Post by Chris on Dec 19, 2010 16:31:12 GMT -8
I was looking forward to this morning as I could sleep in for the first time in a while. 7:30 rolls around and my dad yells at me if I want to go to Reifel. I was going to go mid week, but I couldn’t pass up an opportunity.
Over Westham Island Bridge were American and Eurasian Wigeons along with some Mallards and Green-winged Teal. I counted four Eurasian Wigeons. There was also a Mute Swan as well. About 1km in my mom spotted some Ring-necked Pheasants. My dad turned around and I was able to get off a few shots.
Here is the best picture.
I checked for the Hawk Owl going in but didn’t see it. There also wasn’t any one looking for it either. I figured that I would check on the way out. When we entered the refuge we saw four Black-crowned Night Herons. They always seem to be behind branches. While we were enjoying the sparrows a hawk came swooping down and landed on the path ahead of us. I quickly put my bins on it and determined that it was a Northern Goshawk. It quickly flew away. Out near the tower were about 200 Dunlin. This Sandhill Crane wondered what I am doing.
In the small ponds were Shovelers, Pintails, American Wigeons, Mallards and Gadwall. There were a lot of Northern Harriers that were flying over the marsh land. A large flock of Snow Geese were flying over the bay. While walking the western a dyke a large bird flew from the side of the water. I first thought Green Heron but it was an American Bittern!! A new bird for me. I have probably have passed hundreds of them, but they are almost impossible to see in the grass even if one knows where they are.
Best picture of it.
Great Blue Heron that was having a bad ‘hair’ day
My mom spotted a hawk in a tree. I took a few pictures of it because I believed it was the Goshawk that I saw earlier. It is too big for a Cooper’s Hawk and it was a white eyebrow which would suggest Northern Goshawk. If anyone thinks otherwise please let me know.
Mallard
I saw this different looking Mallard. I am not sure what it is crossed with.
I saw a lot of Wood Ducks. This is a great spot to get pictures of Wood Ducks as they seem to be somewhat used to people.
House Sparrow
When coming out of the park I figured I would check to see if the Northern Hawk Owl was present. There were a few Red-tailed Hawks that I was trying to convince myself was a Northern Hawk Owl. Just before I was going to say I guess it is hiding or has moved on I spotted it on top of an evergreen tree. Here is the best picture I could manage. Fantastic bird!!
Here is the list for Reifel. A lot of these are approximate. I didn't bring my notepad.
500 Snow Goose
33 Canada Goose
30 Wood Duck
14 Gadwall
300 American Wigeon
1000 Mallard
60 Northern Shoveler
100 Northern Pintail
6 Green-winged Teal
4 Greater Scaup
11 Lesser Scaup
7 Bufflehead
9 Hooded Merganser
6 Common Merganser
6 Double-crested Cormorant
1 American Bittern
5 Great Blue Heron
4 Black-crowned Night-Heron
18 Bald Eagle
8 Northern Harrier
1 Northern Goshawk
3 Red-tailed Hawk
1 Merlin
200 Dunlin
28 Rock Pigeon
1 Belted Kingfisher
4 Northern Flicker
32 Black-capped Chickadee
2 Brown Creeper
1 Bewick's Wren
18 Golden-crowned Kinglet
2 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
10 American Robin
3 Cedar Waxwing
19 Spotted Towhee
7 Fox Sparrow
23 Song Sparrow
2 White-crowned Sparrow
9 Golden-crowned Sparrow
4 Dark-eyed Junco
8 Red-winged Blackbird
24 House Sparrow
Over Westham Island Bridge were American and Eurasian Wigeons along with some Mallards and Green-winged Teal. I counted four Eurasian Wigeons. There was also a Mute Swan as well. About 1km in my mom spotted some Ring-necked Pheasants. My dad turned around and I was able to get off a few shots.
Here is the best picture.
I checked for the Hawk Owl going in but didn’t see it. There also wasn’t any one looking for it either. I figured that I would check on the way out. When we entered the refuge we saw four Black-crowned Night Herons. They always seem to be behind branches. While we were enjoying the sparrows a hawk came swooping down and landed on the path ahead of us. I quickly put my bins on it and determined that it was a Northern Goshawk. It quickly flew away. Out near the tower were about 200 Dunlin. This Sandhill Crane wondered what I am doing.
In the small ponds were Shovelers, Pintails, American Wigeons, Mallards and Gadwall. There were a lot of Northern Harriers that were flying over the marsh land. A large flock of Snow Geese were flying over the bay. While walking the western a dyke a large bird flew from the side of the water. I first thought Green Heron but it was an American Bittern!! A new bird for me. I have probably have passed hundreds of them, but they are almost impossible to see in the grass even if one knows where they are.
Best picture of it.
Great Blue Heron that was having a bad ‘hair’ day
My mom spotted a hawk in a tree. I took a few pictures of it because I believed it was the Goshawk that I saw earlier. It is too big for a Cooper’s Hawk and it was a white eyebrow which would suggest Northern Goshawk. If anyone thinks otherwise please let me know.
Mallard
I saw this different looking Mallard. I am not sure what it is crossed with.
I saw a lot of Wood Ducks. This is a great spot to get pictures of Wood Ducks as they seem to be somewhat used to people.
House Sparrow
When coming out of the park I figured I would check to see if the Northern Hawk Owl was present. There were a few Red-tailed Hawks that I was trying to convince myself was a Northern Hawk Owl. Just before I was going to say I guess it is hiding or has moved on I spotted it on top of an evergreen tree. Here is the best picture I could manage. Fantastic bird!!
Here is the list for Reifel. A lot of these are approximate. I didn't bring my notepad.
500 Snow Goose
33 Canada Goose
30 Wood Duck
14 Gadwall
300 American Wigeon
1000 Mallard
60 Northern Shoveler
100 Northern Pintail
6 Green-winged Teal
4 Greater Scaup
11 Lesser Scaup
7 Bufflehead
9 Hooded Merganser
6 Common Merganser
6 Double-crested Cormorant
1 American Bittern
5 Great Blue Heron
4 Black-crowned Night-Heron
18 Bald Eagle
8 Northern Harrier
1 Northern Goshawk
3 Red-tailed Hawk
1 Merlin
200 Dunlin
28 Rock Pigeon
1 Belted Kingfisher
4 Northern Flicker
32 Black-capped Chickadee
2 Brown Creeper
1 Bewick's Wren
18 Golden-crowned Kinglet
2 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
10 American Robin
3 Cedar Waxwing
19 Spotted Towhee
7 Fox Sparrow
23 Song Sparrow
2 White-crowned Sparrow
9 Golden-crowned Sparrow
4 Dark-eyed Junco
8 Red-winged Blackbird
24 House Sparrow
