The Stroud Preserve, 12 February 2013

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The down side to a sunny warm (in relative terms) day following a cold snap is really muddy shoes. It was much more difficult to walk around today with slippery mud than in the ice and snow. The photo above is prime habitat for Bluebirds on days like today. They were everywhere. 

The most exciting bird today was Killdeer, a choice that probably leave many folks scratching their heads. Here is why. In all of my visits to the preserve, I have never seen a Killdeer. I have heard them only 5 times prior to today. A few minutes after starting my walk I heard a Killdeer calling. Great! A good day bird. About an hour later, I saw a small bird flying just ahead of a flock of Canada Geese. Much to my surprise it was Killdeer! Still I’ve never seen a Killdeer on the ground in the preserve. Then as I was just getting to my car to leave, I heard Killdeer again. I look up and three are flying overhead. They look as though they are going to fly off and away, then they turn back and land in a wet puddle across Creek Road. Finally, I can now say that I have seen Killdeer in the preserve!

Start time: 9:05

End time: 12:00

Temp: 38-44°

Wind: Gusty from the north

Skies: Clear!

Species Total: 37

  • Black Vulture – approximately 25
  • Turkey Vulture – approximately 45
  • Canada Goose – approximately 150
  • Mallard – approximately 85
  • Common Merganser – 7
  • Sharp-shinned Hawk – 1 adult
  • Red-tailed Hawk – approximately 10! 2 immature, 8 adults (5 seen at one time)
  • Killdeer – 5! Bird of the day!
  • Ring-billed Gull – 3
  • Great Horned Owl – 1, on the nest.
  • Belted Kingfisher – 1
  • Red-bellied Woodpecker – approximately 5
  • Yellow-bellied Sapsucker – 1
  • Downy Woodpecker – 3
  • Northern Flicker – approximately 5
  • Blue Jay – approximately 10
  • American Crow – approximately 300
  • Fish Crow – approximately 15!
  • Carolina Chickadee – approximately 10
  • Tufted Titmouse – approximately10
  • White-breasted Nuthatch – approximately 10
  • Carolina Wren – approximately 8
  • Eastern Bluebird – approximately 50! Out in force today
  • American Robin – 3
  • Northern Mockingbird – 3
  • European Starling – approximately 50
  • American Pipit – approximately 40
  • Eastern Towhee – 5, heard only
  • Song Sparrow – approximately 10
  • Swamp Sparrow – 1
  • White-throated Sparrow – approximately 30
  • Dark-eyed Junco – approximately 10
  • Northern Cardinal – approximately 10
  • Red-winged Blackbird – 5
  • Common Grackle – 3
  • House Finch – 8
  • American Goldfinch – 2