The last visit to the Stroud Preserve was way back on October 26th just before Hurricane Sandy came to town. In the nineteen days between visits I can safely say that fall departed and winter arrived; all the leaves on the trees have fallen, all the weed that the Purple Finches and Goldfinches were feeding on were now lying prone on the ground; the land, for the most part, had that quiet packed away feel to it. Most of the birdlife has moved on to some other place. In fact, this was the lowest species count that I have recorded on all of my visits to the preserve, a whopping 24 species!
Stat time: 11:45
End time: 1:10
Temp: 43-45
Wind: none
Skies: clear
Species Total: 24
Great Blue Heron – 1
Turkey Vulture – approx. 25
Bald Eagle – 2 adults
Sharp-shinned Hawk – 1 adult
Cooper's Hawk – 1 adult
Red-tailed Hawk – 3 adults
Mourning Dove – approx. 15
Red-bellied Woodpecker – 3
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker – 2
Downy Woodpecker – 1
Hairy Woodpecker – 1
Blue Jay – 5
American Crow – approx. 500. Bird of the day due to their overwhelming numbers!
Carolina Chickadee – approx. 10
Tufted Titmouse – 4
White-breasted Nuthatch – 2
Carolina Wren – 2
Eastern Bluebird – approx. 10
Northern Mockingbird – 3
European Starling – 1
Eastern Towhee – 2
Song Sparrow – approx.10
White-throated Sparrow – heard only
Dark-eyed Junco – heard only
American Goldfinch – heard only
