading and had to stare at those insane pictures! Well done!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02439687821131712462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5791077723521794200.post-18236022577206841952014-09-21T13:20:05.061-07:002014-09-21T13:20:05.061-07:00Thanks Chris,
It's that drawback of photograp...Thanks Chris,<br /><br />It's that drawback of photography--failure to get shots equal to the bird, or somewhat near the experience, sometimes leaves a sense of failure, at least disappointment, with all the other feelings. But hey if there are enough birds, the odds eventually stack in our favor!Laurence Butlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14766876797454283812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5791077723521794200.post-31822411939511715422014-09-21T13:18:20.933-07:002014-09-21T13:18:20.933-07:00Cheers Kathleen,
You raise an interesting point, ...Cheers Kathleen,<br /><br />You raise an interesting point, that eBird reveals as much about birders as it does about birds. Upon further research, turns out it was started by the NSA for the government to track Bird Nerds deemed a threat to the U.S. Gov. Laurence Butlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14766876797454283812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5791077723521794200.post-85204847188264314362014-09-19T10:52:28.818-07:002014-09-19T10:52:28.818-07:00You nailed the warbler and wood thrush! Nice work...You nailed the warbler and wood thrush! Nice work! I still won't call the thrush until I see it. I heard it all over the place in Maine but I didn't lock my eyes on it so it's, in my book, not countable. So nice captures! There is nothing more satisfying than getting a better or first pic of a bird that you can call your own:)Rohrerbothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02136631378931478644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5791077723521794200.post-76116079315246064382014-09-18T20:20:53.793-07:002014-09-18T20:20:53.793-07:00I find county lists fascinating! I like to see ho...I find county lists fascinating! I like to see how birders move about and what their ranges are (just like the birds!). I have lived on a state border (between NY and NJ) - there are great birding places within minutes of the border but few people cross it. Occasionally a birder might do a foray into the other state, but there are only 2 or so birders who semi-frequently cross the state line between Bergen and Rockland. <br /><br />I mostly bird one county in NY (Rockland) where my folks live, but bird 2-3 semi-regularly. <br /><br />Utterly fantastic shots of the Prothonotary Warbler - whew! I don't think better is possible. And congrats on the Barred. I have plenty of photos of barred, but have only ever seen one in the wild once. It spooked before I could get documentation. Congrats on your #1 listing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5791077723521794200.post-80246696745674675572014-09-14T19:00:16.727-07:002014-09-14T19:00:16.727-07:00Oh no!
Thanks for the correction and clarificatio...Oh no!<br /><br />Thanks for the correction and clarification Nate. Obviously I have no idea as to the real ornithological history or heritage of the area--hopefully that'll change with more time there.<br />Both of those birds wouldn't be candidates for ready misidentification of course, but it was a bit strange to see those birds reported singly (like not a part of any other list). <br /><br />Perhaps, probably likely, it is fortunate for me that the fellow in not on the grid, as it were, though perhaps also to the detriment of Wayne County's overall reputation and the broader expanses of knowledge that could be gained from his accumulated experience there. <br /><br />Even with the egg on my face, it is all the more exciting to know I can be a part of growing something that not only has much room to grow, but already has hosted some incredible finds! Now for that Bar-tailed...Laurence Butlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14766876797454283812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5791077723521794200.post-5034914653675658432014-09-14T17:25:31.869-07:002014-09-14T17:25:31.869-07:00For the record, that Vermilion Fly and the Say'...For the record, that Vermilion Fly and the Say's Phoebe are far from dubious. Wayne County hosts one of North Carolina's finest birders, and one who has led Wayne County to glory with mind-bogglers like Black-tailed Godwit and Fulvous Whistling-Duck, among others.Sadly though, he is not an eBirder, and no one else ever goes there. So it goes... Natehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04649782420633788927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5791077723521794200.post-12060357434946450052014-09-14T09:42:13.627-07:002014-09-14T09:42:13.627-07:00Thanks Scott. I'm not sure Nate will relish th...Thanks Scott. I'm not sure Nate will relish the comparison--some brothers are maybe best forgotten--but at any rate I appreciate the kind words. <br /><br />"Make diamonds out of the hog waste."<br />If this isn't the slogan of Wayne County already, my new goal in life is to make it so. I will start with graffiti, then move to modifying wikipedia articles and eventually official banners. <br /><br />In the mean time...You stay outta Wayne County mister!Laurence Butlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14766876797454283812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5791077723521794200.post-34165850598801224252014-09-13T18:54:29.343-07:002014-09-13T18:54:29.343-07:00This is the best post! I feel like you're Nate...This is the best post! I feel like you're Nate Swick's long lost blog-brother. <br /><br />Keep up the good work in Wayne co.; make diamonds out of the hog waste.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09036340024818230677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5791077723521794200.post-42603904793689959092014-09-13T13:22:49.926-07:002014-09-13T13:22:49.926-07:00I hope not. Legacy is all we, as birders, ever rea...I hope not. Legacy is all we, as birders, ever really have (and also photos are nice).