I took a short afternoon hike close to home, and walked down to the Allen Creek Nature Preserve. Along the way, I heard a few Pine Warblers high up in the pine trees at the end of my street. As I approached the nature preserve, I saw an opportunistic Tree Swallow. Pileated Woodpeckers had destroyed the wooden powerline poles there, and the local electric co-op had replaced the poles with metal ones. One of the bolts was missing, and a Tree Swallow was using the pole for a nest. Quite spacious, I presume.
Tree Swallow
It was fairly dark under the dense tree cover of the preserve, but I did see Yellow-rumped and Black-throated Blue Warblers (one each), and a White-eyed Vireo.
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
White-eyed Vireo
Gray Catbird
On my return hike, I saw a few more species. A lone Spotted Sandpiper was foraging along Lake Monocan, and a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher was quite busy looking for a meal.
Spotted Sandpiper
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
When I got back to the end of my street, I saw a Cooper's Hawk finishing a meal - hopefully, not one of the Pine Warblers!
Cooper's Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
I went for a morning hike on the trail. Although I logged 20 avian species and a Black Ratsnake, it wasn't a very interesting hike. Best birds I saw/heard were two Common Yellowthroats and three White-eyed Vireos. A small flock of Cedar Waxwings were along the river.
Cedar Waxwing
Common Yellowthroat
Carolina Chickadee
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Alice and I went for an afternoon hike. We saw an Osprey carrying a meal over Sawmill Creek pond #3, and a pair of Canada Geese with seven goslings on the the Monocan golf course pond #1.
Osprey
Canada Geese