Hi again all,
I went birding this morning (March 26) to my school hoping to get some more
species, mainly towhee and Palm Warbler. I suspected that it would be a
little early for Palm Warbler, and I was right, at least in that I didn't
see any. The first birds I saw a mockingbird and some osprey on the main
road to the school. I went straight to the pond hoping to see the duck I saw
yesterday afternoon. I got a very good surprise. I saw a pair of Wood Ducks
(which I scared off while trying to get closer, oops) and a Canada Goose.
Later I saw a beaver swimming in it.
I went to the area behind the baseball fields where I found several song
sparrows, two Hermit Thrushes, 2 Phoebe, a couple of Cardinals, 1 Field
Sparrow, and some white-throated Sparrows. I went into the woods and pished
in a couple of Pine Warblers, although lighting was bad I got really good
looks. A second one came and a short scuffle ensued. A Creeper came later.
I went to an area below the main road and came upon a pond that was dammed
up by beavers and there I saw two mallards and some other birds. On the way
to the pond I spooked a fox. I went out of the woods and looked at the
osprey on the nest with my scope. I didn't see much else on the day,
except.... I saw what I believe to be a Cooper's Hawk. I am not sure. IT
seemed rather small, but the tail was rounded, not rectangular, and
according to my guides the Cooper's Hawk has the rounded tail, not the
Sharpie. So I put it down as a Cooper's.
And also, other than two eagles I saw a bluebird with some nesting material
in its beak, and it flew down under the archway at the entrance to the
school to where I am guessing it is starting a nest. I couldn't see much
nest material but it was dark, I did not know bluebirds built nests in that
area. I will keep an eye on it and see what develops.
Jacob Barkett,
Woodbridge, VA
