Emma and I went to Ladd Marsh twice in the past week, and walked the trails for 2 1/2 hours each time. I also participated in a Bird-a-thon this past Saturday, as part of International Migratory Bird Day. Our local event was held at the marsh, of course. I was one of the "experienced birders" and staffed one of the stations in the morning. It was great to see all the kids who came out.
These pics were all taken on Friday, a lovely morning in the marsh with Emma. The list is also the one I wrote on Friday, though we saw most of the same species on Saturday.
Birds seen included yellow-headed blackbirds:
black-necked stilts:
Wilson's snipe:
and also:
- mallard
- ruddy duck
- cinnamon teal
- green-winged teal
- blue-winged teal
- coot
- gadwall
- northern shoveler
- redhead
- canvasback
- Canada goose
- greater white-fronted goose
- great egret
- great blue heron
- northern harrier
- red-tailed hawk
- kestrel
- redwinged blackbird
- Brewer's blackbird
- song sparrow
- brown-headed cowbird (grrrr)
- starling (grrrr)
- common yellowthroat
- McGillivray's warbler
- western kingbird
- western meadowlark
- avocet
- Wilson's phalarope
- marsh wren
- ring-necked pheasant
- Virginia rail
- sora
- pied-billed grebe
- tree swallow
- barn swallow
- bank swallow
- cliff swallow
- northern rough-winged swallow
- crow
- black-billed magpie
- killdeer
- greater yellowlegs
- spotted sandpiper
- savannah sparrow
- vesper sparrow
- sandhill crane
- white-faced ibis (rare in this area!)
- black-capped chickadee
I think Emma has a good time in the marsh. She looks at the plants and bugs and birds, and sings her little bird songs, and runs on the paths. This time, she was enthralled by the anthills that were all over the paths.
It was great, because she would sit there for minutes at a time, watching the ants trundling in and out, while I got some quiet time to scan the ponds for birds.
3 comments:
Wow! That's a lot of birds!
You've been a blog slacker? No way! :)
I can't bird to save my life, which is why I always refuse invitations to the birding counts they have. Everyone *says* they just need someone to notice the birds so someone else can ID them, but I'm too embarrassed.
I'm completely impressed by your bird list.
I am trying to convince DH to go to the NABA Butterfly park for Memorial Day, though.
What beautiful pictures. That must have been a wonderful day.
Post a Comment