Cooper's Hawk
I've been birding here in Old Trail for more than a decade, and quite often since moving here more that four years ago. Some of the really good birding areas are now gone; replaced by new housing development. But there is still about 5 miles of nature trails, and I have divided the trails into 16 birding sub-trails that vary in habitat, ruggedness, non-birder activity, and therefore avian species. My usual birding outing here covers 5 of these sub-trails, or about 2 to 3 miles that I hike in roughly 2-1/2 hours.
December 3I did a shorter, mid-morning hike on only three of these sub-trails, and ended up with 22 avian species. It was bright and sunny, with very little wind. The highlight of the morning was a juvenile Cooper's Hawk.
Cooper's Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Carolina Wren
Swamp Sparrow
Pied-billed Grebe
Great Blue Heron
Belted Kingfisher
Northern Mockingbird
As I was hiking along the golf course pond, two small birds flew from one area of vegetation and disappeared into another. All I saw was their backs, and they looked grayish-black streaked like that of a breeding plumage, male Yellow-rumped Warbler, without any brownish color. But this is the wrong time of the year to see that plumage. I stayed put. First, a Song Sparrow popped up. That wasn't what I had seen. And then, a boldly colored Savannah Sparrow gave me a quick look for a poorly focused photo. The facial markings on the bird were very bold, and this species has a boldly streaked back, so I assume that this is what I had seen.
Savannah Sparrow
I got a late start, and headed out around 10:00 a.m. under complete cloud cover. I wanted to search my usual areas that I missed yesterday, did some of the other sub-trails, and then went back to yesterday's areas. By noon, I had hiked 8 sub-areas and 4 miles, and had found 16 additional avian species that I had not seen yesterday, bringing my two day list to 38 avian species. The area where I had seen lots of Pine Siskins last week was loaded with finches once again. Pine Siskins were bathing in shallow pools and then preening on the branches.
Pine Siskin
Pine Siskins
Pine Siskin
House Finch
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch
American Goldfinch
A male and a female Bluebird showed up, and the male had lots of rufous in its nape and a little on its wings.
Male Eastern Bluebird
Male Eastern Bluebird
Female Eastern Bluebird
Northern Flicker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Ruddy Duck
White-throated Sparrow
Well, 38 avian species here in 2 mornings wasn't bad. I had already seen 31 avian species this morning. However, I was still missing 8 avian species commonly seen here in Old Trail during the winter months, as well as a handful of often seen winter species. But I was happy with the two-day list. On the way back from the soccer field area to my car parked near The Lodge, a Winter Wren popped up in front of me, and said, "Take my picture!"
Winter Wren
The Winter Wren was one of the 8 species I had missed, so now my two-day list was at 39 avian species. I should be able to get to 40 if I hiked some more. After another hour and another 1-1/2 miles, I heard a Hermit Thrush - now I had 40 avian species for my two-day list, and sore feet!
Two day species listDecember 3:
Canada Goose
Pied-billed Grebe
Cooper's Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Blue Jay
American Crow
Carolina Wren
Northern Mockingbird
Field Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow
Great Blue Heron
Carolina Chickadee
Belted Kingfisher
Species added on December 4:
Turkey Vulture
Eastern Bluebird
Tufted Titmouse
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Mourning Dove
White-breasted Nuthatch
Black Vulture
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
House Finch
Purple Finch
Pine Siskin
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Ruddy Duck
Northern Flicker
White-crowned Sparrow
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Winter Wren
Hermit Thrush