Higbee Beach Bird Walk - Friday, April 15th, 2016

Generally the critter with the highest "Cuteness Factor" on spring birding walks is the piping plover. Not so today. Today's cuteness award definitely went to the harbor seal sunning itself atop some old pilings off Higbee Beach, checking us out with those big dark eyes as we checked him out from the shore. Early season migrants included Prairie Warbler, White-eyed Vireo, Purple Martin and Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. Hermit Thrush numbers seem to be building as they move through headed for northern breeding grounds; now is the time to listen for their beautiful ethereal song. Leaders: Kathy Horn, Roger Horn, Catherine Busch, Chris Marks, and Steve Rodan.
38 species

Canada Goose  4
Wood Duck  2
Mallard  5
Double-crested Cormorant  14
Great Egret  1
Black Vulture  2
Turkey Vulture  2
Osprey  4
Bald Eagle  2
Red-tailed Hawk  2
Laughing Gull  6
Ring-billed Gull  1
Herring Gull (American)  5
Mourning Dove  3
Red-bellied Woodpecker  2
Downy Woodpecker  3
Hairy Woodpecker  1
White-eyed Vireo  1
Blue Jay  2
Fish Crow  3
Purple Martin  2
Carolina Chickadee  3
Tufted Titmouse  5
Carolina Wren  7
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher  9
Hermit Thrush  5
American Robin  8
Brown Thrasher  4
Northern Mockingbird  2
Prairie Warbler  1
Yellow-breasted Chat  1     Continuing
Field Sparrow  14
White-throated Sparrow  16
Song Sparrow  4
Eastern Towhee  4
Northern Cardinal  8
Red-winged Blackbird  9
Brown-headed Cowbird  12

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

Harbor Seal [Photo by Roger Horn]

Bald Eagles [Photo by Roger Horn]

Hermit Thrush [Photo by Roger Horn]