Hello everyone,
Fall migration is definitely underway. We had only five Barn Swallows flying around the north bridge and we saw no other swallows or Purple Martins. The confusing fall warblers are arriving, and Cape May warblers were in abundance. We still have some vireos and gnatcatchers, happily, and of course the herons and egrets are still here, including Osaka in his/her usual perch in the Japanese Garden. Three juvenile BCNHs neatly lined themselves up in a row on a snag in the east lagoon. The Baltimore Oriole families are still here too but I expect they will be leaving pretty soon.
From the north bridge we watched three hawks put on a show for us across the lagoon. We were able to positively ID one as a Red-shouldered and we assume that the other two were the same species since they were flying around with each other. We saw one of those hawks again in the meadow, perched on a tree in plain sight and giving us great looks.
We still have a lone Monk Parakeet in the neighborhood - I keep expecting others to join him/her but it hasn’t happened yet.
We also spotted many spiders all along the walk. I don’t know if there were more than usual or if we just happened to notice them today on their beautiful webs.
BIRDERS: Gary, Mark C., Leslie, Marian, Kristin, Jane, Mike, Jennie, Caterina, Roger, Lucy, Jen, Paul, Luther, Simone, Robert, Cheryl, Eric, Marisa, Tracy, Jan, Pam, Renate and welcome to Sue, Jennifer, Sharon, John. Janaan, Anne, and Donnalyn.
TIME: 8:00am to noon
WEATHER: Sunny, 60s to 70s
Compiler: Cheryl
Photographers: Eric, Marisa, Leslie, Paul, Gary
Canada Goose Number observed: 3
Wood Duck Number observed: 4
Mallard Number observed: 20
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) Number observed: 4
Mourning Dove Number observed: 1
Chimney Swift Number observed: 5
Ruby-throated Hummingbird Number observed: 5
Spotted Sandpiper Number observed: 3
Ring-billed Gull Number observed: 5
Herring Gull Number observed: 1
Double-crested Cormorant Number observed: 2
Black-crowned Night Heron Number observed: 5
Green Heron Number observed: 5
Great Egret Number observed: 4
Great Blue Heron Number observed: 9
Cooper's Hawk Number observed: 1
Red-shouldered Hawk Number observed: 1
hawk sp. Number observed: 2
Details
Probably a juvenile RSHA as they were in the company of another RSHA. Unfortunately, we only got a definite ID of 1 of the 3. RSHA were spotted on 3 separate times and in different locations.
Belted Kingfisher Number observed: 1
Downy Woodpecker Number observed: 2
Northern Flicker Number observed: 1
American Kestrel Number observed: 1
Monk Parakeet Number observed: 1
Eastern Kingbird Number observed: 1
Philadelphia Vireo Number observed: 1
Warbling Vireo Number observed: 4
American Crow Number observed: 4
Black-capped Chickadee Number observed: 7
Barn Swallow Number observed: 5
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Number observed: 9
House Wren Number observed: 1
Winter Wren Number observed: 1
Details
EARLY!! Spotted and heard. Small all dark brown bird with pale supercilium and cocked tail. Heard the jip jip call.
European Starling Number observed: 1
Gray Catbird Number observed: 3
American Robin Number observed: 5
Cedar Waxwing Number observed: 6
House Finch Number observed: 11
American Goldfinch Number observed: 15
Song Sparrow Number observed: 1
Baltimore Oriole Number observed: 5
Red-winged Blackbird Number observed: 1
Brown-headed Cowbird Number observed: 1
Tennessee Warbler Number observed: 3
American Redstart Number observed: 1
Cape May Warbler Number observed: 6
Magnolia Warbler Number observed: 1
Bay-breasted Warbler Number observed: 1
Blackburnian Warbler Number observed: 1
Blackpoll Warbler Number observed: 1
Wilson's Warbler Number observed: 1
Northern Cardinal Number observed: 2
Rose-breasted Grosbeak Number observed: 1
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
Photo: Green heron by Lindsay Vacek