Carolina Wren
Just like last week, the weather was much warmer than usual, with temperatures in the 50s and 60s, and some days reaching the lower 70s. I think that some of the birds must have gotten confused and thought spring had arrived. I didn't seen any Winter Wrens, Hermit Thrushes, wintering Chipping Sparrows, or Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers on these hikes, and only a few Swamp Sparrows and Yellow-rumped Warblers. The female Red-winged Blackbirds that spend the winter in the Western Park wetlands have gone, and on 2/16, I saw my FOS male Red-winged Blackbird singing for a mate. Although I hiked all four mornings for this report, the last hike was ended early because of rain. The total number of birds seen has decreased during this warm period, and I'm hoping that spring migration won't be too long of a wait. I saw a total of 31 avian species on these hikes.
Carolina Wren
Field Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Cooper's Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Red-winged Blackbird
Pileated Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Canada Goose
The Red-shouldered Hawks put on quite a show on Tuesday. Our resident Red-shouldered Hawks produce 2 or 3 youngsters each year, and usually, only one of the juveniles stays for the winter. This winter, the juvenile hawk likes to perch in the SE corner of Old Trail along Slabtown Branch Creek. Crows started calling for their flock to harass the juvenile hawk, and when a number of crows arrived, the juvenile hawk took to flight and started calling for mama and papa.
Juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk
Juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk
One of the adults flew in and landed atop a dead tree, and then the other adult arrived.
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawks
Red-shouldered Hawks
Where's junior?
The adults started calling for junior to return.
Red-shouldered Hawks
Red-shouldered Hawks
Red-shouldered Hawks
Junior flew back to the area, but his parents didn't see him at first.
Juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawks
There he is
Red-shouldered Hawks
Red-shouldered Hawks
Then one of the adults gave junior some aerial battle lessons.
Red-shouldered Hawks
Red-shouldered Hawks
Red-shouldered Hawks
While I see at least one Red-shouldered Hawk on each hike here in Old Trail, it is unusual to see three soaring together, especially as they are not a group of hawks migrating through the area. During the winter of 2020, I saw seven Red-shouldered Hawks in the sky at one time here in Old Trail. Two adults and two juveniles showed up, and our two resident adults and one juvenile took flight to move the intruders out of their territory.
Old Trail four day bird list:
Mourning Dove
Turkey Vulture
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Blue Jay
American Crow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Northern Mockingbird
Eastern Bluebird
House Sparrow
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Canada Goose
Eastern Phoebe
Black Vulture
Field Sparrow
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Swamp Sparrow
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Red-winged Blackbird
Killdeer