[SBB] Hooded Mergansers

["Kirsten Holmquist" <[[email protected]]>]

I stopped by lower Windy Hill OSP this morning hoping for a couple of Hooded
Mergansers.  I got to the corner of the pond and was treated to the sight of
8 HOODED MERGANSERS (4 males) swimming away from the corner, then I picked
up 2 more under the trees on the opposite side for a total of 10.  The water
was high and muddy.  (I actually stopped by the pond on my way back too.  13
HOODED MERGANSERS were there (still only 4 males)!  I counted 3 times
because I couldn't quite believe I still knew how to count correctly.)  Also
in the pond with them were 3 RING-NECKED DUCKS (2 males), a female COMMON
GOLDENEYE, and a couple of AMERICAN COOTS.  No sight of Green Heron and,
strangely, no Pied-Billed Grebes in evidence either.

 

A few others of interest:  I had a DOWNY WOODPECKER at the parking lot to
start off my day.  (Throughout the day, I also picked up a couple each of
NORTHERN RED-SHAFTED FLICKERS and NUTTALL'S WOODPECKERS in addition to the
ever present ACORN WOODPECKERS.  I thought I heard a Hairy at one point but
never located it visually to be sure.  No Red-Breasted Sapsuckers.)  Just
past the pond, I had a singing CALIFORNIA THRASHER.  A group of 5 PURPLE
FINCHES (3 female-type) were hanging out with a couple of LESSER GOLDFINCH
where the Spring Trail branches off.  At the start of the Meadow Trail, a
pair of BUSHTITS was bopping around an oak.  One of the pair appeared to be
gathering nesting material.  Working my way down the Spring Trial from the
Meadow Trial, a very nice adult COOPER'S HAWK was perched in a bare tree
just a few feet from the trail.  And, above the pond on the Crowder Trail,
an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was working a Madrone.  RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS were
still numerous with several HUTTON'S VIREOS thrown into the mix.  A couple
of the vireos were kind enough to identify themselves by calling, making my
life a little easier.  

 

As I got back to the trail head, I managed to be a bit bummed (despite just
having seen 13 mergansers) because I hadn't picked up any Townsend's
Warblers.  Just to show it's not over until it's over, the oaks to the side
of the trail head started showing signs of many small bodies.  The first
small body I located in my bins turned out to be a female TOWNSEND'S
WARBLER.  Nice way to end the walk.

 

Good Birding,

 

Kirsten R. Holmquist

 <mailto:[[email protected]]> [[email protected]]

 

 

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