Cerulean Warbler and friends

The past week has been hectic as I have been finishing up school and taking tests and on top of that, the computer has been acting up. Finally I got hold of my dad's laptop to give a quick update.This past weekend I was lucky enough to hear my lifer Cerulean Warbler (307) in Nebraska on a boyscout camping trip. I think there was more than one but it was hard to tell. They are scarce in our area but used to be more common in years gone by. The scout ranch has had these warblers nest there before but they have been hard to find recently. Last year they were not seen or heard. I hope that they stick around this year to nest. To see what a Cerulean Warbler looks like go here: http://sdakotabirds.com/species/photos/cerulean_warbler.jpg
Warblers have been moving through and I have had Black-throated Green-Warbler and Blackpoll Warblers show up in the yard recently. Besides that I have not gotten out much, so hopefully I will get out some in the next few days.

Hudsonian Godwits

Back in April I got to see my lifer Hudsonian Godwits. They were seen about 15 minutes from my house so my dad and I headed out to find my no. 1 nemesis life bird. When we got to the lake I had trouble finding them in the low light but with some effort I was able to find them feeding on the far shore. They all took off and I counted at least six in the group before they were all gone. The Hudsonian Godwit was life bird 306 and Iowa bird 263 for me. Now I have to find my nemesis Marbled Godwit!

Black-winged Pratincole, Stomarsh NNR

Enough said, or not said as the case may be!

Crescent-chested Warbler!!

Hey guys, Chris here. 

I couldn't believe it when someone reported a Crescent-chested Warbler!! The location was literally up the road from where I'm staying here in Portal, Arizona.  I ran up to the spot the next morning, and nailed the bird!  This is an ABA code 4 bird with fewer than 10 records in the USA. One of those records was a breeding record so maybe this bird is expanding it's range. 

Anyway, it was a waay awesome bird to see. 

I'm here in Portal, Arizona as a bird guide until Sept, so I have plenty of time to nail everything here in the Chiricahua mountains. 

My year list is at 360 now (sorry guys, the USA just plain has more species).

Life list is up to 538.  

I'll update y'all from time to time. 

Anyway, have to run, have some clients this evening. 

Happy Birding! --Chris