Another New Year

To end another drought, here's a short rundown on the end of 2023.

I was pretty burnt out after the Louisiana trip (something about squinting at thousands of pictures of gulls and terns). My fall birding was restricted to watching the backyard feeders and a few walks through the park. Most exciting was seeing a cackling goose up close at the park and watching the migratory birds investigating the garden.

Due to my schedule, I opted not to take part in Project FeederWatch for the 2023-2024 season. I'm hoping things work out better for 2024-2025. So far into this snowless winter, I have seen Pine Siskins amid the usual finches, woodpeckers, chickadees and other birds.

My last birding for 2023 took place over this last weekend when a friend and I did some birding by car and foot in northern Minnesota. The morning was wet and cool, and we arrived at our site with the day's first light. Not long into our slow drive, my friend called, "Owl, owl." I slowed to a stop. Atop a dead tree not twenty feet behind us was an owl, almost certainly a Great Gray. Unfortunately, I was in a very awkward position to snap a picture, lighting was poor, and another car pulled up behind us and stopped next to the owl. The owl flew over the other car as the driver came up to ask what we had seen.

I told my friend as we drove away, laughing and frustrated, that I had a good feeling we would see another owl. We drove a few more miles before spotting a lifer for me: a very distant Northern Hawk Owl perched up in a tree.

It wasn't long until the second lifer of the day appeared: a tiny silhouette which turned out to be a Northern Shrike!

Before heading back, we walked a short trail and saw plenty of woodpeckers, chickadees and Canada Jays.

Louisiana Trip, V

 Day 5-6: Joyce Wildlife Management Area, Wickliffe Park, Horseshoe Lake

• Began birding on the drive back.
• Considered birding Grand Isle on the way out (sort of wish I had).
• Joyce WMA Highlights: The swamp walk was shorter than I thought it would be. Saw no new birds but heard another barred owl.

• Cut across tips of Kentucky and Illinois. Was hoping to make a decent stop in each state but some storms kept me moving.
• Originally planned to camp at Horseshoe Lake in Illinois but ended up going to Missouri and nabbing a few hours of sleep.

This phoebe in Illinois found a handy little perch to flycatch from.

Louisiana Trip, IV

 Day 4: Grand Isle

• Woke up for gate opening at Grand Isle SP. Waited outside taking photos of birds wandering, perching and flying. Gate never opened but managed two lifers: clapper rails (only ones spotted on the trip) and black skimmers. Can't complain?

• Drove to Ninety West Park. Wandered through the park and nearby roads.
• Highlight of the day was watching a least bittern (lifer) cling to the reeds for a few minutes before flying off.

• Day heating up. Returned to the marina to watch terns and saw my first (do not know my oceanic wildlife) dolphin? Turns out dolphins aren't as easy to photograph with a zoom lens from a dock as I would have figured.

• Made another stop at the Ninety West Park and the beach.
• Loads of terns and gulls on the beach. No lifers but had fun taking pictures and walking barefoot on the sand while almost everyone else . . . drove the beach? Hm.

Louisiana Trip, III

 Day 3: Lefleurs Bluff State Park, Grand Isle

• Woke up at Lefleurs Bluff SP campground and walked several trails.
• Lefleurs Bluff SP Highlights: No lifer birds but got the trip's best look of Carolina Wrens, saw a huge Golden Silk Orbweaver plus another sort of lifer.

Decided to leave the boat landing area as my first wild gator turned and started to slowly drift across the river in my direction. :)

• Drive to Grand Isle was pretty smooth and quite interesting visually. Saw a million places along the freeway I wish I could have stopped to scope for birds.
• Got to my inn and decided to check the marina out back. Lifers aplenty!
• Grand Isle Mariana Highlights: Up close looks at Laughing Gulls, a Ruddy Turnstone, Brown Pelicans and also saw Least Terns and Royal Terns (all lifers).

• Also went over to the east portion of Grand Isle Beach.
• Grand Isle Beach Highlights: Magnificent Frigatebirds (lifer), first Loggerhead Shrikes of the year.

• Quick stop at the supermarket before hanging out at the hotel.
• Improvised a spoon.
• Watched sunset and last birds about the marina.