12 replies to this topic

[hbvol]

I almost always go on my birding outings as early after sunrise as possible and usually knock of about noon. You know, that early bird/worm thing. Has anyone done well at other times of day. I was especially thinking about trying about an hour before sunset. Thoughts?

[TheBillyPilgrim]

I go quite often before sunset. Its not quite as active as sunrise for passerines, but I usually do pretty well. Plus, you get a better shot at owls and nightjars. I also find the middle of the day on really overcast or rainy days to be fairly productive...anything but the heat really!

[Parula]

i mean i love the morning but i usually go later in the day

[GreatHorn]

If you are willing to get up at the crack of dawn (or earlier!) I would suggest you keep that up. The later in the day, the less the birds are singing and moving about. Before sunset can provide some good opportunities, but it is far from on-par with the morning. Sometimes, I even find more in the afternoon than the evening. Luckily there are some birds, like ducks and sandpipers, that you can find throughout the entire day. Then I don't have to wake up at 6 AM all summer

[TheGodComplex]

I go during the morning, and try to go as early as possible. The latest I allow myself to be out the door by is 8AM.

[fisherman1313]

If I'm going with someone I get up and go early but if I'm going alone I usually go later in the day. I've had some great trips that did not start until after lunch, but I usually see more early in the morning. That said, I did go out in February to look for a Western Screech Owl pair that has been nesting at the local refuge for the last couple of years. I did not get to the refuge until 3:00pm but I had a terrific day with about 50 species and 7 species of raptor in 4 hours.

[madgramma]

I see plenty on my lunch hour walks. One of my favorite spots is 10 minutes from work and always worthwhile. I go there once a week, from 12-ish to 1-ish.

[creeker]

My birding often gets pushed to later in the day, due to work or baby duties. It's never quite as good as in the early A.M. Hey, I take what I can get!

[horseface]

I'm a crack of dawn kind of guy. If I can I like to get up while it's still dark and get out there right when the sun rises. I'm really sensitive to heat so in warmer months it's pretty vital when I go birding. But lunchtime walks and evening walks are fine too. Basically just avoid the heat.

[SPiercePhotography]

I have terrible luck in the early am, sadly ;( My sightings around here peak between 9/10am and 1pm, usually. I try to get up early in the morning and go out here and there to see if I see anything- and nada!

[fisherman1313]

I have terrible luck in the early am, sadly ;( My sightings around here peak between 9/10am and 1pm, usually. I try to get up early in the morning and go out here and there to see if I see anything- and nada!

I've been out on winter mornings where I did not see many birds unlit around 10:00, and then they started popping up all over the place. I think they are waiting for the day to warm up a little.

[SPiercePhotography]

I've been out on winter mornings where I did not see many birds unlit around 10:00, and then they started popping up all over the place. I think they are waiting for the day to warm up a little.

For some really strange reason, even in the summer no one's out in the early am! Heck, i even went to a rookery and didn't see anyone out until 10am. From like 6-9:30 i just walked miles and miles and... nada! The heron's here that have taken residence at the quabbin, too, don't really appear to be doing anything until about 10. so weird.

[madgramma]

Almost every day at around 7:45 AM or so, I see multiple wild turkeys. I haven't seen them on my noon walks, always in the morning. One morning there were eleven of them, all together.