If It Ever Stops Raining

Hello from Connecticut! Yes, I am here, and if it ever stops raining I'll be able to go out and see more birds. I flew in yesterday at 1:00 a.m. My brother, Stephen, picked me up at the airport. We drove to his cottage on Lake Hayward in the dark and fell into bed exhausted but glad to be here. After a few hours of sleep I was awakened by the dawn chorus of birds and the eastern sun rising in my window. I could hear the cardinals and wood thrushes calling me, but I snuggled into my warm bed and slept for another hour or two. By 7:15 a.m. I couldn't stand it any longer and got up. By 8:00 I was sitting outside on the deck watching all the woodland birds in my brother's yard.

It's been raining and cold here in New England. My sister asked me to bring the sunshine and warmth with me, and for today it looks like I did, for the chilly dawn warmed with the sun and by afternoon I could actually take my long-sleeved shirt off. I walked down to the lake shore and on my way I spotted a worm-eating warbler in the understory of vegetation that covers the Connecticut hillsides. Cardinals and titmice are everywhere, but chickadees seem a bit scare this year.

As I cross the sand of one of the beaches I am drawn to a downy woodpecker clinging to the boards of a picket fence. Then I notice the feeders and suet basket. Then I notice the people standing there watching me. I walk closer and politely introduce myself. I ask if it is okay for me to look at birds in their yard. They graciously respond yes and we strike up a conversation. That is how I met Paul and Carol, fellow bird watchers from Massachusetts. Their lovely little cottage has a nice view of the lake and while we chatted we were entertained by Mr. and Mrs. Downy woodpecker, along with numerous house sparrows, a song sparrow, a chipping sparrow, and a hummingbird. Over the lake the barn swallows were diving and capturing insects in mid-flight. A Baltimore oriole flew across the open expanse and landed in one of the tall trees on the shore. Carol and Paul were fun to talk to and share a common interest with. After awhile we parted ways and I headed back to the cottage.

I spent the rest of this sunny day counting birds wherever we went. Whether eating fried clams with bellies at Harry's Place in Colchester (where I saw a Northern Flicker of all things) or up at the Bacon Academy track where I counted birds while my siblings and nephew practiced for the upcoming Adams Family Road Race. I saw a hairy woodpecker in the woods there, as well as an Eastern Phoebe. Birds are everywhere and everywhere I go, I count the birds.

Yes, I am taking pictures and I might be able to upload them to my Mom's computer if I knew how to use this stupid Vista software! Grrrrr! Well, at least I can write. After a sunny day yesterday today dawned cold and gray. I thought I might go out for another walk around town and count birds, but as soon as I was done with my shower the sky started its own. Its been pouring ever since, and thus I am confined to the indoors. My thin Arizona blood is trying to stay warm. I had to shut all my Mom's windows and turn up the heat just a tad so my feet wouldn't turn to ice!

Around noontime my nephew, Bernie showed up and I started to teach him to watch birds. He will be 14 next week but he has a brain and curiosity beyond his years. He is already writing his first novel and he wants to live in the White House someday! From my mother's house we counted birds on the front lawn. Then, we went to the computer where he signed up for eBird and we entered his very first bird count! He is much more adept at the computer and his fingers just fly across that keyboard. Soon he will be a better eBirder than I am. Next, I taught him about binoculars and how to adjust the diopter to get the best focus.

If you have never done this before, click here: Binocular Tune-up.

As the rain continues to pour we decide to take a short drive to the local Dukin' Donuts shop for coffee and a doughnut. Bernie is graduating from the 8th grade today, so it's my treat. With coffee and donuts obtained, we drive up Halls Hill road to the local Lions Pond. When I was young we ice skated here. Now I come here to watch birds. Usually I walk here from my mother's house, but with today's rain we need the protection from the car. I do not know if we will see anything, but even as I am pulling in to the parking lot I spot a great blue heron on the far shore. With the car in park we watch through blurry windows as the heron hides in the foliage. Munching on donuts and sipping coffee we watch common grackles and house sparrows landing and feeding on the shore. Undeterred by the downpour, they feed away on God knows what. Then, I roll the window down for Bernie to get a better look through the binoculars, for the heron has actually flown closer to us. We watch as the heron stealthily raises his head searching the shallow water for a fish or a frog. Just when he looks as if he is going to strike with that javelin shaped bill of his, he freezes. Suddenly his eyes are focused someplace else. I turn towards his gaze and see that in spite of the downpour another person has wandered over to the benches at the edge of the pond. Totally unaware of the heron or the fact that we are bird watching, the unknown person comes closer and the heron takes flight. As it circles the pond it scares up another heron and we watch in wonder as the two birds fly right over our heads, long legs dangling, wide wings spread. We are both smiling now, but it is time to go. My sister will be coming by my mother's house soon to pick her son up for his graduation.

I am at home now thinking of my plans for tomorrow when I will meet up with my youngest brother, Chris. He is taking me to New York City where I will go birding in Central Park for the first time ever! I am hoping this rain will stop, but if not, I have come prepared. The green camouflaged rain poncho I bought to use in West Virginia is with me and will be put to use once again. It may well be two weeks before I get to upload photos, but I should be able to blog at least.

In a little over 24 hours I have already counted 37 species of birds. Most of them were counted yesterday. The Great Blue heron is the only new species I've added today.

Here is what I've seen so far:

1. great blue heron
2. turkey vulture
3. red-tailed hawk
4. mourning dove
5. chimney swift
6. ruby-throated hummingbird
7. downy woodpecker
8. hairy woodpecker
9. northern flicker
10. eastern phoebe
11. red-eyed vireo (heard only)
12. blue jay
13. American crow
14. tree swallow
15. northern rough-winged Swallow
16. barn swallow
17. black-capped chickadeee
18. tufted titmouse
19. white-breasted nuthatch
20. blue-gray gnatcatcher
21. wood thrush
22. American robin
23. catbird
24. European starling
25. cedar waxwing
26. worm eating warbler
27. chipping sparrow
28. song sparrow
29. Northern cardinal
30. rose-breasted grosbeak
31. common grackle
32. brown-headed cowbird
33. Baltimore oriole
34. purple finch
35. house finch
36. American goldfinch
37. house sparrow