This Friday morning’s weekly walk yielded decent and expected bird activity. Although the sun was blazing this morning, the consistent wind brought temperatures down to a brisk 44 degrees! The usual Dark-eyed Juncos were seen and heard feeding around the white pines near the cafeteria entrance. Also, presumably the same Northern Mockingbird has been observed four walks in a row in the same bush behind the American Basswood tree on the main trail. Today, the Northern Mockingbird was chasing a male Northern Cardinal off its perch. Strange to see a bird act so territorial in winter! Finally, I thought I heard a Red-tailed Hawk perform its traditional screaming sound, but it turns out it was a Blue Jay doing an excellent imitation.
The checklist and eBird link to today’s walk can be viewed below:
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S32817937
Bethel Springs E.S.--Nature Trail
Dec 2, 2016
7:36 AM
Traveling
0.50 miles
18 Minutes
All birds reported? Yes
Comments: Cold, windy morning with decent activity.
Submitted from eBird for iOS, version 1.4.0 Build 107
0 Red-tailed Hawk -- Thought it was a RTHA, turns out it was a Blue Jay doing an imitation!
3 Blue Jay
2 American Crow
2 Carolina Chickadee
4 American Robin
2 Northern Mockingbird
5 European Starling
12 Dark-eyed Junco
2 White-throated Sparrow
1 Song Sparrow
2 Northern Cardinal
2 House Finch