I spent some time today just enjoying the sunny and quite birdy day. Our yard was busy with birds including at least seven Black-billed Magpies at the feeders and fence and birdbath. One of the young magpies sat on the porch, probably wondering why the Steller’s Jays spent so much time there.
I checked out Cuddy Park where Canada Geese and Mallards are still regularly congregating even though the city is making great efforts to discourage people’s feeding the birds. I was surprised to see an unspotted Spotted Sandpiper working its way across the grass amid the Mallards.
At Spenard Crossing a Red-breasted Nuthatch surprised me by coming within two feet of me at it investigated nearby branches for insects. As with our yard, Black-billed Magpies were common and splashing in the water on the warm day, and a Belted Kingfisher was periodically diving into the water from various vantage points. There was yet another Solitary Sandpiper for my year-observations. Most of the fireweeds were completely done blooming and were covered with fuzz.
My final birding stop was Westchester Lagoon and the nearby trail. In addition to the many scaup and mallards, near the trail there were a few American Wigeons and one of the many Red-necked Grebes. Far out on the mudflats were about 55 loafing Bonaparte’s Gulls, two wagging-tailed Spotted Sandpipers, dowitchers, a few Hudsonian Godwits and the previously reported and very difficult to see American Golden-Plover.
289 species so far
PS. Please note that yesterday’s blog post has been corrected with respect to the raptor being chased by a Merlin.
