Home Sweet
July 16th, 2008
My parents have vacationed in the Outer Banks since I was five years old, and I usually go with them--typically a week in Virginia and a second week in Nags Head or Cape Hatteras. Ever since I became a birder (May of last year), I've delighted in the birds of the south. Any season of the year, there's so much to see.
I just got back from this summer's trip. My total species list numbers 70, with 13 lifers! One of the place I visited several times was Pea Island Wildlife Refuge, but it wasn't responsible for all or even most of the lifers. One of them (Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher) was even in my parents' backyard! This is the joy of travelling for a birder: species that are common to the locals are exotic to you.
Species list (lifers in bold):
I'll post some scenery photos from the trip in a few days.
July 16th, 2008
My parents have vacationed in the Outer Banks since I was five years old, and I usually go with them--typically a week in Virginia and a second week in Nags Head or Cape Hatteras. Ever since I became a birder (May of last year), I've delighted in the birds of the south. Any season of the year, there's so much to see.
I just got back from this summer's trip. My total species list numbers 70, with 13 lifers! One of the place I visited several times was Pea Island Wildlife Refuge, but it wasn't responsible for all or even most of the lifers. One of them (Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher) was even in my parents' backyard! This is the joy of travelling for a birder: species that are common to the locals are exotic to you.
Species list (lifers in bold):
|
Acadian Flycatcher American Black Duck American Crow American Goldfinch American Robin Barn Swallow Black-Necked Stilt Black-and-White Warbler Blue Grosbeak Blue Jay Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher Boat-Tailed Grackle Brown Pelican Brown Thrasher Brown-Headed Cowbird Canada Goose Carolina Chickadee Carolina Wren Cattle Egret Chimney Swift Chipping Sparrow Cliff Swallow Common Grackle |
Double-Crested Cormorant Eastern Bluebird Eastern Kingbird Eastern Towhee European Starling Fish Crow Gray Catbird Great Black-Backed Gull Great Blue Heron Great Egret Great Crested Flycatcher Greater Yellowlegs Green Heron Hairy Woodpecker Herring Gull House Finch House Sparrow Killdeer Laughing Gull Lesser Yellowlegs Little Blue Heron Mallard Mourning Dove |
Northern Cardinal Northern Flicker Northern Mockingbird Osprey Pileated Woodpecker Purple Martin Red-Bellied Woodpecker Red-Headed Woodpecker Red-Eyed Vireo Red-Winged Blackbird Rock Pigeon Royal Tern Ruby-Throated Hummingbird Short-Billed Dowitcher Snowy Egret Song Sparrow Tricolored Heron Tufted Titmouse Turkey Vulture White Ibis White-Eyed Vireo Wild Turkey Willet Wood Duck |
I'll post some scenery photos from the trip in a few days.
| ← | → |