Monday, June 2, 2014
Sunday, June 1, 2014
Cape Day
Our Trip
Grammy, me and Daddy went to Cape Cod and got a Clay-colored Sparrow and I'm guessing it's a male because it was singing. When we were finding the Clay-colored Sparrow I got good shots of it when my dad didn't. We were waiting for it to come into sun. I got two two perfect pictures. Then we heard knocking and we stopped taking pictures and we looked at the bird and it was a Black-billed Cuckoo and it's bill was black. It was a lifer lifer for me. I got pictures of him. After that we took more pictures of the Cuckoo and the Clay-colored Sparrow. When we went to the bathroom we saw a Beetle and we took photos of it and Grammy holded it. Then we went to our next spot to find a Northern Bobwhite. But we had a hard time trying to find it. and there was a man there walking two dogs there. We also saw a lot of birds we saw a Northern Harrier. I also found a Baltimore Oriole that is a new bird for the month because it's June 1st. We also found Eastern Towhees. And a titmouse came close to me by my head.
Checklists
New Year Birds
| 223 | Black-billed Cuckoo | Scusset Beach State Reservation | US-MA | 01 Jun 2014 |
| 224 | Clay-colored Sparrow | Scusset Beach State Reservation | US-MA | 01 Jun 2014 |
Life Birds
| 223 | Black-billed Cuckoo | Scusset Beach State Reservation | US-MA | 01 Jun 2014 |
| 224 | Clay-colored Sparrow | Scusset Beach State Reservation | US-MA | 01 Jun 2014 |
Owen photographing a Clay-colored Sparrow
Clay-colored Sparrow photographed by Owen!
Black-billed Cuckoo photographed by Owen!
Owen after his lifer Black-billed Cuckoo and Clay-colored Sparrow
Looking for Bobwhites
Indigo Bunting Photo by Owen
Saturday, May 31, 2014
Monk Day
Our Trip
Daddy and me and Liam went to Boston and Fred was there (Hosley) and when we got there we had to walk from Burger King to a park. And when we got there we saw a nest and looked around but then suddenly we saw a bird fly with something in its mouth. And it put it in the nest and we looked at it and it was a Monk Parakeet and then another one flew over. Then they flew away and we looked at them in the woods. I went in the woods and after when I got out Fred falled on his stomach from high up and holding his camera but it did not break. Then we played on this frog thing that was there! The birds are really loud at the park.
Checklist
New Year Bird
| 222 | Monk Parakeet | Ringer Park, Allston | US-MA | 31 May 2014 |
Monk Parakeet Range Map (although a little outdated)
Monk Parakeet
Allston is where the birds are
where the Monk Parakeets are building their nest
having some fun while birding
Owen after his year bird Monk Parakeet
Fred Hosley paying a visit
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Green Heron Day
Our Trip
Daddy and me went to the cemetery down the road in Grafton. when we got there we were going to be looking for a Green Heron. when we looked around for it at the marsh we saw 2 birds in a tree. One was bigger one was smaller and when daddy looked at it saw it was a Green Heron. And we also got ticks! yuck
Checklist
St. Philips Cemetery, Worcester County, Massachusetts, US
New Year Birds
| 221 | Green Heron | St. Philips Cemetery | US-MA | 29 May 2014 |
New Lifers
Green Heron
Owen after his lifer Green Heron
Mass Audubon Writes About Owen
The Massachusetts Audubon wrote up a nice blog about Owen!
http://blogs.massaudubon.org/yourgreatoutdoors/meet-owen-the-birder/
More than 800 birders took part inBird-a-thon, Mass Audubon’s annual fundraiser where teams spend 24 hours competing to see (or hear) the most species. But this year Owen Lawson, age 6, stood out.
Along with his dad, Justin, the first-grader at the Elmwood Street Elementary School in Millbury recorded 102 species, and raised $230for Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary in Worcester.
But Bird-a-thon is just one part of Owen’s master plan. Since the beginning of 2014, he’s been pursuing his own “Little Big Year” in New England. (“Big Year” refers the quest by birders to identify the most species in North America in a calendar year.)
Owen’s original goal for 2014 was 200 species. But as of today, he’s already at 220! Many of these species were spotted using a pair of well-worn binoculars. “I use my grammy’s,” Owen said. “It’s much easy to pick up, because my dad’s is more heavier.”
Speaking of dad, it’s little surprise that Owen’s favorite birding partner is his father, who serves as trip planner, driver, and bird mentor. “When I go with my dad, I see lots of stuff,” he said.
For Justin Lawson, birding is a serious avocation, but his wishes for Owen are to see beyond the birds, to make a broad connection with nature. “I want my sons to be educated about the outdoors, but more important, develop an early appreciation for it.”
Owen is already on his way emulating his father as a birding mentor. “I think when I grow up I want to tell my kids about birds,” he said. “And I always make sure to tell my little brother when I see a bird.”
Justin is clearly doing a good job. In addition to birds and birding, Owen is intrigued by tide pools, and the critters he spies in the shallows. A whale-watch is on tap for this summer. Andhe plays on baseball and soccer teams.
As Owen puts it, “I guess I just like running around and looking at stuff. And up at the sky.”
