Stoney Creek (Wintergreen) 3/29/2011


Had a cold, but interesting morning here in Stoney Creek. It was still below freezing when I left the house at 8:30. Red-winged Blackbirds were calling next to Lake Monocan, and there was a male Common Merganser and a Pied-billed Greebe in the lake. Turkey Vultures were drying their wings in the early morning sunlight.


Common Merganser


Common Merganser - breakfast?


Common Merganser


Turkey Vulture

After a short walk through the Allen Creek Nature Preserve, I headed over to the lake at Waters Edge. There was a large flock of about 30 swallows - mostly Tree Swallows, but also a few Northern Rough-winged and Barn Swallows (FOS). I kept looking for a Violet-green mixed in, but no luck on this species.


Swallows


Northern Rough-winged Swallow


Northern Rough-winged Swallow


Tree Swallow


Tree Swallow


Tree Swallow


Barn Swallow

I also saw Black Vultures, Cardinals, Bluebirds, Phoebes, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Song and Chipping Sparrows, Dark-eyed Juncos, Canada Geese, Crows, Bluebirds, Blue Jays, Carolina Wrens and Chickadees, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-bellied and Pileated Woodpeckers, Flickers, American Goldfinches, and a Brown Creeper. That's 27 species in a couple of hours - not too bad for a cold morning.


Brown Creeper



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