Month 12: September 2011

Here is a long overdue synopsis of the final month of my year of observations for A Bird a Day.

It was a full-circle kind of feeling as summer grudgingly gave way to autumn, the season during which I started this project a year ago.

Did I say grudgingly? I should say, unwillingly! The cicadas were my favorite constant throughout the month (and they were still at it in early October, on the occasional warm morning).

Here are some audio snapshots of the last month:

September 30, 2011
 6:50am, Franklin Park, Jamaica Plain, MA
Let it be noted, the cicadas still sing on the last day of September! Crickets and an annoyed robin as well.


September 26, 2011
 8:40am, Franklin Park, Jamaica Plain, MA
Um, here come the nuthatches. They are so funny, I don't mind, especially since the cicadas still sing. Yes I am a summer-addict...



September 23, 2011
7:50am, my house, Jamaica Plain, MA
My old friend, showing off two of his calls




September 22, 2011
8am, Franklin Park, Jamaica Plain, MA
Still the cicadas persist, to my delight! I say it's still summer as long as they're singing (we'll just ignore that chickadee..)..


September 20, 2011
1pm, London Heathrow Airport
I got a kick out of this singing flying thing as it was landing. I fumbled for my recorder and got this snippet, though I missed a really great (almost vocal) gliss:

Seems fair to give the man-made bird one nod in the whole year, no?

September 19, 2011
9:50am, Parc de l'11 de Setembre, Vilafranca del Penedes, Catalunya, Spain
I love the Catalan version of mourning doves: listen to the overlapping birds. A gentle but steady undercurrent to the blustery traffic of the adjacent road.


Also this great avian groove:


September 18, 2011
8:30am, vineyards by Vilafranca del Penedes, Catalunya, Spain
This bird stopped me in my tracks, though he was too well-concealed in a hedge for me to glimpse:

I also loved this quiet chorus of birds clustered in a tree:


September 17, 2011
9am, vineyards by Vilafranca del Penedes, Spain
I love this gurgling squeaking bird!


And this wild whistler:


Some more wacky and wonderful bird sounds (plus mosquito - no sign of fall here!!):


September 10, 2011
8am, my backyard, Jamaica Plain, MA
A fun duet between my neighbors: chickadee and Carolina Wren.



September 9, 2011
10am, my backyard, Jamaica Plain, MA
My daily alarm clock. I mostly love this guy (Carolina Wren), though sometimes he's up before I'm ready to be (though not today!)


September 8, 2011
5:45pm, Franklin Park, Jamaica Plain, MA
Harbinger of fall! Squeaky chickadee.


September 5, 2011
9:15pm, Franklin Park, Jamaica Plain, MA
The cicadas still sing