Burrr. Yesterday the starting temperature was 50, today it was 23 degrees cooler! The lower temperature also seemed to lower the bird activity as it was very quiet. It seemed like I had to work extra hard to find each species today. I didn’t think that I broke 30 species, however when I got home and tallied it all up, I ended up with one more than yesterday. Go figure. Still, while I might have had more species, there were definitely fewer individuals.
One surprise did pop out of the woodwork. Since bird activity was lower I spent more time spishing, and I would occasionally play a recording of an Eastern Screech-Owl to try and bring birds into view. While I was play the owl call in the north side of the preserve, a real Eastern Screech-Owl called back at me. This is in the same general area that I found one in October. The trees here are thick with vines and undergrowth, which is perfect habitat for a screech-owl (photo above is the location where I heard it). Plus, it is sure better than the one I came across a few days ago. That one was in two dimensions in the side of the road!
Stat time: 9:00
End time: 11:20
Temp: 27-34
Wind: slight from the east
Skies: clear
Species Total: 35
Great Blue Heron – 1
Black Vulture – approximately 40
Turkey Vulture – approximately 35
Canada Goose – approximately 100
Mallard – 3
Sharp-shinned Hawk – 1
Red-tailed Hawk – 4 adults
Mourning Dove – approximately 30
Eastern Screech-Owl – 1, heard only, Bird of the Day!
Red-bellied Woodpecker – 4
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker – 2, heard only
Downy Woodpecker – approximately 6
Hairy Woodpecker – 1
Northern Flicker – 1
Blue Jay – approximately 15
American Crow – approximately 200
Carolina Chickadee – approximately 10
Tufted Titmouse – approximately 5
White-breasted Nuthatch – 3
Brown Creeper – 1
Carolina Wren – approximately 10
Winter Wren – 1, heard only
Golden-crowned Kinglet – 2, heard only
Eastern Bluebird – approximately 20
Northern Mockingbird – 4
European Starling – 5
Eastern Towhee – 2
Fox Sparrow – 1, heard only
Song Sparrow – approximately 75
Swamp Sparrow – 2, heard only
White-throated Sparrow – approximately 125
Dark-eyed Junco – approximately 15
Northern Cardinal – approximately 10
House Finch – approximately 10
American Goldfinch – approximately 30
Article originally appeared on Family Website (http://flyingabalone.squarespace.com/).
See website for complete article licensing information.