Photo: Ruby-throated hummingbird by Jerry Black

Hello everyone,

The two most interesting sightings of the day were the number of birders who joined us (45!) and the hordes of people who came to the park to look at the cherry blossoms. There were people all over the place, even at 8:00am, and later there were more people than I’ve ever seen in the park. They all looked very happy to be amongst the blossoms.

There were a lot of birds too! Hermit Thrushes and Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers were present in large numbers, and we had a good number of Eastern Towhees too. The Ruby-crowned Kinglets now outnumber the Golden-crowned. Blue-gray Gnatcatchers are back, Goldfinches are turning bright yellow, and our first Purple Martin of the season was spotted. A rabbit and a chipmunk looked happy to be out and about, as were we.

BIRDERS: Madhu, Luther, Laurie, Mark W., Mike O., Jennie, Mike M., Eric, Sarah W. Amir, Monica and her dad, Bruce, Caterina, Daniela, Katie, Val, Mark N., Grace, Sandra, Chelsea, Leslie, Robert, Simone, Sarah R., Marian, Gary, Kristin, Cheryl, Roger, Mark C., Suzanne, and welcome to Joe, Chris, George, Evette, Meghan, Aeva, Lori, Mary, Mark D., Rachel, Greg, Meghan B., and Brady.

TIME: 8:00am to 11:35am

WEATHER: 41 degrees, sunny, low winds

Compiler: Cheryl

1. Canada Goose   Number observed: 18

2. Wood Duck   Number observed: 3

3. Blue-winged Teal   Number observed: 1

4. Mallard   Number observed: 9

5. Ring-necked Duck   Number observed: 1

6. Red-breasted Merganser   Number observed: 5

7. Mourning Dove   Number observed: 1

8. Killdeer   Number observed: 1

9. Ring-billed Gull   Number observed: 3

10. American Herring Gull   Number observed: 2

11. Caspian Tern   Number observed: 4

12. Pied-billed Grebe   Number observed: 2

13. Horned Grebe   Number observed: 1

14. Double-crested Cormorant   Number observed: 10

15. Cooper's Hawk   Number observed: 1

16. Belted Kingfisher   Number observed: 1

17. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker   Number observed: 13

18. Red-bellied Woodpecker   Number observed: 1

19. Downy Woodpecker   Number observed: 6

20. Northern Flicker   Number observed: 12

21. Eastern Phoebe   Number observed: 4

22. American Crow   Number observed: 3

23. Black-capped Chickadee   Number observed: 5

24. Tree Swallow   Number observed: 12

25. Purple Martin   Number observed: 1

26. Northern Rough-winged Swallow   Number observed: 2

27. Ruby-crowned Kinglet   Number observed: 14

28. Golden-crowned Kinglet   Number observed: 4

29. Brown Creeper   Number observed: 6

30. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher   Number observed: 2

31. Winter Wren   Number observed: 2

32. European Starling   Number observed: 9

33. Brown Thrasher   Number observed: 1

34. Hermit Thrush   Number observed: 16

35. American Robin   Number observed: 58

36. House Sparrow   Number observed: 2

37. House Finch   Number observed: 2

38. American Goldfinch   Number observed: 8

39. Chipping Sparrow   Number observed: 2

40. American Tree Sparrow   Number observed: 1

41. Fox Sparrow   Number observed: 2

42. Dark-eyed Junco   Number observed: 2

43. White-throated Sparrow   Number observed: 16

44. Song Sparrow   Number observed: 9

45. Swamp Sparrow   Number observed: 3

46. Eastern Towhee   Number observed: 4

47. Red-winged Blackbird   Number observed: 27

48. Brown-headed Cowbird   Number observed: 18

49. Common Grackle   Number observed: 11

50. Palm Warbler   Number observed: 4

51. Yellow-rumped Warbler   Number observed: 5

52. Northern Cardinal   Number observed: 14

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