Skull Guy

Clip - Much appreciated! We had to push the trip back, now planing June 2022. I haven't had much time to plan for this one despite the excellent advice in the reply's. When i dive into planning, I'll have questions!

We braved the bitter cold north winds off Lake Erie and the driving rains and freezing nights. The birding was fairly miserable, very few birds have made it to NW Ohio because of lack of suitable migration nights. We birded hard and long, ending with 124 species for the trip... far short of our 150 species goal (and 167 species record). Highlights at Magee were dozens (literally) of bald eagles. Everywhere you look, EAGLE. Every ebird checklist had eagle on it. Eagle, eagles, eagles! My 4 year old son learned what a great egret is, since every single flooded road-side ditch had several lurking. Based on miserable birding in the Magee Marsh area and harsh north winds forecast for Sunday night into Monday, we decided to venture 2.5 hours south in hopes of warmer weather and more birds. We ended up landing in Stark County Ohio, at a place called the Wilderness Center. There we were treated to several Kentucky Warblers (Lifer #393) and great looks at yellow-breasted chat (second record ever) and many white-eyed vireo's. What an incredible park, excellent trail system, variable habitat and lots of birds! We planned to spend 3 hours there, and spent 6. We could have stayed days. Despite the miserable birding in the Magee area, we met some great folks and enjoyed some wonderful time around the campfire. Highlight was meeting a youngster that was just getting into birding, there with her grandparents (who didn't care too much for the birds, but were very willing to tag along. Really excellent people). We invited them birding with us for a morning and that was a real pleasure. 'Til next year, Magee...

This will be our 5th year going to the Biggest Week, we really enjoy going despite the crowds of people! We have found many off-the-beaten-path locations where the birds are fantastic. Just wondering if anyone else is going? This year we are hoping of catching Kentucky Warbler (the final eastern wood warbler we need to see) and Henslow's sparrow. Anyone have their own out of the way birding spot in that area? Feel free to message instead of broadcasting for the masses!

Sanderling, with the white over all coloring and missing hind toe

Cant go wrong with an adapter from PhoneScope (https://www.phoneskope.com/phone-scope/) I have used their attachment for several years, I have a Vortex Scope and Iphone. Its a seamless adapter that fits quickly and perfectly each time. Bonus is that it has 2 parts to each adapter. I have the same ring for the scope part, then can hook my Iphone to that ring or my wife's Galaxy with a separate adapter (to the same ring). That probably makes no sense, just check out their website!

Being in Florida City, obviously you will have close access to the Everglades. March should be a decent time, waders will be in close to viewing locations and there should be migrant song birds around. If your thinking of heading further south, I strongly recommend visiting Fort Zachary Taylor in Key West. One of my best days of birding ever was there. Lots of places to stop along the road to Key West... Blue Hole, Bahia State Park, and any little pull off from Rte 1. If sticking closer to Florida City, Miami is fun with the invasive species, Key Largo has some nice parks and there are lots of opportunities northward into Big Cypress. Oh, and as for your granddaughter, keep trying! Some day something might click. We've been lucky with our young kids that they enjoy being outside and following us around birding. Not that they have a choice at 4 and 7 years old!

Pic 1 is a ruby-crowned kinglet Pics 2-4 are yellow-rumped warblers

Thanks - should have looked at the larger file before I uploaded it to the checklist! Doesn't look like a gnatcatcher now

I uploaded several old pics to a checklist and had this one as blue-gray gnatcatcher. All other photos have been approved except this one. Might it be a warbling vireo?

This is a palm warbler. Large numbers of them spend the winter in Florida. Notice the yellow rump and under tail.

Avery - Thank you! I have been to the top of Mansfield several times, we have family in Waterbury and Colchester VT. I have only been there in late fall and winter though. Maybe we'll have to think about driving a little further to visit VT instead of the Adirondacks. I'll contact the banding folks, my kids would absolutely love that.

We are looking to take a trip this spring/summer for Bicknell's thrush in the Adirondack Park. I have done some research and seems that they are above 3,000 feet and most actively and easily found pre-dawn or shortly after. Whiteface Mountain has a lot of ebird hits and looks like a good place to start. The reason for asking here is if anyone has done a trip specifically for Bicknell's and if the road up Whiteface is open early in the morning (in general and with Covid). There is no information on the website for Whiteface Mtn. We don't mind hiking but will have a 4 year old and 6 year old, so getting up at 3 AM and hiking is not a welcomed idea! We are open to other ideas or mountain hikes that give us a shot later in the day, and something "easier" we might be able to hike with the kids.

Orange-crowned warbler, if you look closely you can see a little hint of orange on the crown.

Its more about the head shape and bill color than the wing for me. You can see the green and brown on the far wing, but the steep forehead and black bill are the characteristics I'm following. Plus general shape fits gadwall over pintail

100% gadwall