<br />On a related note though, I hope records and numbers are falling all around you now at your new post. Patch work birding, should it be called?<br /><br />There is no known cure for this bug, except for a few years'-rest--and that ain't gon' happen.Laurence Butlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14766876797454283812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5791077723521794200.post-40707571992547628932014-09-13T12:48:25.666-07:002014-09-13T12:48:25.666-07:00My most esoteric list is of birds I saw or heard f...My most esoteric list is of birds I saw or heard from the desk of my job in Savannah (which was not window adjacent). I feel fairly comfortable saying that my replacement won't pose a threat to my patch dominance.<br /><br />Kudos on the glorious PROW photos, and a sight lifer BADO! May the county listing bug stay with you, and always be as rewardingNicholas Martenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04430793036041198643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5791077723521794200.post-90770266287150643852014-09-12T16:30:57.572-07:002014-09-12T16:30:57.572-07:00Cheers Caleb,
They all stray into AZ every once a...Cheers Caleb,<br /><br />They all stray into AZ every once and again (not BAOW), but man, having birds in mature plumage on breeding grounds is something else. This time of year, keeping the ol' head in the freezer is just generally sound domestic policy. Laurence Butlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14766876797454283812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5791077723521794200.post-1868488908479002872014-09-12T11:55:53.793-07:002014-09-12T11:55:53.793-07:00Oh my gosh, that PROW is AMAZING, great shots!!! N...Oh my gosh, that PROW is AMAZING, great shots!!! Nice photos of the WOTH too! I just got my head out of the freezer but the melting won't stop!Caleb Strandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03745287870823090848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5791077723521794200.post-23860755168310285922014-09-12T08:37:38.019-07:002014-09-12T08:37:38.019-07:00Now, ya see Lucas, it's over achievers like yo...Now, ya see Lucas, it's over achievers like you that make County Listing a pointless endeavor for the rest of us slobs!<br />On the other hand, the hollow, sou;-stealing eyes of a BAOW and the sweet sweet songs of the PROW can draw even the most reclusive birders out of hiding. Swamps birds are, indeed, the best, all the more so if one is coming from a state with very few swamps. <br /><br />Thanks for stopping by.Laurence Butlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14766876797454283812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5791077723521794200.post-87393308769090730792014-09-12T08:27:42.587-07:002014-09-12T08:27:42.587-07:00Man, I need to make the hour drive over to Wayne C...Man, I need to make the hour drive over to Wayne County some time. It's one of the 15 or so NC counties I haven't birded (but don't worry - I won't rack up anything crazy until 2015, for your sake). I'm glad you had the opportunity to stare into the glossy wet eyes of the BADO and salivate over the sweet, sweet plumage of the PROW. Swamp birds are the best.Lucashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12486608968242124143noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5791077723521794200.post-65693657258571775562014-09-12T07:42:24.758-07:002014-09-12T07:42:24.758-07:00Good God! You haven't been doing this already?...Good God! You haven't been doing this already??? Laurence Butlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14766876797454283812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5791077723521794200.post-76916977101157221722014-09-12T06:29:33.913-07:002014-09-12T06:29:33.913-07:00I must remember to tip my hat to a Prothonotary Wa...I must remember to tip my hat to a Prothonotary Warbler every time I eat a ripe banana. <br /><br />Jen Sanfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08932953314258705622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5791077723521794200.post-84271523578431729852014-09-12T06:28:43.624-07:002014-09-12T06:28:43.624-07:00Cheers Josh, dare I say it was the birding equival...Cheers Josh, dare I say it was the birding equivalent of a Viking eBird raid. In fact, I believe that's what Leif Erikson was doing when he first landed around Newfoundland anyway?<br /><br />You're right, Wayne County eBird numbers were shockingly low, but WC has Goldsboro and a few other decent-sized towns. I imagine there are even less sites and is even less coverage in the surrounding counties. <br />One county at a time! Meanwhile, I need to link up with more people that have yards.Laurence Butlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14766876797454283812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5791077723521794200.post-86075146830558850902014-09-12T04:37:53.471-07:002014-09-12T04:37:53.471-07:00You didn't just visit Wayne; you invaded and c...You didn't just visit Wayne; you invaded and conquered -- that No. 1 spot shall be yours! Being a numero uno does feel pretty great even if no one else is trying to knock you off or even knows your impressive eBird credential. I'm afraid, though, that Wayne is representative of many, many underbirded counties in rural America.<br /><br />Nothing was left to the imagination on that Prothonotary! The tanager is a beaut, but that Wood Thrush really got my jealous bone fired up. I'm still stuck in heard-only purgatory. Glad you got the Barred. They're pretty neat with their call and dark eyes. I usually wait to see one until someone calls and says, "Hey, what's this owl in my yard?" Josh Wallestadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12547530391406974019noreply@blogger.com