Western vs Semipalmated Sandpiper
Much has been written about the identification of Semipalmated and Western Sandpipers. Most of it focuses on minutia, those little differences in plumage that are indeed very helpful in distinguishing these very similar species. The problem is, in order to use all those fine plumage details successfully, a good understanding of how to age shorebirds [...]
Birding ‘The Muck’
One of the birding gems in Tioga County is the State Gamelands 313, better known to birders as “The Muck.” Formerly drained and farmed, it has now been allowed to return to its original state as a highly productive wetland. Specialties that can be found in ‘the muck’ include Marsh Wrens, American Bittern, Sora, Virginia [...]
Uncommon field birds
Vesper Sparrow by jerryoldenettel
Doing point counts in south eastern PA during the last weeks has left me feeling that some fields birds are a lot more common than many birders suspect. On any given day I have heard multiple Savannah Sparrows, Vesper Sparrows, Grasshopper Sparrows and Horned Larks. I have also come across at least [...]
