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Hello everyone,
What a glorious spring morning we had! The temperatures were mild, the flowers were blooming, the trees were budding and the air was filled with birdsong, so we didn’t mind a bit of light rain now and then. And the birds are back – we had 53 species this week after having 33 last week. What a difference a southerly wind can make.
We had high numbers of many species. Eastern Phoebes were everywhere, singing away. Large flocks of migrating Robins flew over and there were many feeding in the park, as well as chasing each other around. There was a huge flock of Juncos checking the lawn for breakfast and an even bigger flock of Brown-headed Cowbirds plus other unidentified blackbird species doing the same. Perhaps the rain was bringing up the bugs and worms.
Some Red-breasted Mergansers are still here and they were joined by two American Coots, some Northern Shovelers, and some Blue-winged Teal. Tree Swallows were checking out the cavities in the dead tree on the bank of the east lagoon for suitable apartments. We had our first Caspian Tern and Great Egret of the year.
The most exciting highlight was the presence of two Eastern Meadowlarks on the soccer field. We don’t see them in the park very often so they were a special treat.
BIRDERS: Marian, Jennie, Mike, Cheryl, Leslie, Luther, Val, Howard, Roger, Daniela, Mark W., Robert, Simone, Eric, Mark M., Tyler, Darby, Maddy, Miyoko, Marisa, Stacy and welcome to Jason, Enzo, and Bennett.
TIME: 8:00am to 11:45am
WEATHER: 62 degrees, cloudy, intermittent light rain
Compiler: Cheryl
Photographers: Marisa, Leslie, Eric, Jennie
Canada Goose Number observed: 41
Wood Duck Number observed: 6
Blue-winged Teal Number observed: 4
Northern Shoveler Number observed: 4
Mallard Number observed: 16
Red-breasted Merganser Number observed: 18
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) Number observed: 1
Mourning Dove Number observed: 1
American Coot Number observed: 3
Killdeer Number observed: 2
Ring-billed Gull Number observed: 9
American Herring Gull Number observed: 1
Caspian Tern Number observed: 1
Pied-billed Grebe Number observed: 3
Double-crested Cormorant Number observed: 13
Great Egret Number observed: 1
Great Blue Heron Number observed: 2
Turkey Vulture Number observed: 1
Cooper's Hawk Number observed: 1
Red-tailed Hawk Number observed: 1
Belted Kingfisher Number observed: 1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Number observed: 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker Number observed: 1
Downy Woodpecker Number observed: 3
Northern Flicker Number observed: 5
American Kestrel Number observed: 2
Eastern Phoebe Number observed: 20
American Crow Number observed: 7
Black-capped Chickadee Number observed: 8
Tree Swallow Number observed: 5
Northern Rough-winged Swallow Number observed: 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet Number observed: 9
Brown Creeper Number observed: 5
European Starling Number observed: 103
Hermit Thrush Number observed: 2
American Robin Number observed: 73
House Sparrow Number observed: 7
House Finch Number observed: 1
American Goldfinch Number observed: 2
Chipping Sparrow Number observed: 5
Field Sparrow Number observed: 1
American Tree Sparrow Number observed: 1
Fox Sparrow Number observed: 7
Dark-eyed Junco Number observed: 63
Song Sparrow Number observed: 12
Swamp Sparrow Number observed: 3
Eastern Towhee Number observed: 1
Eastern Meadowlark Number observed: 2
Red-winged Blackbird Number observed: 41
Brown-headed Cowbird Number observed: 180
Common Grackle Number observed: 14
blackbird sp. Number observed: 95
Palm Warbler Number observed: 1
Northern Cardinal Number observed: 12
If you’d like more information about a bird, check out the All About Birds ID guide:
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/
Corrections, additions, and comments are welcome.
Good birding everyone,
Jennie
Photo: Northern flicker by Sheen Watkins