It's been sunny here after a cold front moved into the area, but with temperatures at or below freezing with brisk winds, it did feel a bit blustery. At least the path through the Western Park wetlands was frozen enough to be passable.
January 19I hiked in Western park and along the golf course pond, and then hiked down to where a Great Horned Owl had been reported. I didn't find the owl, but ended up with 18 avian species. A pair of Gadwalls had joined the female Common Merganser and Canada Geese in the pond.
Gadwalls, Common Merganser, and Canada Geese
Red-shouldered Hawk
Swamp Sparrow
Northern Flicker
Hermit Thrush
I hiked the same route this morning. It was even colder than yesterday. Both resident Red-shouldered Hawks were out. One was in Western Park and the other by the golf course pond. The Gadwalls and Canada Geese were gone, but the female Common Merganser was swimming by herself in the pond. Well, that answered one question for me. Every time I have seen the Common Merganser since last December 2, there had been at least one Canada Goose in the pond as well, and I didn't know if the Common Merganser was following the geese or was on its own. I ended up with 15 avian species today, including a few that I didn't see yesterday.
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Common Merganser
Common Merganser and Red-shouldered Hawk
Song Sparrow
Carolina Wren