Enjoying a hot cup of coffee on my cold front porch - my favorite birding hotspot
Edition #20
The signs of winter are disappearing slowly here in upstate New York.
We had some teaser days of temperatures in the 60’s but then Mother Nature keeps reminding me that winter is still here - it is supposed to snow later today.
It’s been a while since I ventured out on my front porch - and stayed for a bit. My front porch usually does not beckon me during the colder months. But I am yearning for those moments when I can feel the warmth of the sun on my winter-ravaged body and know that Spring is coming soon. My birds are calling to me too - just this morning, a Downy Woodpecker would not stop.
Front Porch Birding with the Merlin App
Almost every morning for the last few weeks or so - when it is not rainy or windy - I venture out to my front porch at about 7 AM or so. It can be cold……so I need to be prepared to face a rush of cold air when I open the door.
I tap on my Merlin app and hit the “Sound” button. The Merlin app immediately starts recording all the bird sounds it hears around me……I am utterly amazed by the variety of birds who call and sing near my front porch.
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My front porch is surrounded by a good amount of suitable cover for birds - shrubs, bushes and trees. This year is my second year of using the Merlin app to help identify birds and bird sounds.
The Merlin Bird ID app, developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, is a free, user-friendly tool that helps you identify birds by sight and sound, drawing on the eBird database and the Macaulay Library for accurate identification. Birds can be identified by uploading a photo or by recording calls and songs.
My front porch is the best birding hotspot around
On many mornings on my porch, I regularly identify around 4 to 6 birds in less than a minute - usually the American Robin, Northern Cardinal, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, American Crow and the Song Sparrow.
On March 22, I recorded 16 - yes, sixteen different birds from about 7:16 AM to 7:37 AM! This is the most I have recorded on my front porch in one morning.
Birds identified by the Merlin app on the morning of March 22: American Robin, House Finch, Northern Cardinal, American Crow, Mourning Dove, Dark-eyed Junco, Downy Woodpecker, Pine Siskin (a first for me), Canada Goose, Merlin (another first for me), White-breasted Nuthatch, Pileated Woodpecker, American Goldfinch, Black-capped Chickadee, Blue Jay and Tufted Titmouse.
The Merlin bird, new to my life list, is a small falcon and was probably migrating north. A beautiful sounding bird:
The Pine Siskin is a new addition to my Life List…..and hangs out with Goldfinches.
More information on the free Merlin Bird app and how to get it here.
Some of my favorite Substack birders who continue to inspire and educate me:
Neil Barker with his poetic Meditations on Nature, James Freitas with Rock & Hawk, Nathaniel Bowler with Birding with BillBow and Aria Vink with The Soaring Pencil.
Upcoming Posts
The latest edition of Running on Substack comes out on or before Monday, April 14. Running on Substack is a curated directory of running-related Substack newsletters. The directory focuses solely on running and running-related subjects, making it a convenient destination that simplifies your search. The latest edition commemorates the Boston Marathon - make sure you are subscribed (for free).
Planning notes for a Grand Canyon hike from rim to rim
I am deep into the planning stages of our upcoming October hike in the Grand Canyon. Stay tuned for a post on the details that go into such a hike - for what is sure to be an iconic adventure for me.
Exploring the Finger Lakes of New York
Living close to the Finger Lakes, I have spent quite a bit of time exploring this area. Look for information on hiking, trail running, camping, fishing, wineries, gorges, waterfalls and special events. Perfect for summer trip planning.
Announcing my new easily-searchable directory
I made a few improvements to my Substack website and in the process, created a new directory (yes using tags!) so readers like you can easily search my content based on your interests. Now every post I have written and published is categorized - just click on a topic to get a list of all those posts. Here is a link to the new Directory.
And don’t forget to visit my Substack website here.
Other Substack writers who inspire me
I have been on Substack for a little over a year and I keep adding new subscriptions as my interests expand. I think this is good…..I am enjoying the journey.
Brenda Uekert of Nature Listening Points recounts her 1,000 mile hike in her new book entitled, The Woman on the Ferry: A journey of 1,000 Miles to Redefine Success and Discover Joy. Read more about her book launch and how you can get involved and get a copy here.
Looking for more great Substack publications on adventure? Check out Jesse McEntee’s Guide to Adventure Newsletters on Substack here. I am honored to be included.
Will Pattiz writes in More Than Just Parks about those annoying Reservation Gods: Who Stole Our Campsites - and Sold Them Back to Us. I can relate to this issue when I had to book campsite reservations at least 6 months in advance for waterfront sites in the Adirondacks.
Sarah Lavender Smith in Mountain Running & Living writes about Buzz Burrell - best known for his efforts with Fastest Known Time but he is also a multi-sport adventurer. Read all about him here.
Erik Hogan from Field Notes continues to inspire me with his adventures in the mountains of Georgia and his landscape photography. He asks us - Where does the creative drive within us arise from? Read about his thoughts on creativity here.
Wes Siler’s Newsletter is much more than just a newsletter about leading an exciting life outdoors as he says. Wes has been writing about outdoor subjects for 22 years for several well-known print publications. Now on Substack, he covers what is really going on in the national parks, the BLM and much more. Two of my favorite recent posts of his are: What Americans Can Learn As Europe Prepares for War and Everything is Happening On Public Lands All at Once.
Have you been thinking about getting fitter this year? Maybe complete a running event in the Fall? Terrell Johnson of The Half Marathoner writes about more than just running. Here is his plan to get fit by the Fall or as close to that as possible.
Jon Norris of Explore Landscapes writes about escaping to Joshua Tree National Park for Silence. Solitude. Space. Just what I need right now. Thanks to Jon’s stunning photography, I am in love with Joshua Tree National Park. Hoping to visit there soon.
Keith Myers of the Keith’s RWK Newsletter covers his recent trip to Finland in several Substack posts. If you are at all interested in visiting Finland for winter fun, hiking, saunas and more, then scurry over to his newsletter here.
I seem to worry too much these days - especially when I am planning a new adventure. Laura Lollar of Laura’s Letters provides an excellent framework to help me address that here.
What I am reading right now in print
Grand Canyon Rim to Rim History by Davy Crockett. This is the definitive book on the people’s history of the Grand Canyon over the past 150 years through the fascinating eyewitness accounts of those who blazed its trails and took on the formidable challenge of crossing the Canyon from rim to rim.
8,000 Miles Across Alaska: A Runner’s Journeys on the Iditarod Trail by Jill Homer and Tim Hewitt.
Jill Homer writes on Substack at Adventure Unpacked.
This is the story of Tim Hewitt's adventures across Alaska — the harrowing weather conditions, breathtaking scenery, kindness of strangers, humorous misadventures, humbling setbacks and heroic victories. From fierce competition with his fellow racers, to traveling backward on the trail to ensure the safety of his wife, to battling for his own survival, Tim has amassed a lifetime of experiences amid the harsh miles of the Iditarod Trail.
A Walk in the Park: The True Story of a Spectacular Misadventure in the Grand Canyon by Kevin Fedarko. Kevin covers his own epic 750 mile journey. I keep picking the book up and reading it and putting it down. I am not sure if I should read the entire book as I am planning on my own “little” walk in the park.
Thank you for joining me on my front porch. Please come back soon.
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That porch looks like an amazing spot to sit with coffee and the birds! I’ve been constantly trying to catch up on my to-do list these past few weeks and I haven’t taken enough time to just sit in nature—I need to find my own outdoor bench or chair to do some birdwatching from!
My father-in-law likes to watch birds at his cabin, and now I have an app to recommend to him. Thank you!