Birdsong Continued
Published: October 20, 2012
Tags: Parks and Preserves, Birdsong, Orchard Park, NY, Chipping Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Eastern Bluebird, Eastern Phoebe, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird
Since Thursday late afternoon's trip to Birdsong was cut short by rain, I went back there again this morning. The weather wasn't ideal, but I was anxious to see more of those Yellow-rumped Warblers and kinglets! The beavers who live in the back pond intrigue me too, as I still haven't seen them.
The Yellow-rumped Warblers were still present in significant numbers as were Cedar Waxwings and the Ruby-crowned Kinglets. Red-winged Blackbirds were there again. I thought they might have left as I didn't see a single one yesterday at all. UPDATE: it turns out these guys are year-round residents!
I was happily surprised to see both an Eastern Phoebe and just minutes later, a beautiful male Eastern Bluebird. I checked the
fall migration chart, thinking the phoebes would be gone by now, but it appears they remain into the first week of January, returning only a few weeks later at the beginning of March. Some Bluebirds remain in WNY, overwintering, but if they do leave, it's from Oct. 21 - 31...
The phoebe was so busy preening itself, I don't think it ever noticed me busily taking photos of it. The warblers were great posers today too. I was hoping to see the Brown Creeper again, but no luck there...
Other sightings today were: Red-tailed Hawk, Downy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, American Goldfinch, Blue Jay, Northern Cardinal, Golden-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, Black-capped Chickadee, House Sparrow, Killdeer. I MAY have seen the "tail" end of a beaver quietly slipping into an underwater entrance to the dam, but I can't say for sure...