Global Big Day

yeah that was this past Saturday-- alot of people getting out documenting the birds in their area, or multiple areas...

Me, I woke up at 4. Not so unusual, but a bit early for Saturday. All good with the timing, though-- allowing me to have some coffee, do a little tai chi, pack up a breakfast and lunch, and hit the road before the sun was up.

First destination was Barr Lake State Park-- a bit of a drive-- across town then northeast up 76, as if I were driving off to Wisconsin. But then there the lake is, right off the highway. As I pulled off and onto the 2lane road towards the park, an eagle-- bald or golden, not sure-- slowly flapped by to the north. Good sign.

At the entrance the sun still wasn't up proper, but just about. I paid my fee to the loud racket of a killdeer in the middle of turnaround circle there-- fussing about something-- me, I guess. Drove on down and parked before the nature center, got my stuff together then walked in that direction. Arriving there at the center there were some huge trees-- not even sure what variety-- in a grassy park area-- kind of like a rest stop or something. And bang! Bullock's orioles, right there! Hadn't seen any of them yet-- bright orange in a tree of yellow-green as the sun finally broke ground. The familiar call they make-- nice to hear again.

And also-- the Western Kingbird-- a pair. Had been waiting for those, for sure. Wasn't aware the Orioles were gonna be there, but I'd been on the lookout for the Kingbird for weeks.

Turns out the Orioles had arrived just that night-- I saw six or seven of them during my three hours of walking the perimeter of the lake. First clockwise, then I back-tracked when I got too close to the highway noise.

Ended up with 33 species for that segment of the morning, including Osprey, house wrens (plenty of them, for sure), the Downy Woodpecker, American Coots, blackbirds-- alot of the usuals. The orange and yellows I saw right at daybreak turned out to be some of the big catch for the day, though the others, and the walk, and the new place, and the people I bumped into-- all were appreciated as well.