Saturday, October 31, 2009

Rain, again :(

Not much to say about today. As we went up towards the valleys we met the rain. And then it rained all day. I was soaked after about an hour... Still managed to see the Black-and-white in da Ponte, the Brent flying by the power plant, the two American Great Whites flushed by the car as usual and the Ring-billed Gull chillin' on the airfield. No new birds though. There HAS to be something new here! They are getting Pied-billed Grebes, Ruddy Duck, Chimney Swift, mixed American Gulls and other stuff on the other islands. HAVE TO KEEP LOOKING!


Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)

Tomorrow we are going to the Caldeira. And tomorrow we ARE going there! Had planned to go today but didn't do it because of the weather...

Birds
Pale-bellied Brent 1, American Great White Egret 2, Ring-billed Gull 1 1cy, Black-and-white Warbler 1

Friday, October 30, 2009

Ring-billed Gull!

As decided yesterday most of us kicked around the village today. Not much was found but I finally saw the Turtle Dove and the others saw two Yellow-billed Cuckoos that are still around. Saw the rubbish car driving around picking up trash so I went up to the rubbish dump and waited for the car to dump the trash (which attracts the gulls). Found two Great Black-backed Gulls but nothing else among the 100 or so gulls that came in to eat.


Atlantic Gulls (Larus michahellis atlantis)

Spent some time around the airport since eight of the remaining 13 birders were leaving. Now we are only five left on The Rock! A man approached me and asked if I was Olof Jönsson. He said he was reading my blog on a regular basis and that a lot of people in Corvo and the Azores was following it. He had gotten the address from the authorities he said! A big suprise for me and very funny to hear of course.


Ingvar, Fred, Vincent and Keijo about to board the plane.


After the others left me, Bosse and David continued our birding around the village. After doing the shore and some fields for a few more hours I decided to go seawatching. On my way down I saw a small flock of gulls over the airfield and among them a small one - Ring-billed Gull! Managed to get a few record shots before the bird flew out to sea. Refound it soon in a flock of a few thousand Cory's feeding about 2 km out from the harbour. Not the best views as you can understand, but a new Yank and actually the first Yank I find in several weeks - good for my stamina!


Record shot of 1st w Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)


Flores continues to produce and today they had Ruddy Duck, Pied-billed Grebe, Great Blue Heron, Laughing Gull and some other good stuff. See all observations on http://www.birdingazores.com/ We tried to get boat tickets to go there tomorrow but we failed since the boat was cancelled. Perhaps best that way since I think the weather is going to be pretty crappy tomorrow.

Birds
European Whimbrel 3, Ring-billed Gull 1 1cy, Great Black-backed Gull 2, Turtle Dove 1

Thursday, October 29, 2009

More wind

This is what the wind meters have been looking like for a week now, maiking birding really difficult:




This is the path along the shore south of the airfield. As you can see the waves and wind has produced a little bit of foam over the week:

Me thinking about having a foam bath.

Even if it was windy it wasn't raining this morning so I went up to the valleys to have a look in Cantinho. As usual flushed the two American Great Egrets with the car close to Fojo before stopping at Cantinho. Wind was shaking around the tree tops every now and then and due to rain during the night there was a steady flow (and thereby constant noise) in the stream in the valley. Spent four hours in there, doing it carefully, but didn't even see the Ovenbird that has been present in there for some time.

After lunch took my usual powernap but woke up as I got my face washed by a rain shower - have had more pleasent happenings in my life, I guarantee you! Did Poso de Agua for a few hours on my way back. I really, really like that place! But I haven't seen shit there... yet. Had a look for my buddy the juvenile Cory's in the bamboo stands and it was still there. It should leave any day now!



Juvenile Cory's out in the open on the ground.


On my way back I checked out the Savannah Sparrow that has moved down from the reservoir mountain to the "pig fields" / "bean fields" or whatever you wanna call the place. Had great but brief views of this nice bird. While watching it a local stopped next to us with his car and told us that he'd seen a duck in the harbour earlier the same day. He desribed it as a small duck, mostly grey, with black on top of the head, and pointed at a female Common Scoter in the Collin's guide. Went down there to have a look for it but didn't find it. Only two Turnstones were hanging around.

Turnstone

The Black-and-white wasn't seen today despite search. That goes for the Parula as well. One Yellow-billed cuckoo was seen in the village and tomorrow all of us will try to clean up the village together since that hasn't been properly done by a big crew for a few days (because of the wind). Let's hope that weather allows us to at least have a look around!


