I wanted to spend the morning doing some local-ish birding so I headed to Harrington Road first. It exceeded all of my expectations!
The first thing I found were some Acorn Woodpeckers mixed in with a flock of blackbirds... I lost them in the sea of birds, but quickly relocated them on a telephone pole. There were 3 total.
Also near the woodpeckers were a couple of Eurasian Collared-Doves! A first for me...
After half an hour of driving around the area I decided to take one last drive down the gravel part of Harrington Road... And that's where I found the Prairie Falcon!
Woohoo! I was so thrilled to finally see him (her?)...
After my victory there I figured I would stop by Vanport before heading home... I am still a bit traumatized from my coyote encounter there so I was worried about walking the dogs down there again. But when I arrived I saw the road from the golf course to PIR was actually open so I just drove in and parked on the gravel. I checked the slough first and found just Mallards and one male Common Merganser. Then I turned around....
Woohoo again! I knew there was a Great Horned Owl nest somewhere but didn't know how I'd ever find it... Ha.
I walked the dogs down the road and easily found the Canvasbacks in the slough.
Not bad for just a couple hours of birding this morning!
The first thing I found were some Acorn Woodpeckers mixed in with a flock of blackbirds... I lost them in the sea of birds, but quickly relocated them on a telephone pole. There were 3 total.
Also near the woodpeckers were a couple of Eurasian Collared-Doves! A first for me...
After half an hour of driving around the area I decided to take one last drive down the gravel part of Harrington Road... And that's where I found the Prairie Falcon!
Woohoo! I was so thrilled to finally see him (her?)...
After my victory there I figured I would stop by Vanport before heading home... I am still a bit traumatized from my coyote encounter there so I was worried about walking the dogs down there again. But when I arrived I saw the road from the golf course to PIR was actually open so I just drove in and parked on the gravel. I checked the slough first and found just Mallards and one male Common Merganser. Then I turned around....
Woohoo again! I knew there was a Great Horned Owl nest somewhere but didn't know how I'd ever find it... Ha.
I walked the dogs down the road and easily found the Canvasbacks in the slough.
Not bad for just a couple hours of birding this morning!
Acorn Owls are a must for me in 2011. Actually the first 3 birds on this post would be lifers. :) Nice photos! I'm probably taking a break for a few weeks. Too cold here and more snow expected. Ugh! Keep posting so I can live surreptitiously through your posts. :) Thanks in advance.
ReplyDeleteAwesome Great Horned Owl find! What time of day did you see it there? I might try to see it next weekend. Very cool!
ReplyDeleteHi Jen, what a productive you for you! Awesome findings and photos! I would love to see an Acorn Woodpecker, but we don't have them here in the Northeast.
ReplyDeleteI was thrilled and I didnt even get to go along..OMG can you assemble a better group of birds? Dont think so!! Now you know where that nest is so it will be fun to see what comes outta there. The acorn WP is such a striking image..Great photography and great birding too!! What a day huh?
ReplyDeleteYou'll have to keep an eye on that owl nest and keep posting photos for us! I can't wait to see some babies.
ReplyDeleteThat Acorn Woodpecker is a beauty, Jen. Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River.
ReplyDeleteI saw the Acorn Woodpeckers along Harrington yesterday afternoon. Struck out on the Prairie Falcon again. Nice job!
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