The Stroud Preserve, 21 March 2013

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I started the day off with snow flurries and a light dusting of snow on the ground! The wind was much more reasonable today, however, it was still cold if you were standing in it. When I could find a spot that was out of the wind it was quite nice. As with yesterday, I did spend a fair amount of time looking for plants. I did notice that bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) pushing up through the ground.

Bird life was almost a carbon copy of the previous few days. The standouts were 15 Eastern Meadowlarks and 2 Rusty Blackbirds. The meadowlarks were in the same location as previous days, in the big open field below "No Hang Glider" Hill. They were in the mowed grass making them easy to count. The Rusty Blackbirds, a male and a female, were near the old farm pond area and they didn't provide a very good look.

The snipe were in the wet depression below “No Hang Glider” Hill. This might be a reliable location for people to find snipe prior to flushing them. I found these three by scanning the grass for dark spots. A spotting scope would provide some outstanding looks at these secretive birds. "No Hang Glider" Hill is directly across the road from the parking lot along Creek Road. I call No Hang Glider Hill because of the sign at the bottom that states just that. 

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Start time: 9:00

End time: 11:45

Temp: 32-34°

Wind: 8-10 mph from the north

Skies: snow flurries to start becoming partly cloudy

Species Total: 42

  • Black Vulture – approximately 5
  • Turkey Vulture – approximately 20
  • Canada Goose – approximately 200
  • Mallard – 2
  • Sharp-shinned Hawk – 1, adult
  • Red-tailed Hawk – 6, 5 adults, 1 immature (5 were visible at one time)
  • American Kestrel – 1 female
  • Wilson's Snipe – 3 (another birder reported 6 from the same location)
  • Mourning Dove – 2
  • Belted Kingfisher – 1
  • Red-bellied Woodpecker – 4
  • Downy Woodpecker – 2
  • Northern Flicker – 1
  • Blue Jay – approximately 10
  • American Crow – approximately 20
  • Fish Crow – 2
  • Tree Swallow – approximately 15
  • Carolina Chickadee – approximately 10
  • Tufted Titmouse – approximately 10
  • White-breasted Nuthatch – 3
  • Carolina Wren – approximately 10
  • Winter Wren – 1
  • Eastern Bluebird – approximately 15
  • American Robin – approximately 200
  • Northern Mockingbird – 3
  • European Starling – approximately 200
  • Eastern Towhee – 1
  • Field Sparrow – 3
  • Savannah Sparrow – 1
  • Fox Sparrow – 2
  • Song Sparrow – approximately 75
  • Swamp Sparrow – 2
  • White-throated Sparrow – approximately 20
  • Dark-eyed Junco – 3
  • Northern Cardinal – approximately 10
  • Red-winged Blackbird – approximately 100
  • Eastern Meadowlark – 15
  • Rusty Blackbird – 2
  • Common Grackle – 3
  • Brown-headed Cowbird – approximately 10
  • House Finch – 2
  • American Goldfinch – 1, heard only

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