I focus on bugs (mostly) during the summer, and some of the special summer flowers, but this reminded me that at lot of my early birding took place in the summer of 2020 — that's when I got my first pair of binoculars. It was all new and exciting to me — summer and scarlet tanagers on my hikes, wood thrushes singing, the time a hooded warbler landed so close to me on a trail that I was able to take decent photos with my cell phone, the first time I watched a great egret take off through my binoculars. And even now, goldfinches on flowers and hummingbirds just being present, great crested flycatchers shrieking, these are all great things about summer birding!
Great stuff, Nate—enviable nests, I’ve really only ever gotten reliable nest watching out of Robins. Summer birding and summer fishing make me greatly prefer spring and fall.
Great post Nate. I struggle every year with summer birding. Too many mosquitoes and too many darn leaves to try to see through. My summer birding mantra is: It’s quality, not quantity in the summer 😂 Thank goodness for Great Blue Herons.
Great approach. Luckily our yard isn't too too mosquito-ey, but yeah. When I'm out hiking in the woods it doesn't pay to stop too long to gawk at a bird.
What a wonderful and inspiring post, Nathaniel Bowler! My wife and I have the good fortune of being able to sit in air conditioning here in North Florida and watch birds on our patio. Carolina wrens are abundant! Brown Thrashers less so. I provide many species a “cooling station” using a “Fogg-it” superfine misting nozzle attached to the top of a 6 foot section of PVC pipe located in understory bushes. Once on in the morning here come the locals and migratories. Northern Cardinals, Blue Jays, Tufted Tit-Mouse, Downy Woodpeckers, Carolina Chickadees, and others. 100°F isn’t pleasant for me. I doubt birds are comfortable either.
A mister is a great idea and I'm sure your birds appreciate it. I'll have to consider that option for when I'm ready to enhance our own water feature here. Window birding is definitely a solid way to bird when things get too hot (or too cold!). Thanks for reading, and stay cool in the Florida heat!
I love summer, sweaty ass and all. I got to watch Bluebirds fledge from the best box. I got to watch awkward baby Robins splash in the birdbath. My favorite summer birdwatching activity is watching Goldfinches tear apart my flowers. I enjoyed reading your piece. Thank you for sharing. 🐣
Great piece! Loved the photos of the Acadian nest.
And you really captured the magic. Summer really is all about baby birds—but for those itching for some migrants, the season’s already shifting.
Heermann’s Gulls have moved north along the Pacific, hummers are heading out across the West, and Arctic- and Boreal-breeding shorebirds are already on the move south across a broad front.
So yes, migration is picking up—some good news there.
Unfortunately, the heat, humidity, and biting insects? Still very much sticking around. Wish there was better news there.
+1 for post-breeding migration in the fall! It's more protracted compared to spring migration, giving a longer season of fun; there are more birds with first-year young coming through; mixed species flocks are a thing of beauty; and it's one of the best times of year for vagrants!
I'm in full agreement: "Bring on the fall!" This humidity and hot weather has really diminished my Nature hikes and birding and wildlife photography.
Awesome photo of that Carolina Wren fledgling - I've never seen one before.
A few more weeks until this hot weather begins to break and then an easier glide into that crisp cool weather of Fall. Definitely looking forward to that.
Awesome about the weather cooling down. I've never seen a fledgling Carolina Wren, only adults. We've had a few of them reported over the years here in Ottawa. I think ebird had changed their status locally from Rare to Uncommon.
I focus on bugs (mostly) during the summer, and some of the special summer flowers, but this reminded me that at lot of my early birding took place in the summer of 2020 — that's when I got my first pair of binoculars. It was all new and exciting to me — summer and scarlet tanagers on my hikes, wood thrushes singing, the time a hooded warbler landed so close to me on a trail that I was able to take decent photos with my cell phone, the first time I watched a great egret take off through my binoculars. And even now, goldfinches on flowers and hummingbirds just being present, great crested flycatchers shrieking, these are all great things about summer birding!
Totally agree, except about the summer tanagers. We don’t have them here lol
But yes, the bugs are amazing!!! Noticing them more and more 🐞🐛🐜🦟
Great stuff, Nate—enviable nests, I’ve really only ever gotten reliable nest watching out of Robins. Summer birding and summer fishing make me greatly prefer spring and fall.
