Weather: bright, still, very cold, snow on the ground. From 7:30am.
Another early start for a morning walk around the vicinity of Smith Neck Road. Firstly an unseen & unidentified mystery bird calling from the trees: 'chiiuu, chiiuu, chiiuu, chiiuu'.
Heading to the bay from Smith Neck Road: American Crow, Bluejay, American Robin, Starling, House Sparrow.
Turning off Smith Neck Road a male Northern Flicker was conveniently perched on a house's chimney in bright sunlight allowing excellent views, it would have been a first had I not seen it roadside a couple of days previously. Whilst I watched a Downy Woodpecker also appeared in nearby trees.
Breaking from the flicker & heading to the shore I glimpsed a distinctive bird quartering trees near to the shore, heading towards the saltmarsh area around Apponagansett, another Northern Harrier. Unfortunately I couldn't see it when I did reach the shore but the usual, Ring-Billed Gull, Canada Goose & Goldeneye (a male flew towards the Padanaram bridge) were present.
Finally, on heading back another loud, two-tone song was heard similar in tone to the first mystery bird call but again the songster was not seen or identified.
Update: a likely Carolina Wren, identified after September 2009 holiday.
11 species, none new.
No comments:
Post a Comment