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vaneramosThis morning I left the apartment at 7 a.m. and went for a bird walk along Lilac Way as far as the high meadow. I went for two hours counted 35 species, mostly by sight but a few by ear.
Double-crested cormorant
Canada goose
mallard
mourning dove
belted kingfisher
downy woodpecker
Eastern phoebe
Eastern kingbird
purple martin
tree swallow
cliff swallow
blue jay
American crow
black-capped chickadee
house wren
American robin
gray catbird
brown thrasher
cedar waxwing
European starling
warbling vireo
yellow warbler
Northern cardinal
chipping sparrow
savannah sparrow
white-crowned sparrow
song sparrow
red-winged blackbird
Eastern meadowlark
common grackle
brown-headed cowbird
Northern oriole
house finch
American goldfinch
house sparrow
Of particular interest were the double-crested cormorants and purple martins, which I've never seen in this location before. They're probably in migration. The martins were keeping company with the colony of cliff swallows that nests under Victoria Road bridge.
Up until last year there were only one or two mud nests under the beams. This spring there are at least nine. I like watching the swallows sit in the opening before diving out; all you can see is the triangular white forehead scanning back and forth. I can't imagine why any bird would want to nest there. Victoria Road is busy, and the bridge trembles constantly with passing transports. They have some nice, quiet limestone cliffs to choose from. Of course the bridge is situated directly over the river, with plenty of insects.
I was disappointed not to find American redstarts, which usually nest here. Hopefully they're only running late. Other local breeders of interest include the Blackburnian warbler and bobolink, but I rarely see them. I didn't see indigo buntings either, but they always seem to be a late migrant.
Double-crested cormorant
Canada goose
mallard
mourning dove
belted kingfisher
downy woodpecker
Eastern phoebe
Eastern kingbird
purple martin
tree swallow
cliff swallow
blue jay
American crow
black-capped chickadee
house wren
American robin
gray catbird
brown thrasher
cedar waxwing
European starling
warbling vireo
yellow warbler
Northern cardinal
chipping sparrow
savannah sparrow
white-crowned sparrow
song sparrow
red-winged blackbird
Eastern meadowlark
common grackle
brown-headed cowbird
Northern oriole
house finch
American goldfinch
house sparrow
Of particular interest were the double-crested cormorants and purple martins, which I've never seen in this location before. They're probably in migration. The martins were keeping company with the colony of cliff swallows that nests under Victoria Road bridge.
Up until last year there were only one or two mud nests under the beams. This spring there are at least nine. I like watching the swallows sit in the opening before diving out; all you can see is the triangular white forehead scanning back and forth. I can't imagine why any bird would want to nest there. Victoria Road is busy, and the bridge trembles constantly with passing transports. They have some nice, quiet limestone cliffs to choose from. Of course the bridge is situated directly over the river, with plenty of insects.
I was disappointed not to find American redstarts, which usually nest here. Hopefully they're only running late. Other local breeders of interest include the Blackburnian warbler and bobolink, but I rarely see them. I didn't see indigo buntings either, but they always seem to be a late migrant.
