American Wigeons
We had 5 inches of snow on Sunday (January 31), and there was still quite a bit of it on the ground this morning. It was quite cold, but there were lots of birds out foraging after hunkering down and not finding a lot of food for two days. There was up to 30+ inches of snow farther up the eastern US, and some of the waterfowl must have moved south. There were 200 Canada Geese in the golf course pond, as well as a Ring-necked Duck, a Pied-billed Grebe, and a male and a female American Wigeon. The American Wigeons were my Old Trail species # 148.
American Wigeons
Ring-necked Duck
Pied-billed Grebe
Red-shouldered Hawk
I continued my hike, and ended up with 32 avian species this morning.
Swamp Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Downy Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Hermit Thrush
Carolina Wren
It was a little warmer this morning, but snow on the ground was still wide-spread, especially in shaded areas. I first went to the golf course pond, and saw the same ducks and grebe, but only two Canada Geese.
Ring-necked Duck and American Wigeons
Belted Kingfisher
I headed over to Western Park. Our resident, male Red-shouldered Hawk flew around a bit, and then headed off.
Red-shouldered Hawk
A couple of minutes later, the female Red-shouldered Hawk flew in and perched, and started calling for her mate. These two hawks have been mating every year, starting in February and continuing into early March. The male flew in, did his thing, and then took off.
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawks
Red-shouldered Hawks
Red-shouldered Hawks
Red-shouldered Hawks
I continued on my morning hike, and ended up with 37 avian species, including 10 species I had not seen yesterday, giving me a two-day list of 42 avian sepcies here in Old Trail.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Field Sparrow
Red-tailed Hawk
Great Blue Heron
Two-day species list:
February 3
Canada Goose
American Wigeon
Ring-necked Duck
Pied-billed Grebe
Turkey Vulture
Red-shouldered Hawk
Mourning Dove
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Pileated Woodpecker
Blue Jay
American Crow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Eastern Bluebird
Hermit Thrush
Field Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-crowned Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
House Finch
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow
Species added February 4
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Great Blue Heron
Red-tailed Hawk
European Starling
Eastern Towhee
Northern Flicker
Winter Wren
Northern Mockingbird
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Belted Kingfisher