Yellow-rumped Warbler
When I got up this morning, I knew that I would be going out with my camera to do some birding, but hadn't decided where. I was thinking about going over to the Lickinghole Creek and Basin to look for warblers, or just stay here in Old Trail to look for warblers. I finally decided to stay here in Old Trail, and started off along Slabtown Branch Creek where I had seen the most warblers the past couple of weeks. I saw a good number of birds including a lot of Cedar Waxwings, but only a couple of Yellow-rumped Warblers.
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Arrowhead Spider
I then went over to the loop trail along the golf course pond. A Great Blue Heron was at the far corner from where I was, and then I saw a splash! A migrating Osprey was fishing in the pond.
Osprey
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
At this point, I debated whether to head for home, but decided to try hiking a bit around the soccer field. I saw a couple of Song Sparrows and a few other birds, and was over 20 avian species on my morning list, so I headed for my car.
Song Sparrow
As I got to the northeast corner of thye soccer field, I saw a juvenile White-crowned Sparrow. It was my first of season for this species, and they are common during the winter months near that end of the soccer field.
White-crowned Sparrow
There was another sparrow foraging with the White-crowned Sparrow. I only got a partial look at it at first, but immediatley knew what it was - a Clay-colored Sparrow (my Old Trail avian species #161). This as a scarce species to find. They have been seen a few times in Old Trail during the past decade, and always with one or more White-crowned Sparrows. I had only seen this species 3 times during my 16 years of birding, and never in Old Trail, even though I have searched for one after other birders posted seeing one here.
Clay-colored Sparrow
Well, getting back to my car and heading for home would have to wait!
Clay-colored and White-crowned Sparrows
Clay-colored Sparrow
Clay-colored Sparrow
Clay-colored Sparrow
Clay-colored Sparrow
Clay-colored Sparrow
Clay-colored Sparrow
Clay-colored Sparrow
Clay-colored Sparrow