The Stroud Preserve, 18 January 2013

Burr. Today was cold, and the north wind blew. Burr. For the most part, the bird life was pretty subdued, especially small passerines. Sparrow numbers were way down from my last visit on the 14^th.

The unusual event of the day was a steady stream of gulls that were flying over the preserve as I arrived. I estimate that I saw at least 500 flying north. I imagine many flew past before I arrived. These birds were really to far away to identify based on anything other than probability. As such, I could tell that the steam of birds was made up of about 75% small gulls and 25% larger gulls. I could tell that they were not Bonepart's  or Great Black-backed Gulls. The only two species that would be around here in numbers like these are Ring-billed Gulls and Herring Gulls. So, that is what my identification is based on.

Apart from the gulls, the day was pretty uneventful. I also had to leave a bit early as about an hour into it I realized that I forgot to give my son his medicine this morning. Sometimes you just have to stop what you are doing and do something else.

Stat time: 8:10
End time: 10:00
Temp: 28-30
Wind: brisk from the north
Skies: mostly overcast
Species Total: 33
 
 

Great Blue Heron – 1

Black Vulture – approximately 12

Turkey Vulture – approximately 20

Canada Goose – approximately 250

Mallard – 3

Red-tailed Hawk – 4, adults

Ring-billed Gull – approximately 375, co-bird of the day!

Herring Gull – approximately 125, co-bird of the day!

Mourning Dove – approximately 100

Red-bellied Woodpecker – 2

Downy Woodpecker – 5

Northern Flicker – 2

Blue Jay – 5

American Crow – approximately 600

Fish Crow – 2, I actually got to see these perched in a tree near the old barn.

Carolina Chickadee – 1

Tufted Titmouse – 2

White-breasted Nuthatch – 3

Carolina Wren – 4

Winter Wren – 1

Golden-crowned Kinglet – 3

Eastern Bluebird – approximately 15

Northern Mockingbird – 1

European Starling – approximately 12

Eastern Towhee – 2, heard only

Song Sparrow – approximately 20

White-throated Sparrow – approximately 20

Dark-eyed Junco – 2

Northern Cardinal – 5

Red-winged Blackbird – 2

Common Grackle – 1

House Finch – 3

American Goldfinch – approximately 15