We birders share common cause with farmers in our obsession with seasons, always wondering what new crop of avifauna is coming in. But any time of year is the right time to pay attention to uncommon avian behavior, even from common birds. For example, I saw all kinds of special species this weekend, but nothing impressed me more than displays of the tyranny of tiny birds. First, I witnessed Ruby-throated Hummingbirds haranguing a Cedar Waxwing in suburban Rochester. The next day saw Barn Swallows berating a Sharp-shinned Hawk in rural Potter County, PA.

Corey enjoyed visits to the East Pond of Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge on both Saturday and Sunday. Though no major rarities were around he still enjoyed the shorebirding, especially considering how many juvenile Short-billed Dowitchers were around. Any of those dowitchers, gorgeous in the juvenile plumage, was his Best Bird of the Weekend.

How about you? What was your best bird of the weekend? Tell us in the comments section about the rarest, loveliest, or most fascinating bird you observed. If you’ve blogged about your weekend experience, you should include a link in your comment.

Written by Mike
Mike is a leading authority in the field of standardized test preparation, but he's also a traveler who fully expects to see every bird in the world. Besides founding 10,000 Birds in 2003, Mike has also created a number of other entertaining but now extirpated nature blog resources, particularly the Nature Blog Network and I and the Bird.