Trip Highlights

The frigid, freezing weather kept numbers down to 7 people for this venture.  At the main gate, the first of many Wood Ducks were studied in the thick lily pads that covered the shallow cove.  Just across the road, beneath a high canopy of pines, was a hidden pond that held a big surprise, two ducks of different sizes, the smaller one a female Green-winged Teal and the other a female Northern Shoveler. They stuck together as if mated, but they were only temporary mates. The large coves farther along held mostly Wood Ducks and Mallards, but a little patient searching revealed a pair of Ring-necked Ducks, a Pintail, and a Pied-billed Grebe. A large flock of Yellowrumps and some Palm Warblers gathered seed at the edges of the pond and a flock of Red-winged Blackbirds stalked the muddy edges and the exposed lily pads.  A Bald Eagle arrived as the fog finally cleared, and later it caught and ate a fish before our eyes.  Other birds at the far end of the main pond were a single Rusty Blackbird, a lone Phoebe, a Merlin mobbed by a flock of crows, and a calling Killdeer.

Five members joined me for the walk on the bike trail and we found 19 species, including the pair of resident Common Loons.  Three Double-crested Cormorants were also on the water and a Belted Kingfisher was fishing the edges.  The birds were not too active so soon after first light and fog hampered us at well.  When the sun came up we noted some Golden-crowned Kinglets in the pines and four Phoebes in the brush along the shore.

There were plenty of migrants and lingering species to see on this day for nine people.  We started with Wood Ducks, Common Mergansers and a Green Heron in the wetland, where a Red-tailed Hawk was perched on a branch protruding from the surface.  A Bald Eagle flew over as well as a falcon, too briefly and far away to identify.  We enjoyed looks at two Phoebes, a Catbird, some Mockingbirds and six Flickers.  A Black-and-white Warbler was added to the usual Yellow-rumped and Palm Warblers, while Savannah Sparrows lurked in the grasses and brush.

The morning started out foggy, but cleared quickly with a slow warming and light winds for ten of us who stopped along Pondside Road and walked into the Bark Haul area.  We counted an amazing 30 Great Egrets in one pool beside the road.  More spread out were 24 Wood Duck, 15 Great Blue Heron and 2 Green Heron.  A Kingfisher was working one pond and a Peregrine Falcon flashed past.  Other highlights were Phoebes, Redstarts, and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks as well as a single Red-breasted Nuthatch, a Red-eyed Vireo and 2 Magnolia Warblers.  A small flock of Purple Finches also showed up, all part of 38 different species.

The hawkwatch and picnic on Blueberry Hill had 25 people, but only 32 migrants counted, thanks to the south winds and heavy air.  The best migrants were a Merlin and a Harrier, but we did note a dozen high Broadwings and as many close Kestrels.  There were only 2 Ospreys and 3 Sharpshins moving.  Local raptors included a few Redtails, two Bald Eagles, and one Cooper’s Hawk.  The wine and goodies improved our mood, but surprisingly not the flight.  The handful of non-raptors included a Raven, a Pileated, 30 Cedar Waxwings, 2 Hummingbirds, and a Philadelphia Vireo.