Headed out at 5:30 this morn to hit the mountains of western Maryland for Golden-winged Warbler and Henslow’s Sparrow. Thanks to local bird club member, Kurt, for being up for the excursion and for doing the driving.
Just got Common Raven for the year!
Wish us luck! 🙂
I leave Sunday for the BIGGEST of the Mom’s Big Year trips so far and still have oodles of items on the to-do list.  I’m starting to accept the fact that they’re just not going to get done. I kept thinking I had another week and it dawned on me the other day that my plane leaves for Austin early THIS Sunday!
I texted one of my dearest and oldest friends yesterday and confided in her that with everything going on — I just didn’t feel quite ready for this big and exciting adventure.
Her response….
Here’s to another 30+ years of friendship, Tamar!  Thank you for always dishing out EXACTLY what I need to hear when I need it most!
XOXO, Nancy
My day in 4 words. Work. Birds. Chocolate. Laundry.
In that order. 🙂
Didn’t think I’d get to squeeze in some birding to day with end-of the semester grades due soon and lots of loose ends to tie up at work….. but I did! Â And the little bit of birding I did do was quite productive. Â Chestnut-sided Warbler in the yard, Olive-sided Flycatcher nearby and Common Nighthawks streaming in over Centennial Lake this eve.
about to get BIGGER!
After several teary goodbyes to my youngest this morning….I showed up to class in my hiking boots, gave my students their last exam for the semester, plugged in their grades and went straight to the airport.  I’m heading to ‘The Biggest Week in American Birding’ at Magee Marsh in Ohio and I’m SUPER excited! 😃
Looking forward to reconnecting with old friends, making some new ones, and adding some new species to the MBY list!
Will report back soon! 
I spent yesterday’s environmental science lecture discussing the ins and outs of forest fragmentation and the impact of the edge effect on forest-interior dwelling species. Super fun for me as I had a chance talk about wood thrushes, cowbirds and such.  I usually keep my cell phone on the podium so I can watch the time… Unbeknownst to my students, I saw several texts come in about a juvenile yellow-crowned night heron that had just been discovered at Centennial lake.  🙂  It’s a bird not frequently seen in my home county and one I still needed for the year. I wanted to end class early and hop in my car…. but I resisted! 🙂
and discovers herself along the way
A mom reinventing herself through her passion for birds.
LIFE IN THE SLOW LANE
Mom's Big Year 