A Dreary Day Turns Out Bright After All ~ October 6, 2021

I spent the overcast and dreary morning at the Woodland Hills Preserve and found 37 species that included a Chimney Swift, a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, a Blue-headed Vireo, two Common Ravens, both kinglets, two Cape May Warblers, a Black-throated Green Warbler, two Common Yellowthroats, Eastern Towhee, and sparrows that included three Lincoln's and my first White-crowned of the season.

Lincoln's Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

In the early afternoon, I stopped at the West Gremar Road retention pond and saw a large flock of about 80 American Pipits drop into a field near the pond. These camouflaged specialists were tough to get photos of, but I managed to get a few good ones and some mediocre flight shots.

American Pipits

On the way back home, I stopped at the Newburg Road retention pond and spotted four Ring-billed Gulls, Sharp-shinned and Cooper's Hawks, two Northern Harriers, and an adult Bald Eagle that was perched on one of the powerline towers. Unfortunately, the cloudy day caused the Harrier photos to become silhouetted. One of two Savannah Sparrows posed in much better lighting for a photo on the fence by the pond.

Bald Eagle

Northern Harrier

Savannah Sparrow

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