White-eyed Vireo copyright Alastair Rae

Great Local Birding

Nice to be out early in the day and see what the rest to the creatures are doing! Was up at 530AM and spent most of the day with like-minded adventurers, rewarded with many great looks at old avian friends including Hooded Warbler, White-eyed Vireo, 8+ Worm-eating Warblers, and many others. I cannot remember a day where I/we ever found so many nests! Birds in nests or building nests included Baltimore Oriole, Scarlet Tanager, American Redstart, and Prairie Warbler. So fun!

Inspired by
Jane Goodall

I was invited by a good friend to join in a special VIP event to meet Dr. Jane Goodall up at the Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence, RI on Saturday. Wow! How could one not be seriously in awe of Jane Goodall? She really is in a league with people like Roger Tory Peterson, Steven J. Gould, and Steven Hawking. Being in her presence was all a bit surreal. She spoke for a little over a half hour about her Roots and Shoots program, a great way to get young people involved in conservation, and then made herself available to sign books. As VIPs we were right at the front of the line and I mustered the nerve to have a brief conversation with her. I said, "I was once watching a group of crows chase a Great Horned Owl. They all landed in a spruce tree and the crows began breaking off sprigs of the spruce and dropping them on the owl." Jane responded, "Aren't they so smart!" I then pointed out, "They are not only tool makers but also bomb makers." She said, "That really is something." And as I walked away she commented, "They were missile makers." "Yes," I said. "Missile makers." Jane Goodall is by far at the top of my list of celebrities with which I have interacted (which includes Roger Tory Peterson, E.O. Wilson, Phil Donahue, Marlo Thomas, Katherine Hepburn, Dr. Andrew Weil, and Ann Coulter). I am still living in the glow!

(photo copyright Matt MacGillivray)

Getting Out
I actually got out of the office last evening and took a group in search of calling and displaying American Woodcock. The day didn't look so good with significant winds and intermittent showers even up to the the time we arrived on site. Earlier, I was thinking of hedging my bets and rescheduling for an evening later in the week, but I thought that if I did, I would later regret it on a number of fronts. Well, as it turned out, the winds subsided to nothing, the rain ended, and a nice sunset spread across the woodlands and fields. After some great views of very crisply plumaged White-throated Sparrows and a vocalizing, territorial Brown Thrasher, the woodcock gave us an outstanding show of calls, spirals, and dive bombs; the best show by this species I have ever seen! Glad I didn't cancel! If you want ot go out, I am happy to give you a private tour.

Now, I am back in the office working on a few new itineraries including one to Myanmar, the former Burma. Nestled between China, India, Laos, Bangladesh, and Thailand, Myanmar really is an often overlooked birding destination. It shouldn't be, because it touts over a thousand bird species, many rare species, and four endemics. This is a very cool place with lots of birds, history, great sight seeing, and culture. Let me know if I can send you the itinerary. Our local guide is Dr. Htin Hla, considered Myanmar's foremost ornithologist with outstanding rediscoveries of numerous bird species not seen in years (90+ years in one case). The escort from Connecticut Audubon will be Frank Gallo, a superb birder and the Director at the CAS Coastal Center.

Spring Birding

It is almost here! In the next couple of weeks the flood gates will be opened and we can expect the colorful birds of spring to arrive in, let's hope, good numbers. Be sure to join me out in the field. If you have never been on our Lyme Loop tour, this is the one not to miss. We have many repeat participants each year, as this is one of the best spring birding spots in the state, host to the State's largest concentration of Worm-eating Warbler and outstanding numbers of Hooded and Cerulean Warbler.

Take a look at our Day Trip listings to see all the great birding destinations for this migration. I will try to post what we are seeing after each event for which I am the leader.

Link to Day Trips!

Return From Cuba

I just returned from my third trip to Cuba as part of the ongoing migratory bird survey that has been going on there now for nearly 15 years. This very important survey helps to monitor the many songbird, wading bird, and raptor populations that use Cuba as a flyway or wintering site. As a bonus to the the many hours in the field counting North American birds are the sightings of 22 out of 23 endemic species. The only one we missed was the Zapata Rail which would have taken some incredible luck seeing as one of the Cuban authors of the Birds of Cuba has never seen one himself. If you would like to help us with next years survey, please be in touch.

(Photos: Bee Hummingbird, Zapata Sparrow, and Cuban Tody)

Long Island Birding and Sightseeing
I recently had the chance to jump across to Long Island's North Fork for some birding. The weather was so nice one day a few weeks ago, my small birding group decided to skip going to Napatree Point and make a ferry run over to Orient. The doors of the ferry opened and a fine Glaucous Gull greeted us instantly, perched like a sentry on the rooftop of the nearest building. The number of Long-tailed Ducks was impressive for near shore viewing with 400+ along with ample numbers of the three scoter species. We ended the day with a lovely sunset cruise back across the sound and a scrumptious dinner at Paul's Pasta in Groton. If you have not been, join us for our next Rhode Island or Southeast Connecticut trip as we often end up at Paul's.

