Morning bees (and warblers)

I promise there will not be daily updates, but today was too interesting to let go. I was able to get out earlier today than in past outings, which allowed for some new findings. The first was not bird related. Bumble bees (Bumbus sp.) were incredibly abundant on a species of large pink flowers. And they were still asleep. This isn't ground breaking science, but was very cool to see. There must have been upwards of 50 individuals (of at least two species). They all seemed to be frozen upside-down underneath the flowers, and didn't respond to my bushwhacking--all except one that decided to sting my hand. The bees would have been enough to make the morning worthwhile, but the avian surprises were far better. Its hard to believe that fall migration is underway on August 2nd, but the bird list indicates it is.
Mourning Warbler-My 25th warbler species for the yard!
Tennessee Warbler-My first for 2011. Very early, but has been reported in Massachusetts. Likely an adult, although very ratty, maybe molting.
Canada Warbler- A great surprise. The earliest record at the house by more than two weeks. An adult female seen in the feeder tree.

You never know what you are going to find if you don't look!

Day 1

August 1st. This date means nothing to any bird, but it has a little more importance to me. Since its conception, I have gotten more and more attached to this August big month. Now that August is here, each bird has a little more meaning for me. August is traditionally the first month with much southbound landbird movement, so I began the day with a walk around "my" old beaver pond. Nothing I saw was definitely a migrant, but post-breeding wandering was clearly evident. The list on the right gives some highlights as well as the current species total.
Some individual sightings worth mentioning-
Indigo Bunting-singing for the second week in a row, not seen most years during the summer. This may be a breeder that I missed as a result of extended travel during June and early July. If so it would be the first time I have found this species breeding in the neighborhood.
Black-billed Cuckoo-one bird singing as a I write. This species is well known to be a irruptive species, and this year is clearly an invasion year. During one of the last invasions, we found a nest (during the breeding bird atlas) near our neighbors pond. Since then I have never heard one well enough to be positive they are around.

Peru 2011

Peru 2011, a set on Flickr.

August Challenge

Migration is just around the corner. Shorebird numbers are steadily rising on the coast, and local passerines are leaving their breeding territories. In the next month warblers and other boreal nesters will be heading south through our area. Our yard is rapidly gaining a reputation for a great migrant trap. On some fall days it has more warblers than any other spot in Vermont. We could have double-digit warbler days by the second week in August. Last year I spent many mornings roaming the woods and clearings in search of  warblers, vireos, flycatchers and anything else. In the month of August I ebirded 15 checklists containing 58 species. This year I want to do better. The goal is a total of 100 (checklists+species). Given that I am gone for parts of the month, I can't hope for more than 70 some odd species, but 30 checklist is doable.
It will make relativity common birds more exciting and meaningful. Things like Tree Swallow will become a great surprise (if I get it at all), and it will force me to check places that I don't always bird. Looking forward to some great surprises!

The Beginning

Late last night I decided I need a blog. There doesn't seem to be a logical reason for this. I generally dislike blogs, I am a mediocre writer (at best), and I don't have all that much free time. I do do a lot of birding, and for now that's what I am going to write about. I will try to provide updates on the Windsor County part of the 2011 Vermont County Quest (http://www.vtecostudies.org/quest/) as well as other interesting things that come in to my head.
I am justifying the time commitment as a way to play with ideas for a possible college essay.

As for the name, it's a reference to a group of South American flycatchers. During my first trip to a true rainforest (south-east Peru), I found and identified a flycatcher who's name has stayed with me ever since. It was not an unusual sighting nor a colorful bird, but the name "Olivaceous Flatbill" still rings in my head from time to time. Not only is it the quintessential neotropical bird name, but it is a very descriptive name for this large-billed bird. All in all its the perfect name for a kid with a particular affinity for South American birding.