Warblers (and such)

Spring is awesome. On Tuesday, I decided to warm up for my bio final by doing the five-mile Reed's Lake loop. Fifty-seven species, eighteen warblers, and one very frightened young mother with a stroller who I nearly ran down because I was overly focused on a singing Canada Warbler.

Yesterday, I put in another run and added a few more SWSA birds, including Yellow-breasted Chat, Bell's Vireo, and Black-chinned Hummingbird. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, there was a flight back home to California between those two runs...

SWSA= 174

Sorry CO boys

Respect your elders, or be obliterated.

I went out running for the first time in almost two weeks last night. Since my last run, a LOT of new birds have come in, and I scored nineteen new SWSA birds. Goodies like Veery, Barred Owl, Common Nighthawk, Chestnut-sided Warbler...SWSA = 153

Panting as I finished off my seven miles, I tried thinking of how different SWSA would respond to the situation. If BR was with me, he would have been like, "Ahhh nice little warm-up, now let's put in fifty miles!" Masai would have said, "I've been waiting here for you for two hours. You're slow. Hey, where's Welch, let's beat him up!" Pippin would have drawn upon her vast reserves of power hidden in her hair and punched a random passerby in the face. Delmi probably would have tripped over a crack in the sidewalk. Osama bin Laden would be like, "Oh man...wait nevermind I'm still dead."

Oh, and Rosy would look puzzled and say, "Huh? What's the Sweaty Sanderlings?"

Spring Migration So Far

I guess I should actually post something about all of the stuff I've been seeing on my recent bi-pedal exploits, instead of running the risk of banishment. We're sorry to hear about the Skinky's recent injury, but I am happy to report that my knee hasn't bothered me at all for the last week. It seems as though I've left that regrettable experience in the past (*knocks on wood*).

On a five-mile run this afternoon, I saw an incredible total of thirty species, of which three were new for my SWSA list . . . Yellow Warbler, Lazuli Bunting, and White-throated Swift. Those first two were new for my regular, non-running year list, and the swift, well, they’ve been around for a few weeks, but they’re kind of hard to spot while running. On a six mile run yesterday afternoon, I saw my first SWSA Bullock’s Oriole. On May 5th, I had my first Broad-tailed Hummingbird of the year. On May 4th, I had my first Colorado and SWSA Blue-gray Gnatcatcher.

Previous to that, though, I’ve lost track of the dates. The new SWSA birds that I remember are Vesper Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Lark Sparrow, White-faced Ibis, and Barn Swallow. Adding everything up, my species tally currently stands at 135, one more than the crippled Skinky. Welch is unsure of his exact total, but I believe that it is at least half a dozen ticks longer than mine.

--

2011 SWSA Totals

Miles Run: 400!!!

SWSA Species: 135

Injuring

I've come to the conclusion that the central aim of running is to injure yourself; it seems that I'll be fit to run for about a week before incapcitating myself for another three weeks. This time, it's something with my right foot--possibly a stress fracture. It's slightly swollen and hurts to walk on, but it seems to be getting better. I've been out of the game for a week, and probably will be for a couple more, which means I'll miss out on a lot of migration. [insert a few more paragraphs of whining and complaining]

Before my latest accomplishment, I added a few more, the highlights being Rusty Blackbird, Pileated Woodpecker, Virginia Rail, and Yellow Warbler.

Total=134

Thank goodness for swimming.

Gnats Beware, They're Back!

I glanced out the window, rain poured down in sheets of cold iron.

I continued with my homework. On next looking out the window, I saw that the sky had cleared, and the sun now shone brightly, its rays leaving a evanescent sparkle on the grass. I laced my shoes and was off, running down the Waterloo-Pinkney trail. I was immediately gratified to hear the first Yellow Warbler of the year,

soon joined by the first Black-and-white Warbler and numerous Palm Warblers. Spring seems to have taken its time arriving this year. Trees are still bare, except for the occasional non-native not adapted to this environment.

I saw the occasional Hepatica blooming along the trail and brightening the brown earth with its brilliance.

A soft defiant "Pheeshz!" made me look up. A Blue-gray Gnatcatcher dove at an invisible insect, while Towhees and Swamp Sparrows called from the distance.

Checking my list after returning home, I noticed that i'd finally passed the century mark! Coming at 106 species.

Fish Hatchery Madness

There wasn't much running going on at GTBC. However the Jasper fish hatchery ponds we ran twice. Not a serious run, but it took about 30 minutes each time, so I might as well post about it. There was some stopping, but quite a bit of running. The first time was on the during scouting. We were informed that this would be a powerbirding spot, so running was in order. That first trip around the ponds we scored some very good species, including our only hummer of the scouting days, cedar waxwings, spotted, pectoral, and solitary sandpipers, most of the egrets and herons, some swallows, and a very territorial yellow-throated warbler. We would have also gotten a lifer reptile if we could have determined whether the alligator snapping turtle we came across was alive or sleeping. Once we got back to the van Chip treated us to a rendition of his cedar waxwings song, and we moved on the Martin Dies Jr. Park.

On the big day, many of the birds were the same, except a nice hooded merganser that was a far pull, and no spotted sandpiper. There was also a nice least sandpiper. When we got back to the van it was somewhat after 9 if I remember correctly. (I have no real remembrance of time on the big day). We did take more time than we were allotted on this run, but the birds were good and some of them, like the solitary sandpiper and the hooded merganser, we got no where else. Chip had fixed us cream cheese and strawberry jelly on bagels, bananas, and yogurt while we were running. It was our only "meal" of the day until IHop at 11:30 that night (unless you count eating two bags of jerky and one bag of dried mango as meals). Once again we headed off Marten Dies Park and the rest of the big day.

i want to reconcile the violence in your heart

So yeah...just about every time I go running, I get some song or another hopelessly stuck in my head, to the point that I attempt to wheeze it out as I run along. I managed to go running twice this week; unlike Masai, I haven't even done a Big Sit, unless you count the one I did on the white plastic throne yesterday.

i want to exorcise the demons from your past.

This week has been decidedly spring-like, with lovely south winds that have brought in lots of migrants.

i want to recognize your beauty's not just a mask...

On Wednesday, I decided to do some loon-spotting as I ran. So, fighting through a pesky stitch, I ran by the spot along the shore of Reed's Lake where I ate my first slice of college pizza. And sure enough, the pizza's magic was still present! I'm still not sure whether there was any connection between the loon and the pizza, but hey...I got Common Loon for my SWSA list.

you caught me under false pretenses, how long until you let me go?

This morning was downright warm, warm enough that gnomes and hobbits were emerging from the swampy woods to engage the drunk ferrets in glorious battle. Their shrill shouts and clash of weapons was nigh on defeaning...I could barely hear the Eastern Phoebes, Chipping Sparrows, or Myrtle Warblers that were all new SWSA birds on account of them.

if we live our life in fear, I'll wait a thousand years just to see you smile again.

SWSA = 124. Muse addiction = ∞