In recent years, I've felt burnt out on birding after a long trip. I think the main contributor to the burn out is not time 'in the field' but the time afterwards, sitting on my computer scouring, editing and deleting photos, plus the stress I give myself when struggling to ID tricky or unfamiliar birds.
And while I did give myself a few weeks going no further than the kitchen window to watch birds, I've been indulging in a bit of early fall birding.
I made my way to the park on the first of September a nice little spread of species, including my first two Wilson's Warblers for the spot and four Red-necked Phalaropes, my first for the park and for the year (I really slacked on waterfowl and shorebird migration this year).
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| Red-necked Phalarope |
The next morning, I went to the Bois de Sioux Adventure Area and came away with more pictures of bugs than birds.
A week later, I returned to the park to throw some cracked corn to the mass of migrating Canada Geese and resident Mallards and Wood Ducks.
And this last weekend, I spent some time in the backyard, getting photos of the pollinators and migrating birds in the sunflowers and hedges.
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| Surprise lifers! There were a few Bay-breasted Warblers hopping around the branches. |
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| Here ya go, Mom! |
