It was cool and overcast this morning. With off and on rain in the forecast for the entire coming week, I wanted to get out and do some birding while I could. I ended up with 27 avian species and a few non-avian critters in about 2 hours. I probably could have gotten 30 avian species if I had spent another hour or so looking for a few usual summer species that I missed. I saw a Common Yellowthroat and a Yellow Warbler, and heard a Pine Warbler.
Common Yellowthroat
Common Yellowthroat
Yellow Warbler
Tree Swallow
Red-shouldered Hawk
House Finch
Indigo Bunting
When I was on the trail along the golf course pond, I saw an American Crow flying across the pond. The photos show white patches on both upper wings. Sibley's field guide states, "individuals with variable white wing-patches are rare but regular." I've seen American Crows with this feature a few times over the years, but not very often.
American Crow with white wing patches
American Crow with white wing patches
Blue Grosbeaks have been fairly regular the past few summers in the meadow south of the golf course pond, but I hadn't seen one in Old Trail so far in 2020, and this meadow where Blue Grosbeaks had been foraging is now torn up and new homes are being built there. Near the end of my hike, I was on the trail along Slabtown Branch Creek, and had a close encounter with a male Blue Grosbeak.
Blue Grosbeak
Blue Grosbeak
Blue Grosbeak
Non-avian critters this morning included deer, squirrels, bull frogs, turtles, fox, and various spiders.
Deer
Eastern Painted Turtle
Orchard Spider with a meal
This morning's avian list:
Canada Goose
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Red-shouldered Hawk
Killdeer
Mourning Dove
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
American Crow
Fish Crow
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
White-breasted Nuthatch
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
Common Yellowthroat
Pine Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Chipping Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Blue Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow