It's that time of year when I am out looking for late migrating avian species and arriving winter species.
Old Trail; October 20I started off looking for the Nashville Warbler I had seen late yeasterday morning along Slabtown Branch Creek. That was a mistake, as the entire area was still in the shade of the low sun angle, and there weren't many birds there. I did however, get my first of season Winter Wren, close to where I have seen this species in previous years.
Winter Wren
I continued birding in Western Park and along the golf course pond, and ended up with 26 avian species for the morning.
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Song Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
First of season Field Sparrow
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Common Raven chasing a Turkey Vulture
I returned to Slabtown Branch Creek, and saw another Yellow-rumped Warbler. This one appeared to have a buffy yellow throat and almost no supcilium (eye brow). I thought that it might be an out-of-range Audubon's subspecies, but after looking at all the photos I took of it, I think that it was an in-range Myrtle subspecies.
Yellow-rumped Warbler
I saw a Tennessee Warbler soon after starting my hike, but this was the only warbler I saw this morning.
Tennessee Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
The pair of Great Egrets at the basin must have departed, but I saw a Killdeer on the gravel bar, and at least three, first of season, Wilson's Snipes.
Killdeer
Wilson's Snipe
Wilson's Snipes
Wilson's Snipe
I ended up with 19 avian species there, including 6 avian species I had not seen the day before, giving me 32 avian species for my two-day total. I heard another Winter Wren chatting away near the wooden blind.
Carolina Wren
Carolina Wren
Carolina Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet