Hot, hot, hot is how one could best describe the day. I could barely record the count as sweat rolled down my brow, stinging my eyes as I scribed! Nonetheless, 30 birders braved this heat, to enjoy what is always a very tranquil setting. The birds too were very aware of the heat as many species were still up North or hiding in the shade, leaving us with a total of just 55. Not a bad total, but 11 species shy of last year’s fall count.
The bird of the day, and a lifer for several, was the Loggerhead Shrike. He was a patient bird, sitting straight at the top of a Cottonwood as he posed tirelessly for several scopes and cameras. And, of course, it is always nice to see the shy little Green Heron, although he was not as cooperative since she quickly skirted away over the largest of the three reclamation lagoons, leaving many of us sightless. The Lincoln Sparrow was a new entrant for us in recent years. Whelan Lake and the Pied-billed Grebe go hand in hand, but not so this fall. While we did see a few, Charlotte and others commented how prevalent the Eared Grebe population (25+) on the lake was this autumn, way outnumbering the Pied-billed.
Another interesting fact to note is that by the time the birdwalk commenced, we already had 32 sightings. Robin, did someone say it is the early bird that gets the worm?
After the walk, a dozen or so of us enjoyed the nearby Pitstop for a great burger and a fun environment filled with 50’s automobile memorabilia.
Finally, our thanks to Diane Walkley, would outdid herself, plying us with coffee, apple juice, lemonade, oranges and doughnuts.
‘Til next time, flyin’ high,
Doug Walkley
Here’s our list:
10-Oct-15
* Denotes Big Sit observations at entrance way or lake
SWANS, GEESE & DUCKS
* Mallard
* Northern Shoveler
* Rudy Duck
GREBES
* Pied-billed Grebe
* Eared Grebe
BITTERNS & EGRETS
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Green Heron
* Black-crowned Night-Heron
AMERICAN VULTURES
HAWKS & FALCONS
Cooper’s Hawk
* Red-shouldered Hawk
* Red-tailed Hawk
* American Kestrel
RAILS, COOTS & STILTS
Sora (H)
* American Coot
PLOVERS & SANDPIPERS
Black-necked Stilt
Killdeer
GULLS
* Western Gull
TERNS
PIGEONS & DOVES
* Eurasian Collared-Dove
* Mourning Dove
TYPICAL OWLS
HUMMINGBIRDS
* Black-chinned Hummingbird
* Anna’s Hummingbird
* Allen’s Hummingbird
KINGFISHERS
WOODPECKERS
* Nuttall’s Woodpecker
* Northern Flicker
FLYCATCHERS
* Black Phoebe
Say’s Phoebe
* Cassin’s Kingbird
VIREOS
JAYS & CROWS
* Western Scrub-jay
* American Crow
SWALLOWS
* Tree Swallow
* Barn Swallow
BUSHTITS
* Bushtit
WRENS
* House Wren
* Marsh Wren
KINGLETS & GNATCATCHERS
* Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
BLUEBIRDS, THRUSHES & ALLIES
MOCKINGBIRDS & THRASHERS
* Northern Mockingbird
California Thrasher
Loggerhead Shrike
STARLINGS
European Starling
…
