Bufflehead
We had rain all Saturday night and into the early Sunday morning. When I started out on my hike here in Old Trail, the skies were still cloudy, but by late morning, we had a bit of sunshine. I started off at the pond behind the Lodge, and saw one of the continuing female Buffleheads.
Bufflehead
I then moved down to the Western Park (wetlands). One of our resident Red-shouldered Hawks was preening high up in one of the trees, and soon its mate flew by. I have seen these two hawks so many times that they usually don't mind my being close to them. One of them has a dark rufous breast with thin dark streaks, and the other one has more white mixed in with its rufous breast barring.
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
As I hiked through the wetlands, I saw six sparrow species, as well as several other common winter birds. The vultures were drying their wings as soon as the sun appeared.
Turkey Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Black Vulture
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
I saw two White-tailed Deer resting in the tall grasses. They looked like they had a rough Saturday night and didn't even want to stand up in case they got spooked.
White-tailed Deer
White-tailed Deer
By this time, I had 18 avian species for the morning, and wanted to get at least 20, so I headed over to the golf course pond. There were four Ring-necked Ducks there.
Ring-necked Ducks
I hiked near the pond, and ended the morning with 26 avian species. The other Red-shouldered Hawk had landed in a nearby tree, and was calling for its mate.
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Song Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Carolina Wren
It was sunny this morning, but a bit breezy, and many of the smaller birds were hunkered down out of the wind. I did manage to see 23 avian species here in Old Trail this morning, including 6 species that I had not seen yesterday. I saw a couple of Question Mark butterflies, and don't know if I have ever seen butterflies here in December before today. One of the Red-shouldered Hawks was still in Western Park, but closer to the ground, and let me take some close-up photos.
Question Mark butterfly
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
I saw a flock of 30 to 40 Fish Crows flying with a Black Vulture. The sun must have been at the right angle, as I saw two-toned underwings on these crows; a feature that I have never noticed before.
Fish Crows
Fish Crow
Fish Crow
I continued my hike, adding some avian species to my list, and ended the hike with a Winter Wren.
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Northern Mockingbird
Eastern Phoebe
Winter Wren
Winter Wren
Winter Wren
Two day list (32 avian species):
Ring-necked Duck
Bufflehead
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Red-shouldered Hawk
Mourning Dove
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Phoebe
Blue Jay
American Crow
Fish Crow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Winter Wren
Carolina Wren
Eastern Bluebird
Northern Mockingbird
Field Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-crowned Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow