Simple beauty and rarity - Exton Park (Church Farm School)

Bam!! That's right suckers Defina was first on a Snowy this year! *Pumps fist*  Yes, I just high-fived myself.

One of my favorite places to bird and observe nature is Exton Park behind the Church Farm School in West Whiteland, PA. It's close to my house and has a very diverse ecosystem. Hundreds of species of birds have been observed, some of them extremely rare. There are also many species that breed here.

My last walk here was a few days ago. Most noteworthy was a fairly rare Chester county sighting of a pair of Snowy Egrets. I've been told that Snowy's usually appear in Chester county as a single bird but that a pair isn't common. I wasn't 100% sure that they were Snowy Egrets, but the photos confirmed this. Immature birds often don't have the clearest markings that an adult bird will show.

Anyway, I was pretty damn pumped when I saw them. Always cool being the first to snag a species and see all the other birders come get it, or try to get it.

More on Exton Park at www.friendsofextonpark.com

Immature Snowy Egret

Not to be lost was the great views of a Green Heron. This bird is way common but it's still pretty spectacular. My photos kind of suck but you can get the idea of the collar, contrast and crest of the bird. It's call is a duck-like bark. I love to see birds like this and be reminded of the simple beauty of a common thing. I wish I could show all my non-birding friends what I'm seeing. I guess I'm a nature evangelist.

Green Heron

We saw nothing new and it was awesome - Crow's Nest Preserve

I literally pray "God please give me a new bird sighting" when I go out. It feels childish and bratty but I do it anyway. Usually my prayers are answered with something cool. A new species, a baby fox, a beaver working.  The other day I was pumped. I was hitting a new place called Crow's Nest Preserve with some friends. These guys are awesome birders and knowledgeable about nature. I'm certain to see all kinds of stuff.


We met at around 5 and immediately logged some Indigo Buntings, Blue-winged warbler and Yellow Throated Vireos. Very cool to see with the yellows and blues but all fairly common birds. I was hoping to see a Hooded Warbler. As we walked along and time went on I started to think my hunt for the Hooded was not going to be successful. But a funny thing happened. It was still fun!

We prowled the woods and fields and meadows and kept seeing birds, but we also had a chance to shoot the shit about life...mostly around nature, but we fell into a friendly banter that men can have. No girls, we didn't talk about our feelings, just...stuff.

This Crow's Nest is a Chester County gem. We found a lot of diverse plant life and it's the first time I've ever seen Cardinal flower blooming in the wild.  Looks like something a hummingbird would dig on.

Cardinal Flower



Adventure? Damn right!

Yo friends and people who don't know they are my friend!

You might be one of two groups. The first group is like "Birding! Awesome, love it, tell me more". The other, likely larger group is saying "Adventures? Really? Isn't that word a bit strong?"  To the latter I must say I have made an amazing discovering! Sure, roll your eyes more and my daring, my brazen tone but it's true. Over the last 2 years I've been spending a lot of time running around in forests, fields, swamps and near rivers, lakes and ponds mostly within 30 minutes of my house and I've found really cool, neat stuff that I never knew was so close. My child like delight of being outside has returned! Tons of birds, but also fox, beaver, beautiful settings and the amazing natural beauty under our noses. You know that expression "stop and smell the roses"?

Sometimes I am chasing down a bird that I heard about on ebird.org. Like yesterday, when I ran over to Exton Park in my business casual clothing, speed walking in the mud and getting eaten by bugs and stuck my sticker bushes (yeah, I'm hardcore) just to see an immature little blue heron.

Once I ran out to see a Glossy Ibis in my PJ's and slippers. Dork? Definitely. But bite me, it's fun!

So I begin my journal/adventure log.

I will try not to be too crude, but if you met my dad you'd understand if I slip up once in awhile.

Finally, stealing something cool from the documentary "Central Park Effect"

In his “Seven Pleasures of Birding,” Chris Cooper explains how these small creatures enhance the lives of the people who come to Central Park to watch, listen and learn from their avian neighbors. We find:

1. The beauty of the birds.
2. The joy of being in a natural setting.
3. The joys of scientific discovery.
4. The joy of hunting, without the bloodshed.
5. The joy of puzzle-solving (identifying the birds).
6. The joy of collecting (listing each sighting).
7. “The Unicorn Effect” (finding a bird that you know only from the field guide).