Chinsegut Wildlife and Environmental Area

 Wednesday January 29th

Scott's Oriole feeding on some jelly

https://ebird.org/checklist/S211139040

I was unfamiliar with the Chinsegut Wildlife and Environmental Area near Lake Linsey in Hernando County. But a rare to Florida avian visitor is wintering here. It's a Scott's Oriole. A western species and is way outside of the species normal range and a Lifer for me.

Chipping Sparrow

 This conservation area is managed by Florida Fish and Wildlife and has an outstanding bird feeding station at the nature center featuring water features and several feeding offerings including a feeder offering jelly.  Orioles and other species enjoy fruits and jellies and that is where anyone wanting to experience this rarity must wait. The Scott's Oriole was making very short visits to the feeder and my not return for as long as an hour. 

A Pine Siskin bathing with a House Finch

While waiting a nice variety birds came in and offered some nice photography opportunities

Carolina Chickadee

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Yellow Palm Warbler

American Goldfinches

Pine Warbler

Red-bellied Woodpecker

House Wren

House Finch

Red-winged Blackbird

Pine Warbler

Grey Catbird

Sandhill Crane

Tufted Titmouse

Northern Cardinal

East Tennessee

 Tuesday May 7th

eBird Trip Report https://ebird.org/tripreport/245480

Black Bear Cub

I recently visited Eastern Tennessee, including Seven Island Birding State Park and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Although rain cut my day trip to the Smokies short, I managed to take the auto tour at Cades Cove. Spotting black bears was a highlight, with four sows and their twin cubs in view. However, capturing a great photo of the bears proved challenging.

Black Bear Sow with Cubs

Eastern Hemlock

Mountain Laural

Some of the bird life seen and heard at the park included Wild Turkey, Indigo Bunting, Blue Grossbeak, Wood Thrush, Swainson's Thrush, American Robin, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Carolina Chickadee, Acacian Flycatchers, Eastern Kingbird, Chipping and Field Sparrows, Ovenbirds, Hooded Warblers, Prairie Warblers, Yellow-throated Warblers, Northern Parula, Louisiana Waterthrush, Scarlet Tanager, Carolina Wren, Blue-headed Vireo, White-eyed Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Yellow-throated Vireo & Eastern Phoebe.

Had also made two short visits to Seven Island Birding State Park, which is near to Knoxville, which features prairie, woodland and river habitats. Canada Geese, Mallards, Wood Ducks, Cliff Swallows, Tree Swallows, Barn Swallows, Field and White-crowned Sparrows, Wood Thrush, Yellow-breasted Chats, Tufted Titmice, House Finches, Prothonotary and Hooded Warblers.

Cliff Swallows

Cliff Swallows

House Finch

Tree Swallow

Little Wood Satyr

Mallard Ducklings

Tufted Titmouse

Downy Woodpecker and House Wren

Tree Swallow

Carolina Chickadee

Musk Thistle

Southern Blue Flag

Song Sparrow

Carolina Sweetshrub

Bucket List Trip - The Channel Islands

 Thursday October 20th

A few weeks ago, I went out to California. Never been this far west before, so there were a lot of lifers for me to enjoy. This trip was centered around a pelagic trip out of Ventura on September 30th.

Scorpion Cove at Santa Cruz Island

When I booked the pelagic trip with Island Packers, I added a trip out to Santa Cruz Island for the 29th. A visit to Santa Cruz Island within the Channel Islands National Park has been on my bucket list for a very long time. The Island Scrub-Jay is only found in the Santa Cruz Island, as are the Santa Cruz Island Fox. The island also hosts dozens of endemic and rare plant species. The naturalist in me was keen to visit such a unique place. There are whales, seals and dolphins too.

Santa Cruz Fox Island

Wavy Turban shell

The Channel Islands are clearly visible from the mainland as it is only a 32 mile away. So the ferry ride across the Santa Barbara Channel was usually only an hour long. On both the trip out and on the return Humpback Whales were feeding and a few Common Dolphins. Was too concerned on missing getting photos of the cetaceans because tomorrows ten-hour pelagic trip would offer a wealth of opportunities. Unfortunately, my pelagic trip was cancelled due to bad weather.

 The day-trippers, like myself, had about six hours to explorer. Lots of visitors were campers and backpackers. Fox boxes were located at the visitor cent and each camp site, because the endemic island foxes are quite crafty in snatching any campers of visitors' food left unsecured. The ravens were just as bad. 

The endemic Island Scrub-Jay

I chose to do my birding and nature hiking around the Scorpion Campground and a hike up the Scorpion Canyon and to Cavern Point. 

 

White-crowned Sparrow

Island Loggerhead Shrike
an endemic subspecies to the island

House Finch sitting in some dry milk thistles.

Slender Iceplant

Tagged Common Ravens seen at the campgrounds.

Greene's Dudleya