Some Owen the Birder fun facts:
- Started birding two years ago
- Has now birded in 10 states
- First Bird: Merlin, at Worcester airport
- Best Bird of 2014: Painted Bunting
- Number of “life birds”: 235
- Favorite bird: Great Grey Owl (seen only in picture books—so far)
Follow along on Owen’s Little Big Year by checking out the Lawsons’ blog, which includes pictures taken by Owen and check out his fundraising page.
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Maine Trip
Our Trip
At first Grammy, me, Grampy, Grammy Connie, and Grampy Skip went up to Maine. Then the next night daddy came. We went out birding in the morning with Grammy We went to to a marsh and ocean and we saw over there some Ruddy Turnstones, Common Eider, Oystercatcher, Common Terns and Black-bellied Plovers. A family came from Georgia and they were also looking at birds. In another pool of water we got a Black-crowned Night Heron and I took pictures of a Yellow Warbler. Then we went to the BIG marsh and we saw heron and half egret. Half snowy egret and half tricolored heron. At first we took photos of Glossy Ibises and a White-faced Ibis. Then we went back to our condo and we went fishing. After fishing we went to eat and had Chinese food
Then in the morning my dad woke me up to go see some Black Terns. It was a long drive and I sleeped in the car. When we got there it tool a long time for me to find it through the binoculars. Then we got 2 new flycatchers for my year. They were very far away in the marsh and it wasn't the best looks to us. OPn the way home we stopped at the big marsh again and we wanted to find Nelson's Sparrow. We thought we had it but they were Saltmarsh Sparrows. But we got a Least Tern when we were there. that was the good news! It was so awesome taking pictures and its beautiful to look at them when I take their pictures. My grammies camera is easier to hold then my daddys.
Then we stopped in New Hampshire to try and find a Clay-colored Sparrow at an airport. We did not find it We saw 2 ravens croaking in the tree's and then they flew away. I was playing on a big hill of grasses. We also heard an Eastern meadowlark singing. After that we went to find a Mississippi Kite but when we got there we didn't see it. We talked to the people on the road to help us look for it and they said that they go in their yard a lot. We had to leave because I had a baseball game back home. But then when we looked up in the sky we saw 2 birds with a vulture. we looked at them and it was 2 kites flying with the vulture! At my game I had big hits!
Clickable Checklists
Biddeford Pool--Hattie's Restaurant, York County, Maine, US
Biddeford Pool--Great Pond, York County, Maine, US
Scarborough Marsh, Cumberland County, Maine, US
Messalonskee Lake--boat ramp, Kennebec County, Maine, US
Scarborough Marsh--behind Clambake Restaurant, Cumberland County, Maine, US
Scarborough Marsh--Nature Center, Cumberland County, Maine, US
Pease International Tradeport--Short Street, Newington, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, US
Newmarket Town Landing, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, US
New Year Birds
New Lifers
weather conditions
White-faced Ibis Range Map
Least Tern Range Map
Mississippi Kite Range Map
cool.
Owen and Grammy at Biddeford Pool
Owen taking photos of a Yellow Warbler
he caught me taking a pic of him
Black-crowned Night Heron taken by Owen
Yellow Warbler taken by Owen
Tricolored Heron x Snowy Egret Hybridn taken by Owen
Willet taken by Owen
Snowy Egrets taken by Owen
Glossy Ibis and White-faced Ibis
Saltmarsh Sparrow
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Mississippi Kite
after his Glossy Ibis and White-faced Ibis lifers
After his Ruddy Turnstones, Black-bellied Plover, American Oystercatcher lifers
after his lifer Least Tern
after his Eastern Wood-Pewee, Black Tern, and Alder Flycatcher lifers
after his Mississippi Kite lifer!
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
New Hampshire Day
Our Trip
We went to New Hampshire after school and we went on a street and we were going to find a Mississippi Kite but we did not find the Mississippi Kite while we were there. At the next spot we were going to find a Cliff Swallow but the fence was blocked and we couldn't get in. After we left the spot we saw an island and we saw birds diving and when we looked they were Common Terns. Then we went home. We did not get what we really wanted but at least we got a tern but the best thing is we were hanging out together.
Checklists
Newmarket, 13-25 Gonet Drive, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, US
Fort Constitution, New Castle, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, US
Leachs Island, New Castle, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, US
Naval Shipyard, York County, Maine, US
New Year Bird
| 209 | Common Tern | Leachs Island, New Castle | US-NH | 20 May 2014 |
New Lifer
| 224 | Common Tern | Leachs Island, New Castle | US-NH | 20 May 2014 |
Common Tern Range Map
Common Terns
after his lifer Common Tern
Monday, May 19, 2014
Picture Day!
Our Trip
after school today my dad said we could get another lifer. we went to the woods and I had grammy's camera. we walked to find the bird we wanted to see. Grammy and me went ahead of daddy. my daddy yelled for us to come and he said he found the bird. we heard the bird singing loudly. than I saw it and took some pictures of the bird! the name of the bird was the Prothonotary Warbler. it had like blue wings and the rest of his body was yellow and his butt was white!
| 208 | Prothonotary Warbler | Nahanton Park | US-MA | 19 May 2014 |
New Year Birds
| 208 | Prothonotary Warbler | Nahanton Park | US-MA | 19 May 2014 |
Prothonotary Warbler
Owen got to have the camera for some shots today!
Owen's Warbling Vireo Shot
Owen's Prothonotary Warbler shot!
Photo after lifer!
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