Sandhill Crane (from Rondeau last spring)
Other notables included a Green-winged Teal, two Black Scoters, two Long-tailed Ducks and a Ruddy Duck. The Ruddy Duck is actually a new count species. We have had it on count week three times before, including last year. Long time coming!
The only warbler species was a Common Yellowthroat.
Woodpeckers were rather low in numbers, but perhaps next year with all the dead ash trees, there will be more. Pileated was not found this time around.
Two Merlin were found, a new count high. Merlins seem to be increasing their winter presence in recent years. The usual St. Clair River Peregrine Falcon was again seen.
White-breasted Nuthatch
Sparrows were noticably absent this time. Two "Oregon" Juncos, both female were tallied. I saw one of them with a good flock of birds on private property. It has been a long time since I have seen a good male though. There seem to be so many "intergrade" types of juncos, so one has to look closely. I had good looks at mine, and determined it was a female "Oregon".
I'm always so nervous about Oregon Junco ID'ing. Some female Slate-colours just appear so brownish.
ReplyDeleteDo you mostly cement the ID with a noticeable hood and brown in the flanks?
Jeremy, you are right. I had good looks at this bird to make sure it had a distinct hood, etc.
ReplyDeleteCoincidentally, I was looking up references about Juncos a couple of days before. Especially after Andrew Keaveney's posting.
I seen so many "in between's" over the years, I think there is a lot of hybridization going on.
I know what you mean Blake, after reading Andrew's post I have been doing a little more research myself about Juncos. Happy Holidays!
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