Cold today, with some freezing over on the lake. Gull numbers were down, and the ice forced the ruddy ducks and a single bufflehead into close proximity with the mallards in the duck feeding area. Feeders were active with 3 purple finches (1 female and 2 males) and a Red Breasted Nuthatch visiting regularly. Haven't seen the pine siskin here in a few days, despite extensive time at the feeders (another birder did report that it was there earlier yesterday). There has been a sharpie lurking there. Also had a FOY woodcock on the side of lookout hill between lamppost 249 and wellhouse.
Canada Goose 150
Mute Swan 2
American Black Duck 2
Mallard X
Northern Shoveler X
Ring-necked Duck 4
Bufflehead 1
Red-breasted Merganser 1
Ruddy Duck X
Red-tailed Hawk 3
American Coot 12
American Woodcock 1
Ring-billed Gull 300
Herring Gull 9
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Rock Pigeon 35
Mourning Dove X
Red-bellied Woodpecker 3
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 2
Downy Woodpecker 5
Blue Jay 6
Black-capped Chickadee 6
Tufted Titmouse 3
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 3
Carolina Wren 1
American Robin 12
Eastern Towhee 1
Fox Sparrow 4
Song Sparrow 3
Swamp Sparrow 2
White-throated Sparrow 40
Dark-eyed Junco X
Northern Cardinal 10
Red-winged Blackbird 12
Purple Finch 3
House Finch 8
American Goldfinch 15
House Sparrow 15
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Peter's brief 3/4 sightings:
This morning while driving by Nellies Lawn, a pretty sight seeing two adult Red-tailed Hawks perched in Elizabeth's Tulip, at the north edge marking the Vale of Cashmere entry. One park crew stopped their truck to take photos. It was a great shot both hawks only 5 feet apart on a dead limb.
ON the lake, the continuing drake Red-breasted Merganser made the best of it in the mostly frozen lake, in the open water between the Peninsula thumb and southern lake mainland .The usual suspects of ruddies, 45 shovelers near the rink, several Black duck, about 14 Coots with many gulls ( ring billed, some Herring and one Greater Black-backed)
