Cannonball Run to SE Arizona (part 4: Rufous-capped Warbler)

by Matt Fraker 04.14.2012
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Sunrise, Tucson… Sherri rented us some crazy place up on a hillside to the west. Today is a target day. Florida Canyon. Rufous-capped Warbler. I was on the road by 7:30 AM. I made the very remote Florida Canyon Trailhead by about 8:45 AM. I have been watching the reports on these birds (the suspicion [click to continue reading...]

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A March Madness Cannonball Run to SE Arizona (part 3)

by Matt Fraker 04.13.2012
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Dawn broke upon Saturday morning beautifully. I was cramped and painful as all heck from sleeping in my driver’s seat. I stirred and regrouped the Denali, myself, and Tucher and headed back to the Mosquito Flat for my last Nutting’s session. Shortly after I set-up, Bob drove down from his overnight spot and we visited [click to continue reading...]

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My New Game

by Sandy Komito 04.12.2012

I’ve reached the age and stage in life where I can say anything I want, do anything I want and not worry about what others might say or think. That’s the great part of turning 80.  And I like that. Last year, on April 10th, I started a new birding game for myself.  That day, [click to continue reading...]

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“Three from Two.”

by Mike at Two-Fisted Birdwatcher 04.10.2012

Birders are watchers. I call them bird watchers, an outdated term. Still, I go against the tide and use it. I guess I like the idea of watching things, noticing and naming. When the online magazine, “Two-Fisted Bird Watcher” got started a while back, it intended to be about birds, birders, cool sightings. It grew in a slightly [click to continue reading...]

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BirdCast Migration Forecast: 6 – 12 April 2012

by eBird 04.06.2012

After an amazingly early start to spring migration across much of the eastern two-thirds of North America, we expect migration to return to a more typical schedule this week. Arrival dates should only slightly ahead of average through the remainder of… [click to continue reading...]

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A Surfbird in Texas

by Dave Dolan 04.04.2012

Last week a Surfbird was found in Texas near Corpus Christi. There was also a Purple Sandpiper seen at the same location, so I decided to drive down to Corpus and find the birds and bird my way back to High Island so that I could visit with my friends from Tropical Birding, Sam and [click to continue reading...]

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BirdCast Migration Forecast: 30 March – 6 April 2012

by eBird 04.03.2012

Conditions across much of the West look favorable for light migration to occur during the course of the forecast period, particularly toward the end of the week. The distinct exception is the Pacific Northwest, which is again forecast to receive more precipitation that will hinder significant landbird movements. The Great Plains will experience a distinct [click to continue reading...]

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ABA #677: Black Rail

by Matt Fraker 04.03.2012

As the NCAA games finished, I finished my Shocktop brew and headed out. Outside was beautiful; based on a decent birding tip, I chose to go sleep in an obscure place in the desert. It was about 11:00 PM. Warmed with the courage of several brews, I put Tucher into the Denali and we drove [click to continue reading...]

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A March Madness Cannonball Run to SE Arizona (part 2)

by Matt Fraker 03.26.2012
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The box remains unchecked… And if I thought there might be nothing worse than yet another strike-out on this nemesisistic, cerulean, juniperian, ave-demon I was mistaken. I forgot to consider seeing one and not being able to count it… Let’s back up for a moment. Creaturefeature’s reply supports some serious perspective. This perspective should be [click to continue reading...]

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BirdCast Migration Forecast: 24 – 30 March 2012

by eBird 03.23.2012

We expect the pace of record-early spring arrivals from throughout the eastern two-thirds of the country to slow significantly this week. While a few birds may continue to push north, don’t expect the massive movements of birds from the last two weeks as unsettled conditions will likely predominate across much of the continent. Temperatures are [click to continue reading...]

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A March Madness Cannonball Run to SE Arizona (part 1)

by Matt Fraker 03.23.2012
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10:00 AM……that’s not a very efficient time to enter “The Garden”… But what can you do? It was what it was. I no longer consider I-80 a “drive”; it has become a “commute”. I’ll stop at Exit #225 for Amana Colony supplies and gas (I did); I’ll drive out an entire 400 plus mile gas [click to continue reading...]

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BirdCast Migration Report: 16 – 22 March 2012

by eBird 03.23.2012

Last week’s BirdCast predicted another week of widespread migration and record early arrivals across the continent. The unsettled weather predicted to reach the mid-continent in mid-week prompted a mid-week alert about a coastal fallout on the Gulf of Mexico. In addition to widespread Ring-necked Ducks, arriving waterfowl were predicted in the Prairie Provinces, Franklin’s Gulls [click to continue reading...]

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Migration Alert, Gulf Coast – 20 March 2012 (5:30 PM EDT)

by eBird 03.20.2012

A strong frontal boundary is currently moving east toward the Mississippi valley, having passed over the Texas coast and portions of Louisiana. This boundary is spawning strong storms and areas of precipitation (some of which is inte… [click to continue reading...]

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What Makes a Good Bird?

by Dave Dolan 03.20.2012

After seeing the Snowy Owl in Dallas, and all of the excitement that it caused, I have been trying to figure out what gets people’s birding juices flowing. I can see why the Snowy Owl in Texas would cause quite a stir, but they are seen up north a lot more consistently and they still [click to continue reading...]

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Permit Given to Kill Two Bald Eagles

by Dawn Keller 03.14.2012

In a potentially landmark decision, a permit has been granted by the federal government that allows a Wyoming tribe to kill two Bald Eagles for a religious ceremonies. The granting of the permit follows litigation initiated by the Tribe. All wildlife rehabilitators that are permitted to treat Bald Eagles are required to send all dead [click to continue reading...]

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BirdCast Migration Forecast: 9 – 15 March 2012

by eBird 03.12.2012

Expect a progression of good migration conditions very similar to last week’s. Conditions for bird migration will be favorable east of the Rockies and on the Great Plains over the weekend. By Monday and Tuesday these conditions make for good migration in the Midwest and by the middle and latter half of next week, warm [click to continue reading...]

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