It was a good morning on the back side of Huntley on Sunday. Highlights
included
Sora calling
Wood duck hen with 11 babies
Wilson’s warbler – 3
Lincoln’s sparrow – in the Woodcock Meadow near the deer exclosure (the only
other sparrow I saw was a single white-throat)
Swainson’s thrush – 5
Canada warbler – 3 (FOS)
Magnolia – 4
BTG – 1
Redstart – 3 (no mature males)
Blackpoll - 6
Chat – 2
During a quick walk in White Oak Park I saw a male Magnolia close by at
waist level. Never really noticed before the incredible velvet-black back
and how it contrasts with the cap and wings. Gorgeous!
On Thursday, Jason Waanders, Jim Mathews, and I played hookie to go birding
with Arizonans: Philip Kline, an ex-Washingtonian in town for the day, and
Steve Spangle, FWS employee doing a detail in Washington. We saw all of the
Thompson specialties, including excellent low-level looks at two female
ceruleans, and good looks at a male. We saw worm-eating warblers and
redstarts mating, and saw worm-eating and Kentuckies working on nests. In
addition to the usual suspects, we heard or saw 2 PURLPLE FINCHES. Great
morning and a great place.
OFF-TOPIC NOTE ON NATIVE PLANTS
I have several natives seeding on my property if anyone wants freebees:
1 Tick-seed sunflower (I think). This is the same yellow annual that
dominates the late-summer on the back side of Huntley in the late summer.
Great for butterflies. I have approximately 50,000 seedlings in my lawn.
Likes wet sun. And boy is my yard wet this spring.
2 Cardinal flower (lobelia). Great for hummers. I have a few
extras. Sun or shade, wet or dry.
Ben Jesup
Alexandria
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG.
Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.20/1453 - Release Date: 5/18/2008
9:31 AM
