The sun was out this morning, but the temperature when I left the hotel around 9:00 a.m. was 33 degrees, and the winds were strong. It felt really cold to be out birding, and I wondered if most of the smaller birds would be hunkered down. I stopped along the farm fields on Egypt Road, and saw a few American Pipits and Horned Larks braving the wind and cold.
American Pipit
Horned Lark
When I got to Wildlife Drive, I found that many of the birds were battling the winds, or puffed up to keep warm.
Red-shouldered Hawk
Hermit Thrush
But the Bald Eagles were out, and I saw my first Northern Harrier of the trip.
Bald Eagle
Bald Eagle
Bald Eagle
Juvenile Bald Eagle
Sub-adult (Basic I/II) Bald Eagle
Sub-adult (Basic II) Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
The trees in the wooded trails shielded some of the wind, and a few more birds were viewable there.
Eastern Bluebird
Pileated Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Song Sparrow
Song Sparrow
As I drove along the water areas, I saw a huge flock of Tundra Swans and a single Snowy Egret.
Tundra Swans
Tundra Swans
Snowy Egret
Snowy Egret
Snowy Egret
Great Blue Heron
I wear thin gloves during cold weather so that I can operate my camera, and small chemical hot packets inside my gloves kept my palms warm, but by the time I finished my second loop on Wildlife Drive, I could barely feel my fingers, so I decided to head back to the hotel. I stopped at the farm fields, and saw more Killdeers and an American Pipit.
American Pipit
American Pipit
As I was leaving the farm fields, I saw a late season Palm Warbler, but was only able to get a couple of photos through the car windshield before it disappeared into the farmland stubble.
Palm Warbler