Thanks James! Funny… I haven’t been able to find a Robins nest since we moved here. They were annual on our deck in Michigan
Great post Nate. I struggle every year with summer birding. Too many mosquitoes and too many darn leaves to try to see through. My summer birding mantra is: It’s quality, not quantity in the summer 😂 Thank goodness for Great Blue Herons.
Thank you Julia!
Great approach. Luckily our yard isn't too too mosquito-ey, but yeah. When I'm out hiking in the woods it doesn't pay to stop too long to gawk at a bird.
57 outside.. fall is approaching!!! love your piece today
Thank you Nettie! More of the same today. Glorious!
My summer birding has been abysmal.
I'm sorry to hear that :(
I hope fall migration turns things around for you!!
What a wonderful and inspiring post, Nathaniel Bowler! My wife and I have the good fortune of being able to sit in air conditioning here in North Florida and watch birds on our patio. Carolina wrens are abundant! Brown Thrashers less so. I provide many species a “cooling station” using a “Fogg-it” superfine misting nozzle attached to the top of a 6 foot section of PVC pipe located in understory bushes. Once on in the morning here come the locals and migratories. Northern Cardinals, Blue Jays, Tufted Tit-Mouse, Downy Woodpeckers, Carolina Chickadees, and others. 100°F isn’t pleasant for me. I doubt birds are comfortable either.
A mister is a great idea and I'm sure your birds appreciate it. I'll have to consider that option for when I'm ready to enhance our own water feature here. Window birding is definitely a solid way to bird when things get too hot (or too cold!). Thanks for reading, and stay cool in the Florida heat!
I love summer, sweaty ass and all. I got to watch Bluebirds fledge from the best box. I got to watch awkward baby Robins splash in the birdbath. My favorite summer birdwatching activity is watching Goldfinches tear apart my flowers. I enjoyed reading your piece. Thank you for sharing. 🐣
I love summer too. And the mornings here in our Pittsburgh suburb are typically wonderful.
We've had a lot of goldfinches in the yard too. They've definitely been sniffing around the garden flowers!
Thank you so much for reading!
Gotta love autocorrect. My Bluebird nest box will hence forth be called a best box.
Poor Acadian Flycatcher!!! But this is still a beautiful tribute to baby birds. They sure make my summer happier!
They're why I'm happy to do most of my summer birding in the yard!
Great piece! Loved the photos of the Acadian nest.
And you really captured the magic. Summer really is all about baby birds—but for those itching for some migrants, the season’s already shifting.
Heermann’s Gulls have moved north along the Pacific, hummers are heading out across the West, and Arctic- and Boreal-breeding shorebirds are already on the move south across a broad front.
So yes, migration is picking up—some good news there.
Unfortunately, the heat, humidity, and biting insects? Still very much sticking around. Wish there was better news there.
Thank you!! We have gotten a respite here in Pittsburgh. Streak of 90+ days broken. It feels amazing.
Looking forward to fall migration heating up! I'm one of those who prefers fall migration to spring. Already dreaming of ducks.
+1 for post-breeding migration in the fall! It's more protracted compared to spring migration, giving a longer season of fun; there are more birds with first-year young coming through; mixed species flocks are a thing of beauty; and it's one of the best times of year for vagrants!
💯
Plus I feel like I get much better looks at canopy dwellers in the fall. Seems like they're a little less high up.
Nice snaps of all those babies. I agree. Summer is a fun time to keep an eye on nests
And the yard is teeming with baby woodpeckers right now. Never found any woodpecker nests but there are five species of WP babies around!
I'm in full agreement: "Bring on the fall!" This humidity and hot weather has really diminished my Nature hikes and birding and wildlife photography.
Awesome photo of that Carolina Wren fledgling - I've never seen one before.
A few more weeks until this hot weather begins to break and then an easier glide into that crisp cool weather of Fall. Definitely looking forward to that.
Today has been glorious. A much needed break from 90+ days. It's a perfect 72 right now.
Have you no seen a Carolina Wren or just not a fledgling? I know Carolina Wrens are creeping their way further north as temps rise.
Awesome about the weather cooling down. I've never seen a fledgling Carolina Wren, only adults. We've had a few of them reported over the years here in Ottawa. I think ebird had changed their status locally from Rare to Uncommon.
Great piece, Nathaniel. Summer birding is always a favorite for me.
Thanks Jackie! I’ve been meaning to ask you, are there owls on Anguilla?
You’re welcome. Sadly, no owls here.