The Stroud Preserve, 10 March 2013
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Like last Sunday, I took an evening walk around the preserve today. I started out a little earlier to insure I actually saw some birds. What a difference a week makes! Last Sunday, it was cold and windy and I saw zero birds. Today the starting temperature was a balmy 57°, the highest so far this year. Plus, there was no wind, so hearing birds was much more of a possibility.
Despite the favorable conditions, I did not hear any owls or woodcocks. Geese, however, were on the move. I estimate that at least 4000 geese flew over the preserve, in groups of a few to approximately 500 birds, all heading north. Plus, another 500 were on the ground. All of these approximately 4500 geese were Canada Geese with exception of 3 Snow geese that were mixed in with one flock. Red-winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles were the other species that were on the move.
I also heard American Robins singing for the first time this evening. Another first for the spring were peeping spring peepers. The Great Horned Owl was still on the nest, but again, it was sitting quite upright. No chicks were noted.
Start time: 6:15 PM
End time: 8:05
Temp: 57-50°
Wind: none
Skies: mostly clear
Species Total: 26
- Black Vulture – 3
- Turkey Vulture – approximately 10
- Snow Goose – 3
- Canada Goose – approximately 4500
- Common Merganser – 2
- Red-tailed Hawk – 1
- Killdeer – 1
- Mourning Dove – 4
- Great Horned Owl – 1, same bird, same place
- Belted Kingfisher – 1
- Downy Woodpecker – 1, heard only
- Blue Jay – 1
- American Crow – approximately 10
- Carolina Chickadee – 1
- White-breasted Nuthatch – 1, heard only
- Carolina Wren – 2, heard only
- Eastern Bluebird – 2
- American Robin – 4
- Northern Mockingbird – 2
- European Starling – approximately 150
- Eastern Towhee – 2, heard only
- Song Sparrow – approximately 20
- White-throated Sparrow – approximately 10
- Northern Cardinal – 2
- Red-winged Blackbird – approximately 400
- Common Grackle – approximately 400