This will probably be my last posting for a few days. We have hurricane Sandy moving up the east coast and then forecasted to turn sharply inland, and then forecasted to combine with a cold front moving in from the northwest. The red square in the photo to the right shows where Stoney Creek is located. We may be out of power for a few days, and probably will not have internet access.
|
I headed out this morning to see if the hurricane had driven any coastal birds inland. There were lots of birds out and about, frantically foraging for food as if they knew they would have to be hunkered down soon. A large flock of Yellow-rumped Warblers had arrived here in Stoney Creek.
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Eastern Bluebird
Eastern Bluebird
Eastern Bluebirds
Downy Woodpeckers
Dark-eyed Junco
Canada Geese
I got a distant view and photo of a thrush this morning. Although it most likely is a Hermit Thrush, it doesn't look like a Hermit Thrush to me. The malar area is brown and not white, the breast spots that I can see are not very bold, and the tips of the greater coverts are not lighter than the rest of these feathers. I don't see the spectacles that would make it a Swainson's, and the rufous primaries and tail feathers rule out Gray-cheeked. Is it possible that it is a Bicknell's Thrush that may have been blown from coastal areas by the hurricane?
Thrush
Hungry Squirrel
I went out agian in the early afternoon to try to re-locate the thrush for a better identification. I couldn't find it, but did see 5 additional species for the day bringing the day's total to 27 species: Belted Kingfisher, Mallard, Chipping Sparrow, Brown Thrasher, and a late season, female (first fall?) Black-throated Blue Warbler. The BTB Warbler had a somewhat unusual undertail coloration.
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
When I got home, there were Purple Finches at my feeder, bringing the day's total to 28.
Purple Finches
Squeeze play at home - this afternoon's radar
This morning's list (22 species):
White-throated Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Turkey Vulture American Goldfinch Downy Woodpecker Pileated Woodpecker Red-bellied Woodpecker Tufted Titmouse Carolina Chickadee Carolina Wren Blue Jay Bluebird American Crow Northern Cardinal Northern Mockingbird Hermit Thrush Canada Goose White-breasted Nuthatch Yellow-rumped Warbler Eastern Phoebe |