Sunset


Birds
American Great Egret 2, Grey Heron 2 juveniles, Grey Plover 1, European Whimbrel 2, Savannah Sparrow 1

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Seawatching

Had a slow morning today with loads of sleep and after that loads of coffee. Worked my way through a big bunch of emails before I went out seawatching by the windmills. Fred joined after a while and in the evening we were five seawatchers. Result? Pretty good, thanks to Fred's sharp eyes! Bonxie, Leach's Petrel and Purple Sand best birds of the day. Fred had also seen a Grey Phalarope in the morning. By the windmills we also got company by this dude from Greenland:


Northern Wheatear


Today winds were somewhat (but not much) nicer than the previous days and allowed five birders to leave the island. The crew is getting smaller and I think we are 13 left here now. The people who birded more seriously than me saw Ovenbird, Black-and-white Warble, Indigo Bunting and Savannah Sparrow. Nothing new though :( Maybe tomorrow!


Birds
Great Shearwater 4, Gannet 1 1cy, Leach's Petrel 1, Great Skua 1, Purple Sandpiper 1, Common Tern 6, Northern Wheatear 1

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

S.O.S. Cagarro

Started in a windy Ribeira do Vinte with Fred today. Despite it had been light for an hour itwas almost impossible to bird in the beginning. That wood is DARK! Anyway, we birded the place for a few hours and, as usual, found absolutely nothing of interest. Walked to da Ponte and had lunch at the chat bridge before going into da Ponte. The Black-and-white was still in as usual but nothing else.

Somehow (don't ask me why) we decided to walk up to the reservoir in the afternoon. The place looked birdable since there weren't very many clouds in the sky and the hill wasn't covered in fog (as it usually is). When we got up there only one thing could happen of course - weather change! Storm winds and RAIN! Despite lousy weather we saw a Snow Bunting, a Red-throated Pipit and a White-rumped Sandpiper. Walked back to the village and only minutes after we entered the guesthouse the skies opened up. Full metal rain! Despite the late hour and the weather people were still in the Caldeira to look for the Indigo Bunting that Bosse found earlier (new pointfor Sweden Pete!). Due to the weather I asked Manuel if I could take the pickup and go up to get the poor people that were still out in the rain and it was OK. Met five VERY wet persons along the road that seemed to appreciate getting a lift down. It seems like this weather will go on for a few more days...
After dinner we found a juvenile "Cagarro" (Cory's) in the street, as we do most nights now. The birds are out flying for the first time in their life and many of them crash in the village on their way down to the sea.


Juvenile Cagarro

Picked the bird up and walked down towards the sea. Along the way we found another one and then bumped into the SPEA guy who was glad to take the Cory's. Went back with him to their (he's got two nice female collegues as well) place and put the both shearwaters there over night. Tomorrow they will ring the birds and release them in the sea. Visit their blog here: http://lifecorvo.blogspot.com/


Cagarro boxes provided by the government


Birds
Black-and-white Warbler 1, Red-throated Pipit 1, Snow Bunting 1, White-rumped Sandpiper 1 1cy

Monday, October 26, 2009

Rain and wind again

Decided to do the lighthouse valley today. Got a lift about 800 m during my walk, but did the remaining 5 km or so by foot! And i got totally SOAKED before I even got to the valley. Wet and cold I birded the place for more than three hours. Result? Wet feet!



Walked back slowly and had lunch below do Vinte. Lunch includes powernap nowadays so after an hour I was ready to go birding again. Kicked around in da Ponte for a few hours in the afternoon. Only a few rain showers and not very much wind made the place quite birdable actually. Bumped into the Black-and-white Warbler two times. It has been there 22 days now! Walked over the fields close to the cliff edge on my way back but only found the common breeding birds, a lot of cows and the odd horse. Still waiting for a Cliff or Tree Swallow to turn up there!



Me about to be struck by a BIG wave yesterday. Picture by Vincent Legrand.


Six birders left and five arrived today. Ten should have left but the wind was to strong for the plane to land on Flores (winds are from W and the airstrip on Flores is S-N) so people had to stay here. Winds will settle somewhat tomorrow I think so then it's time to find a new, good bird again! Stuff must have arrived with the last days minor storm. I'm gonna hit Ribeira do Vinte with Fred!



