Birding weekly 20140824

Image 120140824, Saw this little guy at a
nature reserve near Appelton

Well it has been a long time coming for a birding weekly. I have been "exploring" the birdlife in North America and finding the new birds a joy to interact with. It is summer here in the Northern Hemisphere and close to moving into winter. Many of the birds are migratory and I have come to realize why migration is a simplex event here and complex in Africa. Despite the migration I have come at a time when all the migrants have settled in their summer grounds and are around for a bustle of breeding and fattening up for either the winter or their migration back south.

Being a South African birder one doesn't hear much about the American context of birding and yet there is a different world of birds here. Firstly the hummingbirds are a unique bird to the America's while the new world sparrows look like the old world sparrow but have a different twitch in their tail and great variety to watch. The striking colours of the summer breeding birds blend in well with the spring and summer flowers and that maybe the reasons birds get over looked a little. Overall its been a joy to bird watch in North America. Having heard very little about North American birds from the birding fraternity in South Africa and Touring Americans, its been a good experience.

I could go into more depth of the various birds I have seen, and maybe I should promote birding to the American audience slightly more as they seem to not realize what is present on their doorstep and how they could be more actively involved in birding... some however are with bird feeders and garden list gallore they seldom venture out specifically to go and bird watch thus I am still to meet ones to the likes of the big year crowds... perhaps I am in the wrong circles.

Here are a few photos to merely enjoy the birds as I have been over the last few weeks while neglecting the birding weekly's. I will number them so to keep you guessing as to what they may be and reply with their names in the next birding weekly.

Image 220140824, this guy would visit the feeder once in a while outside Appelton.

Image 320140824, While paddling the boundary waters in Minnesota I came across this wonderful bird, I haven't seen it again.

Image 420140824, This is a common bird in the USA, most people if they here you enjoy birding will tell you they have these in their backyard.

Image 520140824, found this gull while exploring door county with Lake Michigan to my East and Green bay to my West.

Image 620140824, This was one of the best birding experiences I have had thus far. One can paddle around them in the  boundary and their call echoes across the lakes early evening and morning.