By Sam Cable
A gentle and intermittent drizzle paired with a cold, gray morning did not stop 13 observers from recording 51 species over 3 hours on our First of the Month Bird Walk led by Cindy McCormack.
Leaving from the parking lot we wound our way around the softball facility whose manicured grass lawns were well attended by Dark-eyed Juncos and American Robins. We arrived at the Duck Pond and found it to be aptly named. Here Wood Ducks, Ring-necked Ducks, Mallards, Common Goldeneyes, and Buffleheads frolicked in abundance alongside Pied-billed Grebes. Fleeting glimpses of a Belted Kingfisher and a rampaging horde of Bushtits were exciting regardless of their brevity.
Further on, we enjoyed wonderfully close views of mixed species feeding flocks consisting of Black-capped Chickadees, Brown Creepers, and Kinglets (both Golden and Ruby-crowned) as their numbers passed alongside, over, and even through our group. Later, Virginia Rails could occasionally be heard in the wetlands but stayed otherwise hidden. In those wetlands we added American Wigeons, Northern Pintails, and a Hooded Merganser to the duck tally. Where the Virginia Rails were shy, the Song Sparrows were feeling flamboyant. Around 47 of them regaled us from low and open perches, their barking chips ubiquitous and inescapable. Throughout the morning, we found nearly the full slate of Clark County’s expected woodpeckers with Downy, Hairy, Pileated, and Northern Flicker all present (and vocal about it). Red-breasted Sapsuckers were the single holdout from Family Picidae despite the prevalence of their telltale wells on the trunk of nearly every tree.
In January, our First of the Month bird walk falls on the first day of the year. As is tradition, we will kick off the new year with Sandhill Cranes at Frenchman’s Bar Regional Park. This walk is weather dependent, so be sure to head over to the Bird Walks & Field Trips page to register to stay in the loop on any changes or announcements.
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