Birds
Black-and-white Warbler 1

Sunday, October 25, 2009

REALLY crazy winds!

AZORES THE MOVIE 2009 by Simon:
Go to http://www.youtube.com/user/Waderwatcher and click on the links to the right.
Good stuff - WATCH IT!

Today was a relax day for me. Had a really good nights sleep, continued with a 1½ hour long breakfast with loads of coffee and finally finished my chill with a few hours computer work so now I have almost cought up with my harvest of emails. The winds was super ultra mega strong today so birding was very difficult, accept deep in the valleys on the sheltered eastern side of the island.

STRONG westerlies today!

Took a walk with Vincent around the village during late afternoon and managed to see a Yellow-billed Cuckoo despite the wind. Continued down to the western shore to have a look at the great scenery with the waves crashing against the lava beaches. Very impressive stuff!



A big wave hitting Corvo. The water is splashing about 50 m up in the air!

Vincent spotted a young White-rumped Sand with the Turnstones on the airfield and we watched it together for an hour or so. All the waders had some difficulties moving in the very strong wind. Tomorrow I'll get back to work in the valleys after this much needed rest!
Birds
Lesser Black-backed Gull 1 adult, White-rumped Sandpiper 1 1cy, Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1, Willow Warbler 1, Whimbrel 3, Grey Plover 1

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Crazy winds!

Nice weather in the morning, calm and sunny = passerine search. Crap weather in the afternoon and evening, really windy and a few showers = seawatching.

Flushed two American Great Egrets (and a juvenile Grey Heron) in the morning at Ribeira da Poso de Agua. Two new birds or has the bird from the Caldeira gone out? It was in the Caldeira yesterday...



American Great White Egrets


Also saw the Chimney Swift hunting over around Poso de Agua and Fojo during the first half of the day.


Chimney Swift


Birded Fojo below the lower road and after some pisching I heard a very sharp and loud "ZIPP!" close to me. Out from a bush popped an Ovenbird, at the exact same place where Rafa found it a few weeks ago! Probably the same bird that has spent some time in Fojo during the last two weeks and that now has found its way back to its first home on Corvo, or...?


Ovenbird

Continued birding Cancelas and Cantinho below the road and also checked the middle parts of Cancelas before I started walking back in the very strong wind. Tried to bird da Ponte but it was to windy there, even in the very bottom of the valley! Also slipped as usual in da Ponte but this a bit harder than normal. Lost grip totally with both feet at the same time and slided down the slope for a bit before hitting a small tree with my groin - ouch! =/

Ended the day at the windmill with some seawatching that produced a Gannet and some Great Shearwaters. Tried to string a Manx for a while but it turned out to "just" be a Great.

Tomorrow we are getting a new hit from a pretty deep low pressure (see below). Hope it isn't to windy for birding just... the waves are supposed to be about 9 m high!


Mmmmmmmmmmmmm! :-)

After eating at the windmill yesterday (don't ask me why we went there!) we were back at the Bandits' today! Home sweet home! No chocolate pudding thugh :(


Birds
Gannet 1 1cy, Great Shearwater 7, Pale-bellied Brent 1, American Great White Egret 2, Grey Heron 1 1cy, Chimney Swift 1, Ovenbird 1

Friday, October 23, 2009

New Yank landbirds!

Check out the Eurovision Rare Bird Contest on Petes blogg: http://peteralfreybirdingnotebook.blogspot.com/2009/10/eurovision-rare-bird-contest.html Today Sweden got one new point (Yellow-rumped Warbler) and Finland its first point (Chimney Swift). Two days ago Italy got its first point (Savannah Sparrow) and yesterday Denmark its first point (Indigo Bunting).

Started in the Caldeira today with Fred, Rene, Jacob, Daniele and Hannu. On our way there we saw the newbie American Great White Egret on a field below Fojo in the morning. Found a new species for Corvo in the crater, but not a very exciting one; Garganey.



Garganey

Other ducks in the crater included a bunch of Mallars, the Pintail, a Black Duck hybrid, the two Ringnecks and their new homie a male Tufted Duck. About 20 Common Snipe kept us alert as did a Grey Heron. The American Great Egret (the oldie) was also still around as usual.


