My Apologies To All

Attention Everyone,

It is with a heavy heart that I say that I must take another hiatus from Local Exploration.  The harder I fight to get back into the swing of things, the more difficult it becomes to manage.  I can’t promise that this isn’t the end of my little blog either and I would hate to go out on this note.

Life has found a way to intrude on the hobbies I love the most, so I am taking a few steps back to evaluate and reassess.  I hope you all understand that this isn’t something I want to do, but feel it is necessary to keep Local Exploration intact.  I am only one person with little to no time these days.

I apologize to you all.

Derrick Eidam

3 Years Ago Today

Brood II Cicada

WordPress has just informed me that it has been three years since I embarked on my photography/outdoor awareness project, Local Exploration!  I feel it’s time to come out of hiding to let you know what’s been going on the last few weeks.

For starters, I haven’t really done any hiking since visiting Connecticut back towards the middle of May.  I never got around to posting the bounty of photos from that trip, but I do intend to one day.  For the most part, a lot of my time has been taken up by my job, home projects, and an online course that I’m working through.

I am, however, still taking photos.  My latest obsession involves leaving a light on outside at night and taking pictures of moths in the morning.  Every morning has become quite an adventure!  Add in those brood II cicadas that come up every 17 years which have plagued our little town, and there has been no lack of things to take pictures of in the short term.

I still feel pretty overwhelmed and lost in life right now, but I certainly see light at the end of the tunnel.  How long it takes for me to get there though, is anyones guess.  I think I will try to pop in from time to time now just so people know I still think of Local Exploration and its followers quite a bit.

24 Hours at Peach Hill During Migration

Magnolia Warbler

Like last year, I took a few days off to try and coincide with the annual Spring migration.  Typically, I will travel to several places of interest in an effort to find and photograph as many species as humanly possible.

This year was slightly different… I spent every hour of my time off at Peach Hill Park.  It has been the place that I’ve always had great success, and this year I was even more prepared.  I had a majority of the bird calls (especially warblers) down pat, plenty of food, water, bug spray and sunscreen.

2013 did not disappoint.  Let me tell you about my amazing time at what can arguably be called the best place to bird watch in Dutchess County in Spring.

New Bird Photographed – Cape May Warbler

Cape May Warbler

I love Spring migration!

I have spent the last two days at Peach Hill Park in Dutchess County with a simple goal… observe and photograph as many birds as possible.  It’s a place that I know very well, which is why I go back time after time, year after year.  Even observing more than 100 species there, I continue to find new life birds.

For example, take a look at the beautiful Cape May Warbler.  I got to see several of them during my time there.  Every time I saw one, I got a slightly better photo.

The ‘Olympus List’ Saga

Eastern Meadowlark (Photo from 4/8/09)

Most of you know that I started my wildlife photography passion back in 2009 with an Olympus SLR.  I photographed quite a few birds back then, and when I upgraded to Canon, I wanted to try and photograph every bird I had captured with the Olympus.  The remaining list I call the ‘Olympus List’.

There are only three birds left on the list – the Red-Headed Woodpecker, the Worm-eating Warbler, and the Eastern Meadowlark.  The oldest is the meadowlark, with the photo dating back to April 8th, 2009!  I took that shot before I even had a telephoto lens!

Well, we can cross two of those three off the list this month.  I’ll give you a hint… its too early for worm-eating warblers…

Here’s Some Warbler Photos for Earth Day!

Palm Warbler

I had to work on Earth Day, but I had a pretty amazing weekend filled with plenty of warbler sightings across Dutchess and Ulster County.  I’ve been trying to spend one day each weekend in each county, so not only do I feeling like I’m exploring new places, but I’m getting to my original favorite places as well!

I was able to get to Vassar Farm, Buttercup Farm Sanctuary & Cary Institute on Saturday, and John Burroughs Sanctuary & Kingston Point Park on Sunday.  Here’s a compilation of all the warbler-y goodness!

New Bird Photographed – Louisiana Waterthrush

Louisiana Waterthrush

To be honest, I would have thought I’d see one by now, given the considerable amount of time I spend near marshes and wetlands.

While hiking at the John Burroughs Sanctuary in West Park, New York, I came across a new swamp that I checked out.  I found a small bird walking through the marsh, almost like a sandpiper, but without the long legs.  His song was distinct to me, as I’ve listened to recordings to make myself more aware of their presence out in the field.

It was a Louisiana Waterthrush, and I got some great looks for a first time sighting!  Let’s hope spring brings me some more new species!