Starting Early

May 21, 20232 min read

Late last Sunday I got the word that a Wilson's Phalarope spotted early was relocated and I took off for Succotash Marsh AFTER I had posted the blog for the week. So here is the Wilson's Phalarope from last Sunday - lousy lighting, but don't fret, I got a better shot later in the week.

Kind of a quiet day on Monday -- just a few old friends.

American Robin

Great Crested Flycatcher (without a crest)

Cedar Waxwing

Osprey hanging on a rock

Had a quiet walk in Miantonomi but the day redeemed itself with a great photo shoot with the Wilson's Phalarope at Succotash

Red-eyed Vireo

Clapper Rail

Great Egret

It is not possible to truly capture the spirit of this bird with a still camera -- it just frolics around turning and twisting and expressing joy. I tried ---

Wilson's Phalarope

Wednesday was a mostly bird by ear day - Black-billed Cuckoo & Canada Warbler -- but I did get a shot of my bird of the week -- Baltimore Oriole at Swan Point.

Thursday started off at Quonnie - quiet, then off to Ninigret NWR which is basically a very productive parking lot. Finally got a short of a Magnolia Warbler and spotted a few other elusive species.

Northern Mockingbird, Quonnie

Semipalmated Plover, Quonnie

Ruddy Turnstone contemplating the sea at Quonnie

Now off the Ninigret

Female Brown Headed Cowbird

Red-Eyed Vireo

Magnolia Warbler

A Doctor's appointment took me to Newport on Friday after a quick stop in Narragansett. Had a nice session with a bunch of Common Terns at a roost. It was a mixed bag -- but a fun one!

Blue-winged Warbler

Female American Redstart

Female Mallard

Common Yellowthroat

Osprey on a wire -- first time for me...

Double-crested Cormorant

Common Tern

Canada Goose on a ledge

Barn Swallow

Because it was supposed to rain all of Saturday, I went to Trustom Pond NWR on Friday evening to try to get the Least Bittern -- success. Plus I got these great shots of a Bobolink on a sign.

Heard a new bird - Acadian Flycatcher in a little different place than normal to start off the day, then had several birds cooperate. The kicker of the day was I heard the bird I hiked for last night -- while I was sitting in my car at Mud Pond -- Least Bittern gets the last laugh.

Female Baltimore Oriole

Common Yellowthroat

Eastern Phoebe

Got my first shot of a Rose Breasted Grosbeak this morning, then sat a Quonnie to start my Residency. Should have started a month ago, but it has been cold and the water has been high, so I didn't sit, I just visited. Today was good -- and will continue to sit at least a few times a week. After Quonnie a nice surprise at the Westerly Town Beach Kayak Ramp -- lots of cooperative peeps!

Rose Breasted Grosbeak