Tuftie and Ringnecks
When we got out of the crater we found out that a Chimney Swift had been found over Fojo and was now flying around Pico/da Ponte somewhere. Walked towards the place and scanned but got interrupted by the news that a Yellow-rumped Warbler had been found by the reservoir! Walked there as fast as we could but the bird had disappeared in the flock of Canarys that it was feeding together with. Many of us searched the area but the bird wasn't seen again :( Some people saw the Savannah Sparrow again though. I only managed to see the Dotterels and a Red-throated Pipit :( Anyway, a good sign that birds are still arriving! Hopefully the winds that are blowing will bring even more stuff! Would LOVE to see an American Swallow for example!
Kicked a few fields on my way back down to village and ended the day with an hour of seawatching which produced the regular ten or so Great Shearwaters and a bonus juvenile Gannet. Tomorrow me and Fred will search the island for the Great Blue Heron that everyone except us seems to see.

Birds
Gannet 1 1cy, Great Shearwater ~10, Grey Heron 2, American Great Egret 2, Mallard ~20, Black Duck x Mallard 1, Pintail 1, Garganey 1, Ring-necked Duck 2, Tufted Duck 1, Great Black-backed Gull 1, Lesser Black-backed Gull 1, Common Snipe 20, Dotterel 2, Red-throated Pipit 1

Thursday, October 22, 2009

New systems on their way

Pretty quiet day today. The westerlies keep blowing pretty strong over the island so hopefully more stuff is coming in. Saw the Pale-bellied Brent flying over the village this morning while waiting for Manuel to take us up. Birded my way up through Cancelas slowly and carefully during the first half of the day, but found absolutely nada. Went down again through Fojo and continued to Pico where I spent a few hours at the White-eyed Vireo place. Walked back through da Ponte where I bumped into the Black-and-white Warbler again. That bird has been there for ages now! I wonder what it's gonna do... winter there maybe!?

Weather is looking promising. Thanks to a low pressure moving out a few days ago we've been getting westerlies for the last three days. And more is on the way...



This is what the weather was today.



On Saturday a new system is coming in and it is coming from southwest!


The system is moving pretty quick as well, this is on Sunday.


Tomorrow we'll try to go to the Caldeira!


Birds
Brent Goose 1, Black-and-white Warbler 1

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Savannah Sparrow!

Started in the village today to look for the Grackle, but no sign of it. Also did some seawatching but found nothing but Cory's. Kicked some fields with Pierre and then went back to the guesthouse and had a break after seeing a Yellow-billed Cuckoo. In the village Eric heard something on the radio that sounded like someone had found a Sparrow, a probable Savannah Sparrow. We couldn't find out anything more about the bird so we decided to head up towards the valleys and try to radio the others. After a sweaty walk we managed to get through to Daniele who had seen a Savannah Sparrow, just like we suspected, up by the reservoir. Everyone went up there pretty soon but the conditions were horrible with very strong wind, fog and a little bit of rain just to mess up all optics. Thanks to this noone saw the bird :( We did hear and see a Red-throated pipit though, the fifht for the Azores.



A wet and cold group of birders sheltering behing a "Cat" for lunch.


Went down to the village to say bye to Simon, Eric, Pierre and the others before I went up to the mountain again to gie the Sparrow another try. When I got up there the fog disappeared and I got about an hour of clear weather which produced two Red-throated Pipits and the two Dotterels.


Red-throated Pipit


After a while I heard a car coming and out jumped about eight other birders who had decided to give the Sparrow another go. It didn't take long before David had relocated the bird, but then the fog started to come in again and only Hannu got to see the bird. NOT good! Anyway, after another 15 minutes or so of nervous waiting we all had gotten good views of the bird in the fog. Jadang!


Savannah Sparrow!


On the way back we bumped into Staffan Rodebrand and Rich Bonser who were looking for the Northern Parula at the power plant. The bird gave som absolutely excellent views at dusk. Definately the best looking bird out here so far this autumn!

Northern Parula again, what a bird!


