Latest posts
Ask SIB – Will the wildfires affect bird migration?
Recently a question came up in a discussion about a Solitary Sandpiper. The Merlin bird identification app indicated it was a little early to be seeing it in our area (normally they don’t arrive here until August) but one was spotted in a marsh area on Ocean Winds golf course. Does this mean the bird…
The Early Bird Gets the Worm
This morning, I woke up extra early. Yesterday, the temperatures in Pennsylvania rose into the 90’s. During the night, the temperatures dropped into the high 60’s; perfect for sleeping with the windows open. That means the early morning “Dawn Chorus” woke me up. At 5:20 AM, though it was still dark outside, the abundant American…
2025, A Year of Birding
Birding is a hobby for many of us. A hobby engages people at a level of their choosing. A hobbyist is not an expert nor a professional. They can be dabblers or very proficient. Birding styles fall into a continuum from casual backyard feeder watching to someone who birds often, usually locally, to someone who…
Ecuador Adventure Part 5 – Oddballs
Anyone who has been following my series on our vacation in Ecuador knows that I covered the Galapagos Island in a series of 4 blogs, and Ecuador via 4 blogs focusing on specific groups of birds – Antpittas, Hummingbirds, Toucans and Allies, and Tanagers. All this barely scratched the surface. In this final blog about…
Join SIB – Beyond Our Backyard – Pitt Street Causeway to Watermark Lake
Thursday, Jan. 15 8:30 am– 3:30 pmTrip to Pitt Street CausewayLocation: Meet at SI Real Estate Office to Carpool at 8:30 am (Or meet at Pitt Street Causeway at 9:300 am) Trip Leader: Bob Mercer Max: 10 Cost: Free to members, $10 per guest REGISTER NOW…
Ecuador Birding Adventure – Part 4 – Tanagers
If you thought the hummingbirds were numerous (134 species), the family Cardinalidae has 178 species in Ecuador, this includes but is not limited to Cardinals, Tanagers, Flowerpiercers, Honeycreepers, Danis, Seedeaters, Finches and Saltators. Since there are so many bird species in Cardinalidae, I will focus this blog just on the birds with Tanager in their…
Ecuador Birding Adventure – Part 3 – Trogon and Toucan and Kin
Most birders who have explored outside of the Unted States have labeled the Trogon and its close relative Quetzal as highly desirable sightings. Ask any child or anyone who has eaten Fruit Loops and they know about Toucans! The Toucans are closely related to Barbets and Toucanets. You know we wanted to find them! During…
Sad news: George Haskins obituary
Seabrook Island Birders recently lost one of its founders. George Haskins passed away on November 2, 2025, at the age of 92. For many years, George spent his winters on Seabrook Island, moving away only a few years ago when he was no longer able to make the trip from Syracuse, NY. While on Seabrook…
Birding Ecuador – Part 2 – Hummingbirds
Here in the eastern United States, we love our hummingbird. I say that in the singular as we only have one species regularly found in the East. Occasionally a couple western species drop in, but not regularly like the Ruby-throated Hummingbird drawn to our feeders. In Ecuador, birders have recorded 132 species of hummingbirds. On…
Birding Ecuador – Part 1 Antpittas
In late July and early August, Eileen and I were in Ecuador. We spend 14 days on a trip arranged by Wildside Nature Tours entitled “Ecuador West to East Andes.” We would find over 400 species of birds, and I was able to capture photographs of 226 of them. Instead of giving you a blow…
