Not the best day at the park. It was chilly and windy with heavy overcast. Singing was way down from previous weeks. It was dark. Birds were hard to find.
Highlights:
Hooded Merganser Two half-grown young at the
Rowing Club
Osprey There are 2 young on the nest, not 1
as I thought
Accipiter sp. One near weir caused consternation
amongst blackbirds
Barn Owl Scott had two early on, one east and
one west
Hummingbirds The Pea Patch featured both Anna's and
Rufous
Warbling Vireo One in the East Meadow, more at RC
Purple Martin One went in a gourd prev. used by Tree
Swallows
Wilson's Warbler One heard singing south of East Meadow -
First of Fall
Bullock's Oriole 1-2 juveniles
Brown-headed Cowbird No adults, mostly unaccompanied juvies
There were lots of VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS overhead in large flocks much of the morning, but only one VAUX'S SWIFT, and no Black Swifts nor Tree Swallows.
Mammals were more of a highlight, with a MUSKRAT and two sightings of RACCOON, one in the slough near Dog Central and one asleep in a tree at the Rowing Club boathouse.
Despite the weather, we ended up with a moderately respectable species count of 55 species, though about 7 of those were heard only, and a few more were only glimpsed.
== Michael
Juvenile Brown-headed Cowbird, illustrating just how bland they look
Muskrat in slough
Raccoon across slough from Dog Central
Dead fish (4 inches long) - perch?
2 male and 1 female American Goldfinch on the path next to the East Meadow
Female Anna's Hummingbird on a Red Elderberry in the Community Gardens
Juvenile White-crowned Sparrow
Raccoon asleep next to the boathouse at the Rowing Club