Birds
Northern Parula 1, Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1, Whimbrel 2, Savannah Sparrow 1

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Norsern Parula

Went birding with Simon today since he's leaving tomorrow. Did Pico all morning but once again without finding the White-eyed Vireo. It has to be in there somewhere! We were supposed to meet at the bridge over da Ponte for lunch at 12 and so we did. But instead of lunch we got a message with German touch on our Walkie Talkies: "Norsern Parula at se Power Station"

Simon immediately tried to phone Pierre (but failed) and started to walk towards the place. Since I had seen one last year in Cantinho I walked back a few hundred meter and radioed out the news to the others in the northern valleys before I left. Soon we met Swedish birder Stefan Ettestam who had found the bird (new point to Sweden Pete!!!) and he explained where the bird was and even showed me some pictures of it. Moments later a car passed us and we got a lift all the way to the site - perfect! It didn't take us long before Martin relocated the bird. And what a bird! And what views! Birders continued to drop in and soon everyone had seen the bird - fantastic since we are almost 30 birders here now!


Swedish birders Per Forsberg and Jan-Michael Breider also managed to get a lift to the Parula.

Photo battle!
Northern Parula!
Fred, Ward and other happy people going back up to the valleys after a successful twitch.
Went back up to Ribeira da Ponte with Simon and kicked it all afternoon without seeing anything at all. But still it felt really exciting to bird today! New birds have apparently come in and all valleys are worth checking carefully again.
Many of the birds that have been seen the last days were seen today. A new bird was a Great Blue Heron that Daniele saw flying over the villege towards the Caldeira, so hopefully I'll have to make a visit there soon again. A very interesting fact is that two birders independently saw a bird that might have been a GRACKLE(!!!) around the village today! Tomorrow will be an interesting day for sure! To see all observations, visit http://www.birdingazores.com/

Birds
Northern Parula 1, Whimbrel 1

Monday, October 19, 2009

What!?

Did it rain today or did it rain today? Ask David who first spent two hours in a cave(!) in one of the ribeiras and then another two hours in the public toilet in Fojo sheltering for the rain. What a nightmare!

I started the day on Pico to look for the White-eyed Vireo. Got about 1½ hours of birding before the rain came, which produced biref views of an American Redstart. After sitting in the rain for almost three hours we all walked back, totally soaked, without any sign of the Vireo. During my lunch brake in the village Pete and Darryl found two Yellow-billed Cuckoos of which I got to see one. Stunning birds they are! Hope we get one with black bill soon for comparison. These two birds were new in thanks to a low pressure moving out from Newfoundland, bringing westerlies (and rain) yesterday and today. And that's not all that was found today...




Yellow-billed Cuckoo


Pete and Darryl left today, as did Dominic and his group. In came Team Scandinavia with two Swedes, four Danes and two Finns and also Daniele from Italy. Now the big photo battle is ON Vincent! Went up with all of them and Manuel and did another try for the White-eyed. After one or two hours Eric brought the news to us that Pierre had did it again, found a mega that is, this time a Yellow-throated Vireo. He's in the zone! As I was fortunate enough to see last years bird in Cancelas I stayed on Pico until dusk without seeing the White-eyed, while everyne else went to Cantinho and dipped the Yellow-throated. Hopefully we'll all have a bit more luck tomorrow!

Another lowpressure seems to be moving out around Wednesday in a somewhat more southerly orbit... what will come then?


Birds
American Great Egret 1, American Redstart 1, Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1, Whimbrel 1

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Flores!

Got news yesterday evening that there was a Killdeer and an Upland Sand on Flores, so 12 of us decided to twitch Flores today. Simon chartred a boat for us from 12 to 19 and we agreed to meet in harbour at 11:30. At about 11:20 news broke that the French machine Pierre had found a White-eyed Vireo on Pico. Third for Corvo and third for the Western P! After a few minutes of panic (at leat for me) everyone agreed on sticking to the plan and doing the Flores trip no matter what. So at 12 the twelve of us we left on our chartred boat.


Corvo

Parts of the crew!



In Santa Cruz we had two taxis waiting for us and immediately went up to Lagoa Rasa and the Killdeer. Small lake and easy to scan so we found the bird fast. What a stunning wader! Enjoyed it on ground and in flight for half an hour or so before we continued to Ponta Delgada and the Upland Sandpiper along the road out to Ponta do Albarnaz. The Upland Sand was soon giving excellent views in flight, but was a bit tricky to spot on the ground as it was really flighty and nervous.


Killdeer!



Killdeer again!



Upland Sand!


After enjoying the bird for an hour we walked back to Ponta Delgada and had lunch at a bar. Some of the guys walked over the old soccer field and bumped into a White-rumped and a Least Sandpiper. While we were having our very late lunch we got news about a Double-crested Cormorant in Lajedo on the other side of the island. Being short on time we never went for the bird as we would never have made it to the harbour in Santa Cruz to 18:00 :( Instead we had a look at the waders before our taxis came and took us to Santa Cruz.


