A stop at Green Pond yielded a Great Blue Heron, 37 American Robins, 4 Dark-eyed Juncos, and 2 White-throated Sparrows, plus around 200 Canada Geese.
Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Northern Harrier at the Newburg Road Pond ~ November 3, 2026
A check of the Newburg Road retention pond didn't produce anything noteworthy, but as I was leaving, I noticed an immature Northern Harrier hunting the overgrown field. I was able to get these photos of it there.
A stop at Green Pond yielded a Great Blue Heron, 37 American Robins, 4 Dark-eyed Juncos, and 2 White-throated Sparrows, plus around 200 Canada Geese.
A stop at Green Pond yielded a Great Blue Heron, 37 American Robins, 4 Dark-eyed Juncos, and 2 White-throated Sparrows, plus around 200 Canada Geese.
Saturday, October 31, 2026
Little Gap ~ October 31, 2026
I went up to Little Gap hoping to see a passing Golden Eagle or an even more unusual American Goshawk. At one point, six Bald Eagles were in view at once. I got a photo of four of them together.
I got some nice comparison photos of an adult and an immature as they flew by. Note the dark head and the white mottling of the immature, especially in the 'wingpit' area.
Otherwise, it was a pretty slow raptor day. I saw 27 Turkey Vultures, a Sharp-shinned Hawk, 11 Red-tailed Hawks, an American Kestrel, a Merlin, and 10 Bald Eagles, but no Golden. Other birds included 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a Common Raven, 8 American Robins, 3 Purple Finches, 4 American Goldfinches, 4 Dark-eyed Juncos, 30 Common Grackles, and around 150 blackbird species.
I got some nice comparison photos of an adult and an immature as they flew by. Note the dark head and the white mottling of the immature, especially in the 'wingpit' area.
Otherwise, it was a pretty slow raptor day. I saw 27 Turkey Vultures, a Sharp-shinned Hawk, 11 Red-tailed Hawks, an American Kestrel, a Merlin, and 10 Bald Eagles, but no Golden. Other birds included 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a Common Raven, 8 American Robins, 3 Purple Finches, 4 American Goldfinches, 4 Dark-eyed Juncos, 30 Common Grackles, and around 150 blackbird species.
Thursday, October 29, 2026
Ruddy Ducks at the Silver Crest Road Pond ~ October 29, 2026
After going with my wife to her appointment, I then went to the Regency Boulevard ponds, which only held a Great Blue Heron among Canada Geese.
I drove up to the Silver Crest Road pond and saw my first 9 Ruddy Ducks of the season.
I also stopped at the Newburg Road pond. There were about 400 Canada Geese in the nearby fields, but it appeared that the Killdeer had moved on.
I drove up to the Silver Crest Road pond and saw my first 9 Ruddy Ducks of the season.
I also stopped at the Newburg Road pond. There were about 400 Canada Geese in the nearby fields, but it appeared that the Killdeer had moved on.
Saturday, October 24, 2026
St. Luke's Anderson Campus and Two Ponds ~ October 24, 2026
I birded the St. Luke's Anderson Campus pond and the large adjacent sunflower field this morning. The pond held an American Black Duck among 7 Mallards plus 27 Red-winged Blackbirds.
Along the treeline were 81 Mourning Doves, a White-breasted Nuthatch, 2 Northern Mockingbirds, 9 American Robins, and one Cedar Waxwing. Raptors seen were a Sharp-shinned Hawk, a Cooper's Hawk, and a calling Red-shouldered Hawk.
I then walked the paths around and through the large sunflower field where I found 41 Song Sparrows, 12 Dark-eyed Juncos, 8 White-throated Sparrows, and 4 Pine Siskins among around 51 American Goldfinches.
I headed over to Green Pond where a Great Blue Heron was perched on a log. Along the paved path were a Carolina Wren, an American Goldfinch, 8 Dark-eyed Juncos, 18 Song Sparrows, 5 White-throated Sparrows, and a Swamp Sparrow with at least 28 Chipping Sparrows.
Over at the Newburg Road retention pond, I was surprised to find a Cackling Goose among around 140 Canada Geese.
Along the edge of the pond was a Pectoral Sandpiper with 9 Killdeer.
Around a hundred Fish Crows were calling while perched in a few nearby trees. They all eventually took off and were circling in a thermal before heading north.
Along the treeline were 81 Mourning Doves, a White-breasted Nuthatch, 2 Northern Mockingbirds, 9 American Robins, and one Cedar Waxwing. Raptors seen were a Sharp-shinned Hawk, a Cooper's Hawk, and a calling Red-shouldered Hawk.
I then walked the paths around and through the large sunflower field where I found 41 Song Sparrows, 12 Dark-eyed Juncos, 8 White-throated Sparrows, and 4 Pine Siskins among around 51 American Goldfinches.
I headed over to Green Pond where a Great Blue Heron was perched on a log. Along the paved path were a Carolina Wren, an American Goldfinch, 8 Dark-eyed Juncos, 18 Song Sparrows, 5 White-throated Sparrows, and a Swamp Sparrow with at least 28 Chipping Sparrows.
Over at the Newburg Road retention pond, I was surprised to find a Cackling Goose among around 140 Canada Geese.
Along the edge of the pond was a Pectoral Sandpiper with 9 Killdeer.
Around a hundred Fish Crows were calling while perched in a few nearby trees. They all eventually took off and were circling in a thermal before heading north.
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
Checking a Couple Ponds ~ October 21, 2026
I went to Green Pond and found the 6 Snow Geese continuing next to the pond. Along the paved path were an Eastern Phoebe, a Carolina Wren,
3 Eastern Bluebirds, 13 Dark-eyed Juncos, 4 Savannah Sparrows, 12 Song Sparrows, and at least 60 Chipping Sparrows.
One of them had a white patch on its face. I got some distant photos of it.
Two Common Ravens flew by while a Belted Kingfisher flew around the back middle pond.
Over at the wooded pond next to the house, I spotted a Cape May Warbler.
The Newburg Road retention pond held around 180 Canada Geese, 7 Mallards, and a Killdeer. Two adult Bald Eagles were perched on one of the powerline towers while another flew nearby.
Later, the eagles and Turkey Vultures flew into a nearby field to feed on a deer carcass.
Other birds seen there included roughly 80 American Crows and 11 Fish Crows, 2 Common Ravens, and 7 Savannah Sparrows.
One of them had a white patch on its face. I got some distant photos of it.
Two Common Ravens flew by while a Belted Kingfisher flew around the back middle pond.
Over at the wooded pond next to the house, I spotted a Cape May Warbler.
The Newburg Road retention pond held around 180 Canada Geese, 7 Mallards, and a Killdeer. Two adult Bald Eagles were perched on one of the powerline towers while another flew nearby.
Later, the eagles and Turkey Vultures flew into a nearby field to feed on a deer carcass.
Other birds seen there included roughly 80 American Crows and 11 Fish Crows, 2 Common Ravens, and 7 Savannah Sparrows.
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