Catharus fuscescens
May 29, 1993: South Bend-Elkhart Audubon Sanctuary, IN
Heard this bird’s haunting, marvelous song for the first time.
Continue reading “Veery”Veery
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Pheucticus ludovicianus
May 23, 1993: Pleasant Valley, Osceola, IN
Spotted one early in the morning, after spending the night on the couch so the birdsong would wake me in the morning. My first reaction was that this bird was wounded and bleeding. It was a pleasant surprise to look in my Peterson’s and discover that he is supposed to look this way. Gorgeous! I always enjoy seeing this beautiful bird, although it took me a while to learn to recognize the female as a grosbeak, instead of searching the book for really large sparrows!
Continue reading “Rose-breasted Grosbeak”Gadwall
Mareca strepera strepera
May 15, 1993: Fernwood Botanical Gardens, Berrien, MI
Our first birds of the day were these gadwall, who were swimming in a small lake by the roadside near Fernwood.
Continue reading “Gadwall”Common/Ring-necked Pheasant
Phasianus colchicus
May 15, 1993: Fernwood Botanical Gardens, Berrien County, MI
One of the last birds of the day. Viewed along the road at Fernwood. The male is a striking bird!
Continue reading “Common/Ring-necked Pheasant”Purple Martin
Progne subis
May 8, 1993: South Bend, St. Joseph County, IN
(Progne subis subis) Saw one briefly over the pond at St. Patrick’s Park.
Continue reading “Purple Martin”Chimney Swift
Chaetura pelagica
April 16, 1993: Goshen, Elkhart County, IN
I saw several of these flying over a barn while walking through a farm neighborhood in Goshen. Very cute. I’ve since seen them all over the place, especially in the middle of cities, where I don’t expect much in the way of bird life!
Continue reading “Chimney Swift”Species Accounts through 1992
Incidental Sightings
Birds
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
- ☆December 19, 1992: Niles, Berrien County, MI☆. We spotted a flock of about a dozen mallards swimming on the St. Joseph River. Our most commonly seen duck, at least in developed areas, yes, I’ve seen these guys before, but this will count as my first documented sighting.
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
December 19, 1992: Niles, Berrien County, MI
(Branta canadensis maxima) Although I’ve seen these geese before, this is my first documented sighting. I’ve actually seen LOTS of them – singly, in pairs, families with juveniles, and in flocks of several hundred – in flight, on the ground, and in the water. Very common. But pretty!
Continue reading “Canada Goose”American Black Duck
Anas rubripes
December 19, 1992: Niles, Berrien County, MI
This bird was spotted in the company of the dozen or so mallards we spotted swimming in the St. Joseph River during a Christmas Bird County. If not for the expert skills of Rob Venner, I’d have never noticed the difference.
Continue reading “American Black Duck”Nine-banded Armadillo
Dasypus novemcinctus
December 23, 1986: Kennedy Space Center, Brevard County, FL
This little critter was seen at Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge. I have only a dim memory of it (and I didn’t remember it happening on this trip), but my aunt recently reminded me that she and I saw an Armadillo together when I’d visited her in Florida all these years ago. OH YEAH!
Continue reading “Nine-banded Armadillo”