The Stroud Preserve, 26 November 2012

When I headed out for today’s walk I had in the back of my mind that it was high time that a Winter Wren showed up. Approximately 10 minutes into the walk, a tiny fluff ball flew across a brush patch. Well that was easy, number 144 for me, and 162 for the Preserve. It took me about five minutes of spishing, but I finally managed to coax it out of the brush into full view. I even got it to sing! This was a the first east coast Winter Wren that I have seen in over twenty years, it was also the first one that I seen since the “Winter Wren” complex was split into three species; the Eurasian Wren, the Pacific Wren and the Winter Wren.

In Washington State, we had the Pacific Wren. Visually it is quite different being a warmer rusty color compared to the Winter Wren. After hearing the Winter Wren today, I’d say the song is of greater difference. You can’t miss the Pacific Wren’s song. It is extremely loud and carries for a great distance. The Winter Wren song I heard today was very muted in comparison.

There were few people at the preserve today as well. The only ones I saw were up in trees with guns waiting for deer to stroll past. I did see three deer, which were nowhere near the people with guns.

 

Stat time: 10:00
End time: 12:30
Temp: 39-45
Wind: slight from the north.
Skies: clear
Species Total: 31
 
Great Blue Heron – 1
Black Vulture – approx. 70!
Turkey Vulture – approx. 25
Canada Goose – approx. 350
Cackling Goose – 1
Mallard – 3
Red-tailed Hawk – 2 adults
Mourning Dove – approx. 10
Red-bellied Woodpecker – 2
Downy Woodpecker – 2
Northern Flicker – 2
Blue Jay – approx. 10
American Crow – approx. 500!
Fish Crow – 2, heard only
Carolina Chickadee – approx. 10
Tufted Titmouse – 4
White-breasted Nuthatch – 2
Carolina Wren – approx. 6
Winter Wren – 1, Bird of the Day! New to the Preserve list.
Golden-crowned Kinglet – 2
Eastern Bluebird – 5
Northern Mockingbird – 7
European Starling – approx. 10
Eastern Towhee – approx. 5
Song Sparrow – approx. 25
Swamp Sparrow – 2
White-throated Sparrow – approx. 50
Dark-eyed Junco – 1
Northern Cardinal – approx. 20
House Finch – approx. 10
American Goldfinch – approx. 15