The Stroud Preserve, 4 February 2013

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Today was what I am now starting to consider midwinter average. That is to say it was cold and slow. While I my total species count was just about average at 34, the numbers of individuals was very low. It probably didn’t help that I started todays walk when I am usually finishing it up. Even then many species that have been fairly numerous recently, like crows, bluebirds, doves, were absent or nearly so.

Start time: 10:45

End time: 12:30

Temp: 27-28°

Wind: brisk from the west

Skies: partly cloudy

Species Total: 34

  • Black Vulture – approximately 15
  • Turkey Vulture – approximately 10
  • Canada Goose – approximately 300
  • Mallard – 1
  • Common Merganser – 3
  • Sharp-shinned Hawk – 1
  • Red-tailed Hawk – 5, 4 adults, 1 immature
  • Mourning Dove – 1
  • Great Horned Owl – 1
  • Red-bellied Woodpecker – approximately 6
  • Yellow-bellied Sapsucker – 1, heard only
  • Downy Woodpecker – approximately 10
  • Hairy Woodpecker – 1
  • Northern Flicker – 1
  • Blue Jay – approximately 10
  • American Crow – approximately 20! Where have they all gone!
  • Fish Crow – 1
  • Carolina Chickadee – approximately 10
  • Tufted Titmouse – approximately 10
  • Red-breasted Nuthatch – 1, Bird of the Day! This bird has been a regular all winter at the patch of conifers on the south end of the preserve.
  • White-breasted Nuthatch – approximately 8
  • Carolina Wren – approximately 10
  • American Robin – 1
  • Northern Mockingbird – 4
  • European Starling – approximately 12
  • Eastern Towhee – 1, heard only
  • Savannah Sparrow – 2, at the entrance of the parking lot.
  • Song Sparrow – approximately 25
  • Swamp Sparrow – 2
  • White-throated Sparrow – approximately 100
  • Dark-eyed Junco – approximately 20
  • Northern Cardinal – approximately 10
  • House Finch – 2
  • American Goldfinch – 2