Thursday, December 31, 2015

Fire Up the...Binoculars

It has been a long time. It has been a too long time while. It has been a grossly too long probably shouldn't even talk about it time. Oddly enough, this website has become much more popular on the FB since I stopped writing and making posts, but I refuse to let that causality have its say. In a few day's Butler's Birds will be blogging from the chilly climes of Minnesota in conjunction with The Iowa Voice for another intensive and hopefully bird-filled expedition. It will not be as birdy as when these two bastions of --insert hyperbolic aggrandizement here--toured the LGRV of Texas, especially since now most of the fat-cat government contracts for such vacations have dried up (thanks Obama), but at least one of us will probably die or get frosty enough to bite off our fingers, so it should make for some good material.

Of course, going into that level of birding cold, in the cold, would be columbid-level foolish, and after so long off the wagon I, like any self-respecting pendulum, needed to get back int he swing of things. Earlier this December I met up with a couple, Harris and Fran, from Pennsylvania, for a half day of Maricopa birding. 
This winter has been a good one for rarities and vagrants in Maricopa, but of course folks coming from outside of Arizona will often have less interest in the vagrants than the Sonoran regulars. So those of you familiar with the area know where we went first.


After the Thrasher spot we cruised through the Arlington area looking for rusty raptors and whatever else was on display. The Lower River Road Ponds were recently hosting some impressive Swans. In early December there were different, almost-as-large white birds rafting about. 


Since we were birding with a photography-first priority, this negated a few spots that would have been good for overall species and sightings but lacking in photo-ops. We had decent luck at Tres Rios, considering the time of year. Sora is not a bird I am expecting to see in MN in a few days' time.


As I admitted earlier and publicly, my diligence and discipline in birding around central AZ has waned, or rather been de-prioritized this fall and winter. However, the excitement for birding MN in the winter, for the new birds and experiences that will come now is palpable--you could palpate the excitement, if you were so inclined and had permission.
Same time next week, with a bit of luck, this roadside Owl will be a Great Gray.

12 comments:

  1. Good luck! The snowy weather has begun. I'm with you. The Arizona birding is nice but it's time to get out of the state and have some fun. Find Snow Buntings, owls and lots of other good birds. There's a bunch of lifers here in the Great Lakes area waiting to be found! Glad you found your spark.

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    1. Cheers Chris!

      It's a little nerve-racking because I'm so not used to birding in that environment and I have so little time, but every moment and bird will nonetheless be a blue ribbon.

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  2. You are going to be about 3 weeks ahead of me in the quest for those owls! HOpefully wishing you good luck will bring good karma to my trip in return.

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    1. Cheers Gordon and same to you. It sounds a bit mellow up there still so maybe I can stir things up for your and Tommy's 2nd coming.

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  3. Good luck out there! I look forward to photos of piles of grosbeaks and hawk owls and crossbills and whatever else is crazy enough to be up there now.

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    1. Sounds good Jen--I will seek out the heaps and piles and perhaps get artful where necessary to that effect.

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  4. Looking forward to seeing our unique ecosystem and its birds make their debut on B'sBs.

    Don't count out the Sora; we had a BCNH on our CBC.

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    1. Cheers Josh,

      I'm hoping for a few good pictures of frostbite as well. Thanks for the info on the Ivory Gull! If that bird sticks around that will be straight up magic! I'll take time for Sora-searching as well.

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  5. Glad to see the ol' weblog back again. And kudos for getting your warm-weather self birding in the Midwest in winter.

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