Oops. I’m not going to name names, but someone forgot to schedule the OTR posts for this week. Yes, that would be me. Sorry about that.
Albatrossity takes us to North Carolina. Our lineup for the rest of the week is Munira, BillinGlendale, Steve from Mendocino, and JanieM, in that order.
Albatrossity
We interrupt your African Safari with a brief domestic interlude.
In late December 2022 we took an excursion, driving across half the country to visit with my brother and sister-in-law, who live in the lovely community of Carrboro NC. This trip was originally planned for October 2022, which is a better time for scenery viewing, but due to an unfortunate interaction between a deer and my vehicle in early October, we had to postpone that trip. We did not want to fly, since that seems like a very good way to catch COVID these days, so we loaded up the car and headed east. Sadly, I picked up COVID on the way back, even though our only times indoors in the company of strangers were VERY brief stops at rest areas and gas stations. Go figure. This current variant is one contagious virus, folks.
Nonetheless, the trip was good, and we spent several days relaxing in North Carolina, taking short hikes and watching birds in the warmer weather there. Here are a few of those.
I love seeing Carolina Chickadees (Poecile carolinensis) when I am in the Carolinas, so that I can study them and listen to them just in case one ever wanders up to my part of Flyover Country (they are the expected chickadee species in southeastern Kansas right now). There are some plumage differences (less white on the wings, etc.) and their song is different from the Black-capped Chickadees who frequent my home feeders, but by watching them daily you can begin to get a feel for the behaviors and attitudes that are known by the unfortunate term “jizz” in birdwatching lingo. Just like you can recognize your friends at a distance by the way they walk and move, you can learn the unique styles of various bird behaviors to help you ID them from just a glance. Here is a fascinating look at the origin of this term, from British Birds. Enjoyable reading! Click here for larger image.
On The Road – Albatrossity – North Carolina New Year’s Road Trip!Post + Comments (32)