The Stroud Preserve, 18 January 2013

/
IMG_2402.jpg

Burr. Today was cold, and the north wind blew. Burr. For the most part, the bird life was pretty subdued, especially small passerines. Sparrow numbers were way down from my last visit on the 14th.

The unusual event of the day was a steady stream of gulls that were flying over the preserve as I arrived. I estimate that I saw at least 500 flying north. I imagine many flew past before I arrived. These birds were really to far away to identify based on anything other than probability. As such, I could tell that the steam of birds was made up of about 75% small gulls and 25% larger gulls. I could tell that they were not Bonepart's  or Great Black-backed Gulls. The only two species that would be around here in numbers like these are Ring-billed Gulls and Herring Gulls. So, that is what my identification is based on.

Apart from the gulls, the day was pretty uneventful. I also had to leave a bit early as about an hour into it I realized that I forgot to give my son his medicine this morning. Sometimes you just have to stop what you are doing and do something else.

Start time: 8:10

End time: 10:00

Temp: 28-30

Wind: brisk from the north

Skies: mostly overcast

Species Total: 33

  • Great Blue Heron – 1
  • Black Vulture – approximately 12
  • Turkey Vulture – approximately 20
  • Canada Goose – approximately 250
  • Mallard – 3
  • Red-tailed Hawk – 4, adults
  • Ring-billed Gull – approximately 375, co-bird of the day!
  • Herring Gull – approximately 125
  • Mourning Dove – approximately 100
  • Red-bellied Woodpecker – 2
  • Downy Woodpecker – 5
  • Northern Flicker – 2
  • Blue Jay – 5
  • American Crow – approximately 600
  • Fish Crow – 2, I actually got to see these perched in a tree near the old barn.
  • Carolina Chickadee – 1
  • Tufted Titmouse – 2
  • White-breasted Nuthatch – 3
  • Carolina Wren – 4
  • Winter Wren – 1
  • Golden-crowned Kinglet – 3
  • Eastern Bluebird – approximately 15
  • Northern Mockingbird – 1
  • European Starling – approximately 12
  • Eastern Towhee – 2, heard only
  • Song Sparrow – approximately 20
  • White-throated Sparrow – approximately 20
  • Dark-eyed Junco – 2
  • Northern Cardinal – 5
  • Red-winged Blackbird – 2
  • Common Grackle – 1
  • House Finch – 3
  • American Goldfinch – approximately 15