Alvar Birds - Wed. 29th Posted on April 30, 2009 at 07:19:01 PM by Norm Murr
Good day folks.
Yesterday during a long day in the Carden Alvar area we did quite well and saw and heard lots of birds. It started out coolish with a 1 degree temperature but warmed up nicely later in the day.
It was nice to see all the results of the hard work that was put in to provide parking areas at the key Shrike viewing areas. Thank you to all that put in their time and effort.
Below is a partial list of birds that Ian Cannell, Margaret Liubavicius and I found.
Pied-billed Grebes, Trumpeter Swan, Cackling Goose, Green-winged and Blue-winged Teal, Green Heron, American Bitterns, Ospreys on nests, Bald Eagle, Ruffed Grouse, Wild Turkeys, 7 Virgina Rails, 4 Soras, Moorhens, Coot, 4 Sandhill Cranes, Woodcocks, 20+ Snipes, 20+ Upland Sandpipers, 20+ Greater and 10+ Lesser Yellowlegs, Common Loons, Kingfishers, Sapsucker, 3 Pileated Woodpeckers ( 1 on the ground right beside the road just inside the fence ), Flickers, Alder Flycatchers, Least Flycatcher, Phoebes, Great Crested Flycatchers, E. Kingbird, Ravens, Warbling Vireo, 2 Loggerhead Shrikes ( 1 in a new place for us ), 29 E. Bluebirds, Hermit Thrush, 30+ Thrashers, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, House Wren, Rough-winged Swallow, Purple Finches, Nashville, Yellow, Magnolia, Yellow-rumped, 4 Pine and Palm Warblers, Ovenbird, N. Waterthrush, Swamp, White-throated, White-crowned, Grasshopper, Chipping, Field, and Vesper Sparrows, 10+ E. Towhees, 30+ Meadowlarks and Rusty Blackbirds.
Not a bad haul.
PS
The restaurant and gas station on the east side of Kirfield just past the road ( Hartley Rd ) across Mitchell Lake is now closed and empty.
Also be aware that the graders are out in the area smoothing the roads. Be patient with them as they manoeuvre past you. Replies: