A merry band of folks met up at the Northwood Center – despite a frosty start to the day. Though we started with a rather quiet Lake Lily, the streets were busy with singing House Finches and Carolina Wrens, while parties of Common Grackles, Brown-headed Cowbirds and European Starlings initiated all sorts of discussions about these birds. At Coral Avenue, we were greeted by the sight of a Peregrine Falcon, eating a Horned Grebe right on the beach – quite the Serengeti feel! A handful of waterbirds including courting Black Scoters and good views of Northern Gannet, Long-tailed Duck, many Red-throated Loons and a somewhat more lively Horned Grebe. A male Northern Harrier breezed over the rooftops as the local vultures rode the thermals.
Our return took us via Lighthouse Pond, where a wide array of ducks showed off their various feeding techniques, and a male Downy Woodpecker fed on the ground just a few feet away from us. The finale was provided by a boisterous party of some 40 Fish Crows that tumbled and called overhead in their pre-breeding courtship flights. Leaders: Mike Crewe, Chris Marks, and Steve Weis.