Least Sand!


In Santa Cruz harbour, close to the boat, we had two Semi-p Plovers and another White-rump giving stunning views. Other stunning views there was Vincent Legrand showing how you do to get the best pictures of whatever might turn up.

White-rump

Semi-p Plover


Vincent Legrand in action



On the way back we got company by some dolphins aound the boat for a while. Stunning creatures and amazing to get to see them just a few m away! That was one of the absolute highlights during the day for me!


Dolphin with Flores in the background


Tomorrow we will try to relocate that Vireo on Pico. Wish us good luck!
Birds
Killdeer 1, Upland Sandpiper 1, Semipalmated Plover 2, Least Sandpiper 1, White-rumped Sandpiper 1, Grey Heron 1, Northern Wheatear 2

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Buff-bellied Pipits

I didn't see any B-b Pipits today, but Pierre found two on the mountain south of the Caldeira. One more pont for France!

Birded slowly in Fojo, Poso de Agua, do Vinte and over some fields during the day. Saw the Ovenbird in Fojo. Had a seawatch for an hour in the evening which produced about ten Great Shearwaters.


Remarkably fresh juvenile atlantis. These bastards vary a lot and most of them are already very worn and have moulted a lot.


Ovenbird in Fojo.


Will probably have a calm day / half a day off tomorrow and recharge for the next possible influx of birds when the lowpressure enters the Atlantic.

Birds
Ovenbird 1, Great Shearwater 10, Common Snipe 3

Friday, October 16, 2009

Marsh Hawk!?

Had a really nice day today! Started at the Lighthouse valley with Fred, Stewart, Vincent, Pierre and Pete. The thought was to do a quick hit and then get out and back to mobile reception as quick as possible. That plan didn't last very long. After a few minutes Pierre picked up a harrier over the mountain that turned out to be a Hen Harrier, but was it a European or an American? We ran up the mountain after the bird but only got distant views. Managed to get some bad record shots and what you can see looks pretty good for a juvenile Marsh Hawk (North American race of Hen Harrier); most important is the dark hood strongly contrasting to the plain body. Pete went crazy and continued running up the mountain after the Harrier while the rest of us kicked around the valley instead. Pierre found a Red-eyed Vireo, probably the same bird me and Simon saw a few days ago. After a while Vincent heard a contact call that reminded him of Common Yellowthroat and after some searching Fred found the bird in a hedge, a young male Common Yellowthroat! Those Yellowthroats are extremely skulky! I only saw the head, but that was pretty cool actually. Good looking birds the males!




Marsh Hawk?


When we had walked back for a while we got news that the Baltimore Oriole was seen again in the village. We were about 5 km away! So guess if we were glad when a car came by and me and Vincent got a ride down to the village! Half an hour later we had gotten good views of the Oriole and went back to the guesthouse to have a chill lunch and wait for the arriving birders; three Swedes, a Belgian and four Brits. Now we are 26 birders on the island!


Baltimore Oriole!


Went up and kicked around Pico and da Ponte in the afternoon which resulted in nice views of the Yellow Warbler. After that had a slow walk back with Vincent. When we got to Ribeira da Lapa a Blue-winged teal came flying out of the tiny valley! Maybe I should add that the biggest pool of water in there is about 5 m long and 1½ m wide. Anyway, the bird appeared to land again so we went in to have a look for it and then Vincent picked up a Red-eyed Vireo instead! Excellent finish to the day!


American Yellow Warbler


Red-eyed Vireo
Follow the Eurovision Rare Bird Contest on http://peteralfreybirdingnotebook.blogspot.com/ and also check out Darryls amazing Yellowthroat and other stuff on http://gwentbirding.blogspot.com/.
Birds
Blue-winged Teal 1, Common Yellow-throat 1, American Yellow Warbler 1, Red-eyed Vireo 1, Baltimore Oriole 1, American Great Egret 1, Grey Heron 1, Hen Harrier 1 (ssp?)
Other birds seen today included: Ovenbird 2, Common Yellowthroat 2 (together in the village), Black-and-white Warbler 1, American Redstart 1, Turtle Dove 1, Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1, Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1 and Indigo Bunting 1.