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| A Brit abroad |
Oct 17-18: Forster's, Nashville and a zillion Turkey VulturesTwo very different days this weekend: it rained all day Saturday, so most of my birding was restricted to the backyard. Fortunately a male Black-throated Blue Warbler showed up to chase away the gloom (warbler no. 16 for the yard). Today dawned even cooler (1C/39F), but clear and sunny. Joel and I headed to Bear Creek Reservoir, where straight away we picked out a Forster's Tern circling ever higher with a small group of Ring-billed Gulls.   We also had Tree Swallows and our first of the year American Pipit. At another pullout, Joel got on to a skulky warbler with yellow underparts in low vegetation, giving an unusual chip. I managed a quick look at the bird's head and was immediately bowled over by its big eye surrounded by a narrow, complete white eye-ring. Given the bird's behaviour I was convinced it was going to be a Connecticut Warbler, and only after reviewing photos did it become apparent that it was 'just' a Nashville Warbler (my first in GA).  Sandy Creek Nature Center was quiet, save for our FOTS Winter Wren. As Joel dropped me back home we were treated to a showy Northern Parula and my regular female Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.    On hearing that another Nashville had been sighted at the bot gardens, I cycled out there after lunch. As expected for the time of day, passerine activity was low, though I did get nice looks at a Rose-breasted Grosbeak in the Privet Eradication Area.  I walked the White Trail as far as the snags, where my attention was drawn to a couple of Cooper's Hawks and a group of Turkey Vultures. Scanning further I came across the biggest single flock of Turkey Vultures I have ever seen. Over the next 20 minutes I estimated 630 birds passed over in one continuous stream.  Joel came out to join me and we had several more flocks, totalling over 1500 birds in 2 hours.  Among them were smaller numbers of Black Vultures...  ... a small falcon sp, and some accipters in the stratosphere that included at least one Sharp-shinned Hawk.  In the late afternoon I checked Lake Herrick, logging another 45 Turkey Vultures. Myrtle Warblers are now the most abundant warbler species there, but I still came across a mixed flock containing Black-throated Green, Chestnut-sided and this Palm Warbler.  8:26 PM - Sunday, October 18, 2009 - post comment
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Description birding all over the place Home User Profile My Blog RSS Feed Archives Friends Bird by bird Feathers of hope Sacramento and Beyond A Brit abroad archives (2004- early 2009) Alis volat propriis California Thrashers John Sterling's bird photos Yolo Audubon Oconee Rivers Audubon Cambs Bird Club Olivier Laporte's photos Steve Hampton's Yolo County birding pages Subalpine Birding Wings over GA Recent Entries - Ring-necked Duck and Beaver, Lake Herrick - Duck day - Late warblers, gnatcatchers and a county tick - Early November doldrums - Lake Herrick November 3 |