Eagle Season

We are now in the midst of another eagle season and have had some good quality encounters. RiverQuest, the boat we work with, is now departing from Haddam at Eagle Landing State Park, just across from the Goodspeed Opera House. This is a great location in allowing us greater access to more northern stretches of the river. The eagles are always giving us something different each trip so you never know what you might see. I am still hoping for that Stellar's Seaeagle someday!

Return from Arkansas
Got back recently from our trip and I know you all cannot wait to know if we saw the bird! Well, I would not be stupid enough to tell you if I did, unless I had a great photo. Let's leave it at that.

We did have many special moments including a lunch with our mystery guest, David Luneau, the person who took the video upon which Cornell based its argument supporting the existence of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker in Arkansas. David is a very kind, intelligent, and interesting person and we all enjoyed our time with him over a meal of pulled-pork and catfish. We hope our paths will cross again.

The trip as always produced some great birds including multiple Henslow's Sparrow, Smith's Longspur, and thousands of ducks, Snow Geese and Ross's Geese. The evening sunsets with clouds of geese settling in for the night on the fields is always ethereal. Not to be missed!

The highlight for many on the trip was our encounter with an armadillo. I hope you enjoy this sequence of Heidi O. with the delightful critter.

Holiday Birding

Was lucky enough to spend the Christmas Bird Count with some friends where the highlight of the day was without doubt the Long-eared Owl we found being mobbed by chickadees, titmouses, and a mockingbird.

Holidays and Upcoming Travel

I guess the idea of writing a blog is to do it a bit more frequently than I have. Perhaps, more than once a month is a better idea.

We have been working hard at EcoTravel trying to fill our big trips between now and the end of the fiscal year, April 30. Cuba, Texas, and Galapagos are our big three so if you would like to join us or know of someone who might be interested, please, pass the word. Our website is http://www.ecotravel.ctaudubon.org/. If you email me, I can send out the detailed itineraries.

I have finally got all the details done on the Janaury Arkansas adventure including the menu from the gourmet chef who is joining the trip, ordered the lobsters that are being flown in from Rhode Island, the cheese selection from around the globe, and a scheduled guest appearance with a mystery guest from The Grail Bird book. Sorry, I cannot tell you who it is until I get back. It is a surprise for my travelers! Wish us luck!

I want to wish everyone a great holiday season!

Working in the Office
It's been four weeks back in the office since returning from Brazil and I am absolutely itching to get out and travel again; too many hours in front of the computer. I finished putting together my presentation on my "Amazing Year of Travel" and now hope to be taking that to the road and helping Connecticut Audubon promote its programs. If you know of any group that would like a speaker, please be in touch with me or pass my contact info on.

Also, I've been working on the final touches for our annual January trip to Arkansas and the land of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker. Don't bother asking if I have seen one! I couldn't tell you if I had, as that would be the ticket to ending any sort of credibility I might have as a bird guide. There are far too many non-believers out there to risk one's reputation (no matter how meager it may be). If I get a photograph of one...then that is a different story and I will see you on the lecture circuit! This year, our group will be visiting with Gene Sparling, the kayaker who had the 2004 Ivorybill sighting that stirred the whole mystery up into a swirling wave. I've met him in the past, talked with him at length about his sighting, and enjoyed his kind spirit. I look forward to seeing him again. This past June, I met Tim Gallager, author of The Grail Bird, at his Cornell office. I am certain that his own Ivorybill sighting has changed his life to a point where it will never be quite the same. I have now talked with eight different people who have seen the Ivorybill. Seeing it... is it a curse or great luck? Not sure.

Working on a Presentation
I've spent most of the day getting a start on a PowerPoint presentation featuring images of my last 12 months of travel. I will keep you posted as to any engagements that I have coming up so you can come out and see where I have been and where I want to take you!

Selden Island "Daytrippers" Video on Fox61
A couple of weeks back, I did a video piece with Sarah Cody from Fox61 about Selden Island, the largest island in Connecticut waters and the largest island in the 410 miles of the Connecticut River. Hope you enjoy the video and can join me on the island sometime soon.

Look along the right column under "My TV News Clips" and click on "Selden Island."

An Amazing Year of EcoTravel
One year ago today, I started an amazing year of travel through the Americas. Most of those experiences are posted here in some detail and I am sure it will be a while before I can match the great experiences and the wonderful people I met. I have been lucky to start some new friendships and to build on some I had already. I truly am very lucky.

Last November, we were off to Churchill, Manitoba to see the annual migration of the largest land carnivore, the Polar Bear; an animal that is so recognizable, uniquely powerful and majestic.

In January, a small group of adventurers once again headed to the swamps of central Arkansas to enjoy the vast cypress/tupelo habitat and the land of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker. We were pleased to meet Gene Sparling, whose sighting in 2004 started the recent hunt for the "Grail Bird."

