Somehow that warm summer day in the hammock soon became a fall day in Ocean City Maryland with my fellow birder San.  We saw many birds on the beach, it was very peaceful.  We spent the early morning hours searching for shells up and down the beach.  Always looking for that intact Conch shell which proved to be very elusive just like when San and I were looking for a Cedar Waxwing at Hoyt Farm.

Ocean City Maryland

Somehow that warm summer day in the hammock soon became a fall day in Ocean City Maryland with my fellow birder San.  We saw many birds on the beach, it was very peaceful.  We spent the early morning hours searching for shells up and down the beach.  Always looking for that intact Conch shell which proved to be very elusive just like when San and I were looking for a Cedar Waxwing at Hoyt Farm.

Sometimes life gets in the way!

Our dreams and desires can get sidetracked by life itself.  This blog is a case in point.  Our love of birding has gotten shelved due to the unexpected angste of everyday life.  The love of birding is still there, we just have not been able to rise to the birding occasion.  Time will, no doubt, afford us opportunities in the future to get back on track.  In the meantime, Ar and I were able to do a little birding, unofficially, in Ocean City, Maryland.  Here is a few of our birding shots.

Royal Tern

Franklin's Gull

Turkey Vulture

There was a pair of pelicans that did a fly-by everyday.

Brown Pelicans

Also on the beach the Sanderlings were abundant.  They were so busy looking for food that, on occasion, they had to take a little snooze right on the beach!

Sanderling

We thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Ocean City.  Who knows, with global warming, perhaps these birds will come to reside on Long Island year-round!

Good Eyes!!!

The photo below is thanks to Angel, Dali, and Ariana in the field last Friday.  While searching for sheep in the ministry, they came across this baby Cedar Waxwing!  While Cedar Waxwings are here year round, I have only ever seen two.  Ar and I have been trying to spot one together so we could add it to our list.  It hasn't been easy.  So when Angel sent me this picture, I just had to put it on the blog. 

Thanks for being so observant!

Birding and Bonding and Beaching!

Haven't done much birding of late, but we were able to do some "gull spotting" as we chilled on the beach yesterday.  It was the last day of our three day heat wave and the ocean breeze felt good.

Saw the always present Herring Gull.  This photo is of a slightly immature one.  They are here all year long.

Immature Herring Gull

Surprisingly, the Ring-Billed Gull was ever present.  Surprising because according to the good, old Peterson's Field Guide, they only winter on Long Island.  Perhaps their range is changing.  If we find they are here year round, we will add them to our list.

Ring -Billed Gull

Another year round gull that is already on our list is the Great Black-Backed Gull.  Here he is below.

Great Black-Backed Gull

The fourth gull we saw is a summer resident on Long Island.  It's year round range is further south and in the Gulf of Mexico.  It is the Laughing Gull.  We saw adults and juveniles.  Below are some pictures.

Adult Laughing Gull

Adult and two juveniles

So while we mainly went to the beach to bond, we were able to get some birding in as well!  Until next time....

They Blend!

Here is another installment from "out the bathroom window." 

I never would have seen these youngster Mockingbirds if I hadn't seen the mom fly into the tree and begin feeding them.  They blended very well with the color of the Magnolia Tree.

They stayed in the same spot all day, crying for food.

The next day they were gone.  I'm sure they were somewhere.  Just not where I could view them from "the bathroom window!"

New Family at the Hall

Here are photos of our latest arrivals at the Kingdom Hall.  The new Robin family.  Here is mom with two babies.  There could be more.