Our Patch

When Dan and I were on our Outer Banks and Chincoteague birding week, we met others in the field observing and photographing birds. Brief conversations and exchanges happened from time to time, and one question birders ask each other is "where is your patch?" As you may have guessed "your patch" is your hometown but more specifically where you most frequently bird.

"Your patch" can be large like that of the "legend" we met at the end of Jeanette's Pier in Nags Head, NC which is 30 miles of Atlantic Ocean off of the Outer Banks, an area he goes to very frequently in his pelagic excursions. Or a patch can be small like your backyard where you may feed birds and offer water on birdbaths. Our patch is the small park at the end of our street: Luria Park.

We bird Luria at least once a week if not more. Watching the seasons slowly change is a big part of the experience as is noting differences that naturally occur in a forest. We know if a dead tree or large branch, snag, had fallen recently or when a living tree starts getting buds and new leaves.  The change of bird life and behavior in the park throughout the year is what intrigues us the most.

This time of year, mid-February, holds few obvious changes. Spring migration is still over a month and more away and winter birds, like White-throated Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos are still very much a part of the bird population.

Today I birded our patch for about an hour. I spent time at a thicket of vines and green brier where I've noticed that White-throated Sparrows like to hide. These are curious birds. One emerged from hiding when I "pished" (pursing my lips and making an angry bird sound) to investigate. These birds are winter birds, and one of the more easily recognized of the sparrows with white throat patch and yellow lores above the beak.

Another of the "usual suspects" of our patch is the Pileated Woodpecker. Today I saw both male and female of these large and vocal birds.

This is the male with his red "mustache" by the edge of the long strong bill. I usually hear their "Woody Woodpecker" like call before I see them.

Sometimes I find little surprises in the park like this American Robin taking a bath in a small puddle in the woods.

Today the woods were alive with the harsh "cackle" and "conk-a-ree" call of Red-winged Blackbirds passing through, some spending time by the various creeks in the park.

This young male was one of a dozen or so Red-wing Balckbirds I saw today.

We love our patch and feel grateful to have such a nice place to bird with a mix of forest, wet forest, creek, and open ground. It's only a three minute walk away!