Photo: Bufflehead by Mick Thompson

Hello everyone,

It must be spring. Not only are the birds returning but our birders are returning too, plus we welcomed several new birders.

Surprisingly, neither of the raccoon tree holes were occupied. I guess the critters were out enjoying the beautiful morning. We had our first of year Common Grackle in the Japanese garden and its iridescent head feathers shone brightly in the sun.

We were all mesmerized while we watched a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk hunt a squirrel on a tree in the oak grove. The smart squirrel stayed flat against the trunk of the tree, moving around it as the hawk repositioned itself over and over. The hawk seemed to be trying to figure out how to grab the squirrel from the trunk, but never did come up with a solution and gave up after a while. It was fascinating to watch but many of us agreed that we were just as glad that we didn’t get an opportunity to witness a successful hunt.

BIRDERS: Jim, Lillian, Jane, Jennie, Marian, Cheryl, Leslie, Eric, Lucy, Mike, Mark C., Kristin, Marisa, Trevor, Tracy, Joanne, Peter, Jose, Brandon, Renate and welcome to Carol, Stacy, Jenny, Gabe and Ima.

TIME: 8:00am to 10:45am     

WEATHER: Sunny, 31 degrees, light winds

Compiler: Cheryl

Photographers: Tracy, Marisa, Eric

Canada Goose   Number observed: 20

Mallard   Number observed: 16

Common Goldeneye   Number observed: 1

Common Merganser   Number observed: 3

Red-breasted Merganser   Number observed: 24

Ring-billed Gull   Number observed: 3

Herring Gull   Number observed: 5

Red-tailed Hawk   Number observed: 1

Downy Woodpecker   Number observed: 2

Hairy Woodpecker   Number observed: 1

American Crow   Number observed: 5

Black-capped Chickadee   Number observed: 4

European Starling   Number observed: 23

American Robin   Number observed: 16

House Sparrow   Number observed: 2

House Finch   Number observed: 1

Dark-eyed Junco   Number observed: 2

Song Sparrow   Number observed: 1

Red-winged Blackbird   Number observed: 11

Common Grackle   Number observed: 1

Northern Cardinal   Number observed: 7

If you’d like more information about a bird, check out the All About Birds ID guide:

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/

Corrections, additions and comments are welcome.

Good birding everyone,

Jennie