It was a beautiful morning on the trail - mostly sunny skies and cool temperatures. The cold front that came through the area yesterday cleared out the air, and many of the smaller birds were eager to forage in the brush and did not mind the brisk winds.
As soon as I started downstream, I saw a Savannah Sparrow, a Palm Warbler, and a few other species. The first winter Red-winged Blackbirds showed interesting patterns in their plumage.
Savannah Sparrow
Palm Warbler
Eastern Towhee
First winter Red-winged Blackbirds
First winter Red-winged Blackbird
Just past the picnic table, I watched a small flock of at least four Tennessee Warblers, and around the turn on Glenthorne Loop I saw the first of many Yellow-rumped Warblers.
Tennessee Warblers
Tennessee Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warblers
Near the second wooden bridge on the Glenthorne Loop trail, I saw a female Black-throated Blue Warbler. This warbler was in about the same location where I saw a warbler two days ago, and I called that one a Tennessee Warbler, but I think that this is the same bird, and BTB is the correct species.
Female Black-throated Blue Warbler
Female Black-throated Blue Warbler
The bog area had lots of birds in it. I got a fleeting glimpse of an American Redstart (either a female or first year male), and was treated to a Blue-headed Vireo and a White-crowned Sparrow.
White-throated Sparrow
American Redstart
Blue-headed Vireo
White-crowned Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
I ended my hike returning on the downstream trail, and a Great Blue Heron made my species count go to 30 for the morning.
Great Blue Heron
This morning's list (30 species):
American Crow Black Vulture Turkey Vulture Eastern Phoebe Eastern Bluebird Blue Jay Northern Mockingbird Blue-headed Vireo Great Blue Heron Field Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Eastern Towhee Red-winged Blackbird Carolina Wren Eastern Meadowlark Red-bellied Woodpecker American Goldfinch Northern Cardinal Ruby-crowned Kinglet Tennessee Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Palm Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler American Redstart |