March 4, 2022
09:30 to 11:30
This Vertebrate Biology field trip was designed to expose students to some of the basics of birding, and get experience identifying some common local bird species. We arrived at 9:30 a.m. to find the weather overcast (but not quite raining),and some landscapers using noisy equipment near the ponds. We spent about two hours walking the paths around some of the ponds, a total distance of 1.5 km.
The first bird of the day was a very cooperative Red-shouldered Hawk perched in a tree near the parking lot. We were able to get pretty close before it flushed to an electrical pole nearby to join a second individual. Also near the parking lot, we heard and saw the first of many Song Sparrows of the day. As soon as we came near the reeds that lined the western-most pond, I heard the distinctive call of a Marsh Wren. I wasn’t ever able to get a glimpse at any of these birds, although they were calling vocally throughout the reeds that ringed some of the ponds, and I did see a nest in the reeds. In the field opposite the pond, we spotted an American Crow, Anna’s Hummingbird, and Great Blue Heron. Canada Goose and Killdeer were also present. At least one Turkey Vulture soared overhead.
After we passed by the field and headed down a path between two ponds, we started to see a good variety of waterfowl. Bufflehead were the most abundant species by far, but Mallard and American Coot were present, along with a single Mute Swan. Later, the swan came out of the water and crossed the path behind us. At least one American White Pelican and a Great Egret flew overhead. We also saw a strangely colored Domestic Mallard swimming in one of the ponds. Lesser Goldfinch were also present in the reeds.
Past the ponds, we saw several birds in the patch of grassland and trees between the northernmost and southernmost ponds. We found a Black Phoebe flycatching, several Tree Swallows hunting aerially, as well as perched in a tree. A Red-shouldered Hawk was also spotted here (possibly one of the same individuals from earlier in the day). At the eastern end of this area, we saw a small group (at least 4) of Columbian Black-tailed Deer foraging near a line of trees.
As we began walking back towards the parking lot, we saw an Audubon’s warbler and several White-crowned Sparrows – a flock of about a dozen birds foraging on the path, and a couple perched in the reeds. We also got a good long look at an Anna’s Hummingbird and a Song Sparrow perched in the same bush.
In the last pond before the parking lot, we saw several species we hadn’t seen previously. In addition to Bufflehead, Coot, and Canada Goose, we found a few Cackling Goose associating with the Canada Goose, a few Northern Shoveler, a pair of Gadwall, and at least one Green-winged Teal, a female foraging near the edge of the pond. A Ring-billed Gull flew overhead, and later, when reviewing my photographs, I spotted a Black-necked Stilt at the east end of this pond, near some Coots. It was a great walk, with a very respectable species list over a relatively short period of time (including a few I wasn’t able to identify, including a duck in the final pond, and a small songbird in the trees near that parking lot). I did make the discovery that my 20D camera is not functioning very well, so that’s something I’ll need to troubleshoot.
Species List
Red-shouldered hawk (Buteo lineatus), Song sparrow (Melospiza melodia), Marsh wren* (Cistothorus palustris), American crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos), Anna’s hummingbird (Calypte anna), Great blue heron (Ardea herodias), Canada goose (Branta canadensis), Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus), Turkey vulture (Cathartes aura), Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), Mute swan (Cygnus olor), American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos), Lesser goldfinch (Spinus psaltria), American coot (Fulica americana), Domestic mallard, Great egret (Ardea alba), Black phoebe (Sayornis nigricans), Tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor), Columbian black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus), Audubon’s yellow-rumped warbler (Setophaga auduboni), White-crowned sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys), Northern shoveler (Spatula clypeata), Gadwall (Mareca strepera), Green-winged teal (Anas carolinensis), Cackling goose (Branta hutchinsii), Ring-billed gull (Larus delawarensis), Black-necked stilt (Himantopus mexicanus)
*Heard only
Notable plant species: Common Pear (Pyrus communis)
Let me know what you think!