Sunday, February 15, 2015

Great Backyard Bird Count at Patterson Park

Launched in 1998 by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society, the Great Backyard Bird Count was the first online citizen-science project to collect data on wild birds and to display results in near real-time.  Last year, 144,109 checklists were submitted by 135 countries, 142,051 participants, and 4,296 species were observed!  You can still participate - find out more on the website:  http://gbbc.birdcount.org/  . 

We did our part on the Friday bird walk at Patterson Park.  Although the weather was in the single digits factoring in the wind chill, a few birds showed up.

Mallards were paired up and tucked in.
Canada Geese found some open water due to previous warmer days.
There were interesting ice blocks resting on the top of the thin ice.
A few male Red-winged Blackbirds had enough energy to shout out "conk-la-ree!"
Can you spot the Coot?

Bird list:

Mallard
Coot
Canada Geese
Ring-billed Gulls 
Red-tailed Hawk
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Dark-eyed Junco
Golden-crowned Kinglet
American Crow
Red-winged Blackbird
European Startling
 
The next walk at Patterson Park will be Saturday, February 28 at 8:00AM led by Audubon staff.  Binoculars are provided if you don't have any by emailing ppaudubon@gmail.com.
 
 

Sunday, February 8, 2015

Loch Raven Reservoir

Led by Kye Jenkins

A much warmer day than last year, about 16 birders enjoyed viewing the waterfowl that visits Loch Raven Reservoir this time of year. 

There were lots of Common and a few Hooded Mergansers, Gadwall, and Ring-necked Ducks.
  A Great Blue Heron was also spotted.
Ring-billed Gulls were circling the dam, and were floating right near the edge.
Redheads, Buffleheads, American Wigeon, and Canada Geese.

 
Birding by the shooting range.  We spotted Bluebirds, Golden-crowned Kinglets, Brown Creeper, Bald Eagle, White throated Sparrows, American Crow, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, and Hermit Thrush.

The partially frozen water held Common Mergansers, Coots, and Buffleheads.
Full species list:
 
Cackling Goose
Canada Goose
Gadwall
American Wigeon
American Black Duck
Mallard
Redhead
Ring-necked Duck
Bufflehead
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Pied-billed Grebe
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
American Coot
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Mourning Dove
Belter Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Blue Jay
American Crow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Carolina Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Eastern Bluebird
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
 


 

Christmas Bird Count for Kids

January 10, 2015

The first CBC4Kids in Harford County, MD took place at Swan Harbor Farm in Havre de Grace on January 10th. A total of 31 species were seen - 407 birds. We had four teams (one 4-7 years, three 8-16 years), 16 kids participated, 12 adults, and 8 awesome volunteers. 

Thank you to our sponsors - Harford Bird Club, Chesapeake Audubon, Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation, and the Harford Glen Environmental Education Center.  And thanks to our trip leaders Tim Houghton, Dennis Kirkwood, Phil Powers and Ruth Bergstrom, and Mary Murray for help with the binoculars, Peggy Eppig for sharing the Agricultural Center with us,  Fred Brundick - photographer, and Jean Scocca for registration and homemade cookies! 

Down by the pier
It was about 17 degrees!

Leader Dr. Dennis Kirkwood
Leader Phil Powers