I have about 25 people who attend some of the sessions. I get from 10 - 15 each time. I also have some very avid birders and some who are highly skilled.
Most of the sites we visit are in the city. They tend to be parks with some good native habitat. We spend about 2 hours at each site.
Last spring we were getting very good and would find 20 - 30 species in the two hours.
Yesterday was the start of our fall bird watching schedule. We went to an area we had never visited. This summer someone told me of a new bike trail. The trail is made up of an old road allowance and part of it has been destroyed. Some artificial wetlands have been created. Houses are built up to the old road and the other side of the road is country. I thought this would be a good place for one of our birding outings. When I was riding birds kept flying up out of the grass. Most nights I would see a merlin. There were geese and riding through goose poop wasn't a lot of fun.
So did we have a good time yesterday morning ? You bet we did. The area is junky as it's being developed . Along with the trees and grass there's a good supply of weeds.
We were happy to find 15 species of birds. It was dull and hard to see. Many of the species were sparrows and they are hard to see in the best of light.
I've been complaining all summer about my glasses being filmy. I say it's better without my glasses. The Micro manager says I have to wash my glasses. Yesterday it was hard to get a good look at the birds. I wasn't seeing much color. Things were dull. Somebody said get new binoculars with better light.
I've thought things over. It sounds like my cataracts have changed this summer. I will have to get in and get things checked.
My apologies for no photos. I don't like carrying both the camera and binoculars.
You must have changed your mind about photos, since there are quite a few! I think you will be pleased if you get cataract surgery. I know it's been great for me. :-)
ReplyDeleteI changed my mind and didn't know about it. these are photos from other bird watching outings. They seem to be reluctant to do the surgery and make people wait as long as possible.
DeleteI bet you were all glad the season has started up again. You have probably mentioned it before, but why do you not all meet during the summer months for bird watching? Wasn't your group working on cataloging the total number of different species you saw on these sessions?
ReplyDeleteI guess it's the teacher in me that takes off the summer. I do think that people become busy with other activities in the summer. We do record the birds from our sightings. Check them out at the RDRN website.
DeleteThe older, the more shortcomings....
ReplyDeletethat's what aging is all about unfortunately.
DeleteNice shots! That is great that you had lots of fun. It's a lovely way to spend time.
ReplyDeleteThese are photos from other outings. It's a good group and we have fun.
DeleteAlways good to go out and look for the birds. It's getting to be migration season here, and that's the best time for seeing huge flocks as they head south. Nice photos!
ReplyDeleteMost sparrows and swallows have already left here.
DeleteI've heard people say that cataract surgery is like getting new eyes! Definitely get them checked out! But it's also true that dirty glasses are hard to see through. :)
ReplyDeleteFor 20 or more years they've been saying that there are the beginnings of cataracts. Now it's bothering me.
DeleteIt sounds like surgery will do the trick for you.
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid that that's where I'm headed.
DeleteI need to get out earlier. Red-wings are moving out here.Next will be the swallows
ReplyDeleteRedwings have been gone from here a long time ago.
DeleteYou'll be surprised what cataract surgery will do. I had one eye done last year and it's been very good to see out of again. Next year I'll have my other eye down.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your bird watching group.
I always hear good reports on cataract surgery but they seem to want to wait a long time before doing it.
DeleteCataracts ARE kinda like having vaseline smeared on your glasses! It's amazing how simple an operation it is these days, and how fast the recovery is.
ReplyDeleteGood to hear about fast recovery.
DeleteI hoped I would see better when I got my new glasses early this summer, but. no. I think maybe clear vision is in my past, or at least until my cataracts get bad enough for surgery. My glasses seem filmy too.
ReplyDeleteMt eye Doc said I would know when I saw halos around on coming cars headlights at night that it was time to have my eyes done. It is an easy surgery and oh so much better eye sight! :)
ReplyDeleteI would think that it would be fun to share the bird watching experience. I had big trees at my old place and I had many varieties. Now the new place is limited in the kinds that we have. I have encouraged the area to have large numbers of goldfinches by feeding them year round.
ReplyDelete