I took advantage of a relatively nice day on Wednesday (I won't call it a spring day as it was still a bit chilly for April 18th) to do some birding over around Wellsboro. I visited Hills Creek State Park, Darling Run on Pine Creek and the blind at The Muck off route 287. I only spent about an hour at each yet got to see some real nice birds. HCSP afforded some close up views of Horned Grebes and Common Loons as well as a Pine Warbler and Sharp-shinned Hawk. Being quite overcast, the lighting wasn't the best.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3RTyxY2VrIiV8_CPD7PALENjJgdAhGsgmVYysfQW1fjHDUcXxgJGuZMHBHf7rJmu3ZhXjqUML153bsxQLDOhSYJVmN-cZY7YUn52UGB8Dls444g3uqDZxzTfz1TEGemZQL0em/s320/04a+Horned+Grebe.jpg) |
Horned Grebe |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlkJd14EuWEewzIzlm4gwgOhonSlohcFNQvxpIYgsqHMtd5hWIJAxYVjBRk4fWFGJHB6x1KX1ADXuDAjvvGWytjeD9wdoj-04xHndjh36Uok-gIDggdEEcvUQTEuSHgoJJ0aiY/s320/02+Common+Loon.jpg) |
Common Loon |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaLNIgWE7tUTghIOv82DYKWcLsHNnJ_MQguLmfROsKBqXEeQeWG3-FMgYy1ExtmOKBnDVDgOtAu8Eve5EuVfBKb1hI7PDYP_QPiQmgeWBGfmZrZfz1Em-Ay_Gbv4_VxGe2iPpi/s320/01+Pine+Warbler.jpg) |
Pine Warbler |
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![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgldSZZ1KADaWTkyxOLwtwCAvnYUwb5E-vhPu4ASXyNRut65DovZfyzqQafQX4VlyODafv0YPWwVIKMVjmVLDtYht9vHv50GqqH9jdziTzAmhdf_SzYkeDtOhkOQDmNRxMOEmag/s320/03+Sharp-shinned+Hawk.jpg) |
Sharp-shinned Hawk |
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The are of Darling Run (from the parking lot up to Pine Creek's confluence with Marsh Creek) allowed plenty of sightings of Ruby-Crowned Kinglets but those little buggers were way to quick for me to get a picture. The Belted Kingfisher always had its head turned the wrong way! And the Common Mergansers were j-u-s-t too far for a good shot.
The Muck provided pretty good views of Bufflehead and Green-winged Teal, but the use of autofocus with my camera gave me mixed success with other birds that hid behind and among the cattails. I had a Harrier fly past, too.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX7aCbv6dQskoJ6-vFgb4dtO9EU_kEqiWfkEMkCOGtqigU-AbOOOQC89WXtl7GawFx473BLSIbXeoNgu-agtHnJ91rKxj9gmdi4mOUuCBYgr0k8rtLg_OAGfJxTbAmWQCM6tVr/s320/01+Bufflehead.jpg) |
Bufflehead, four males and one female (on the left) |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcJYQsZ35HrgfnblObaTfga6cBssrwZ6UBuWXUZhb1ACar70-Pc9SwkXEB0yA2C_fsVVkRAkxeCpOT1hfSnQqr9lWA91KBU_vGb7IZaEkGGX-VJLnzL1lg6M431-j2UqUoj-Kf/s320/02+Green-winged+Teal.jpg) |
Green-winged Teal |
I tried to get a picture of the Swamp Sparrow right outside the blind, but the camera kept focusing on the reeds. Then the bird took flight just as I pushed the button compounding the problem.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-WrCKifeLeU34Q594BMGGjjNeikXHgs5xwxjal4yJ-_TsbvnMJtSGPp0_kmlYKCcZv7ysR7bRL1jcD1lX7ukPU961KcBeGcnYhd6JU7BMRhH5wh8yuzdp2PyQduOXgehC7F8O/s320/03+Swamp+Sparrow.jpg) |
Swamp Sparrow |
Even a relatively cooperative Red-winged Blackbird sitting on a nesting box got messed up by the reeds.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAa09MFGEG3r4h1QU21fLLosQb_wldiz3A8JT7zUW1EEnOzteS1uUl-2tuP8tFhR8O_YKe1SGM8vn53ZXlpvlQk1kGKOtuLYj7FZJorvYM0gVe0on_POJ0SmodqX-7iLJ21M4f/s320/04+Red-winged+Blackbird.jpg) |
Red-wing behind the reeds. |
I had to be careful to shoot between the reeds with a point focus setting.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRF3BuhWhAKsB9f-zZe66j6Cm7gruj4C-lQiR9lL5T2o9LKd5stcoP2U2U09yTDzb_TszSXVckYxMRhtqdKR-RwIN48OoJgoS9thpFxCiJCz1u-zyHgvRSUv0U-YQdZAVuXyB0/s320/04a+Red-winged+Blackbird.jpg) |
Red-winged Blackbird. |
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I might have to go back to using my (heavy) Sony Alpha with the 600mm lens and manual focus.
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