If I’m a birder, I’m an opportunistic birder. I rarely travel specifically to look for birds (see Steller’s for the exception). However, I will look for birds—and butterflies, wildflowers, cool trees, and shiny rocks—around the places I do go. After errands, while running, between day-to-day life stuff—often there are slices of opportunity.
This opportunistic outlook partly comes from New England frugality, an effort to save time and money. Another part comes from being a maximizer who thinks I need to cram as much benefit as possible into everything #optimize. Lastly, there’s the basic human desire for new sights and experiences.
Regardless of reasons, finding nearby green spaces and public trails can add pleasure to my day. Thanks to opportunistic birding, I recently spotted two new species by my doctor’s office on an ordinary Tuesday morning.
Despite knowing for years that a multi-use trail AND two eBird hotspots are right next to my doctor’s office (I can see them from the parking lot), I only walked out there this month after an appointment. I wasn’t expecting two new life birds, but opportunity landed. Or rather Prairie Warblers and Field Sparrows—back-to-back firsts for me. The two college students with binoculars studiously watching and taking notes were my first clue to pay attention to the little birds along the airport’s chain-link fence.
Lifer #306: Prairie Warblers
Lifer #307: Field Sparrows
Opportunistic can have a negative vibe—overly aggressive, pushy, unprincipled—but I think it also can mean taking fuller notice of the opportunities, wonders, and beauty around. Maybe being opportunistic is more efficient—saving time, conserving energy, which I think birds would understand. But it’s also finding new-to-you places. New birds. New paths and views.
Brunswick Landing and Bowdoin Sand Plain
I’ll check AllTrails for trails and eBird for birdy spots near me when I have a slice of free time, which is how I ended up on Maine’s Brunswick Landing Perimeter Trail and Bowdoin Sand Plain next to the Brunswick Executive Airport. In addition to Prairie Warblers and Field Sparrows, I saw and heard mockingbirds, vireos, ovenbirds, ospreys, and more.
Northern Mockingbirds
Savannah Sparrows
Common Yellowthroats
Song Sparrows
Heron and Raven
Butterflies & More
In addition to birds flying and people walking, running, and biking, there were also butterflies flitting around, like this Viceroy (above). I was late to the party and wondered why I hadn’t visited sooner. I’ll take the next opportunity though.
Bonus Birds
Finally, what’s a bird walk next to an airport without airplanes.
Click on an image above to see it larger. All pictures copyrighted and taken by me (Alicia MacLeay).
Edited to add: If you’re into identifying big birds, my husband says those planes are: 1) Beechcraft C-12 Huron (U.S. Army version of the Beechcraft 200 Super King Air), 2) Piper Super Cub, and 3) Piper PA-22. I took his word for it.