March gave me the opportunity to once again work on the bird study program based in Cuba, home to the world's smallest bird, the Bee Hummingbird. This program blends culture, nature, and political histories as no other tour can. I was also able to stop on my way and visit Tulum and Chichen Itza on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula; truly an emotional experience of human suffering.

In April, I made my first tour of the Galapagos Islands and reveled in the so familiar Flightless Cormorant, Giant Tortoise, and Darwin's Finches. It was the anniversary of Darwin's 200th birthday; a special place (put this on your "Bucket List").

June presented a unique experience with travel by private aircraft across the northern tier of the United States visiting many states and great sites like Mount Rushmore, potholes and prairies, Kirtland's Warbler, and more. I tell you...a private plane...is the way to go!

Early October brought me back to Block Island, Rhode Island for perhaps my 16th or 17th year of enjoying the fall migration on this lovely offshore migrant trap. The images of the giant yellow heads of Seaside Goldenrod are forever in my mind.

And to top it off...I found Paradise in the the Pantanal of Brazil, without a doubt my favorite place to enjoy the works of Mother Nature with outstanding mammals, birds, and scenery. The sunsets overlooking the Pantanal from the clifftops of Chapata were equalled only by the fine company and hour-long visit with a lounging Jaguar.

What a year, and thank you to all the travelers for making it possible. We will all have such great memories for years to come.

Someday I will have to get a real job!

AG

Still Living Brazil

Since returning from the Pantanal, I have been pouring through the 1,700 or so images I brought home, rechecking the bird and animal tally sheet, posting to Connecticut Audubon's website and my own blog, and having a hard time shaking daydreaming about Brazil. The scenery is outstanding, sunsets some of the best, and the food inspiring, making the whole adventure unavoidably captivating. When on our way home, three of us were talking about our favorite four course meal and where we would like to eat it. We all agreed that the Pantanal was the place. It was a wonderful escape and experience and one that I hope to recreate not only for myself in the future, but for our travelers too.

Still in the Afterglow
It has been a week since my return and the afterglow and enthusiasm for this destination has not wained. What an outstanding collection of Mother Nature's flora and fauna, with incredible mammals, reptiles, scenery, and birds buried in an unforgettable landscape of ponds, backwaters, and rivers.

We really hit the cream of South America's "Big Five" with good luck at a Harpy Eagle nest site. This birds feet and talons are impressively massive, significantly dwarfing our Bald Eagle, Golden Eagle, and Black Bear. You have got to see it to believe it! A monkey eater, this powerful predator of the sky is not to me missed when seeking out the planet's most notable creatures. All should have the chance to enjoy a visit with this spine tingling avian wonder.

Back From Brazil
Wow! What a great trip! Minus the nine hour flight it was spectacular. This was my second time in the Pantanal; my first, the same time of year, five years ago. We really lucked out on some great target birds and animals coming home with about 250 bird species for the eight days in the country, two cats, Tapir, Crab-eating Fox, and more.

We arrived in the remote city of Cuiaba around noon on the first day and headed southwest into the Pantanal proper, stopping for our first looks at the many wading bird species one can expect to see almost every day of the trip. Being the "World's Largest Freshwater Wetland" you can expect to see some good volume. We timed our trip so that we are at the end of the dry season when the many animals are condensed into the dwindling small ponds.

We traveled to the small outpost of Porto Jofre, located at the end of the Transpantanal Highway, a 100 kilometer dirt road with over 130 wood bridges. Without a doubt, the highlight of the trip was our day along the Cuaiba River and the sighting of a Jaguar, not just any Jaguar, but likely the largest cat in the area. This was a big male that had been seen along the river for about six years and was now lounging for us to see. Our small boat drifted to about 25 feet as we set an anchor to hold us in position in the strong current. All travelers were a bit nervous as the large cat seemed to be evaluating our distance and perhaps his opportunity to make a jump for the juicy tourist.

We spent an hour with the impressive cat and took many photos. All were pleased!

June 26 - Heading Home

Early departure for Necedah NWR and a rapid tour of the facility. We surely could have spent more time here but in the short time we were able to revel in some fine looks at some special birds that included Whooping Cranes, Vesper Sparrow, and Golden-winged Warbler.

A call came from the pilots encouraging us to arrive early to get us in the window of weather that would allow us to get home that day. We gave our fond farewells to Roberta with great thanks for all that she did for our trip, promising to return before too long.

Off we were again in our "air yacht" with a stop, sidewinding through the clouds, in Ithaca, NY for fuel. We were a bit sceptical as to if we would make it all the way home but after a two hour stay, John and Doug identified a window between two lines of thunder storms that would let us home.

We cracked a couple of bottles of champagne, took some pictures of the group with the plane, and off we slipped between the storms and all the way home; many hugs and promises to keep in touch after we landed.

It truly was a trip of a lifetime! It would be hard to reproduce this experience unless we were able to get everyone back to try another adventure to equally as unique destinations. I hope we can!