male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
It was mostly overcast and chilly this morning, and I got a rather late morning start, but I need to walk a few miles after spending so much time sitting up at the hawk watch. I headed out on a four mile hike here in Stoney Creek. For the first mile, I saw some of the usual winter birds - American Crows, Turkey Vultures, Song and White-throated Sparrows, Northern Mockingbirds, Dark-eyed Juncos, and Blue Jays. When I got to a tree near Monocan golf green #1 along the bike/walking path, there was a male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker that was more interested in finding food than my being close.
male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
As I approached the pond along the #1 fairway, a Great Blue Heron saw me and decided not to stick around to see how close I could get to it.
Great Blue Heron
On my way back, I got to Lake Monocan and thought I saw the back side of a hawk or owl in the distance. After backtracking and then walking through a wooded area, I discovered that I had been looking at an old, dark hornets' nest, and the tree bark behind it looked like the head of a raptor. Oh well, I did say that I needed the exercise. I then decided to see what might be down at the Allen Creek Nature Preserve. As I passed the trees along Tuckahoe golf green #3, a small flock of Cedar Waxwings was getting its fill on the red berries.
Cedar Waxwing
I didn't have to walk into the nature preserve - there was all kinds of activity at its edge: Bluebirds, Tufted Titmice, Song and White-throated Sparrows, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Flickers, Northern Cardinals, Mourning Doves, and a pair of Hermit Thrushes.
Northern Cardinal
Eastern Bluebirds
Hermit Thrush
Hermit Thrush
Hermit Thrushes