That’s more like it!

We got back to normal today, usual walk at usual time…even the weather was back to normal…

gray and drizzly…..and although the theme of hardly any waterfowl continues…that didn’t hold true for all the other birds…the first thing I’d noticed was how vocal birds were being – especially Steller’s Jay – they seemed to be calling from every direction.  There are many serious birders that do most of their birding ‘by ear’ in that they recognize and identify birds by their calls alone.  I’m not that good, I do recognize some calls, but certainly not enough to ID birds I’m not really familiar with…I have, however, learned the importance of ‘walking softly’ and stopping and listening periodically to find birds…

Case in point, as we started our walk I heard that Marsh Wren…and actually caught sight of it!  If you go back to a posting in mid-February you’ll see a clearer picture of a Marsh Wren.

At the first bay there were a few Mallard and Green-Wing Teal, and 1 Great Blue Heron….

Over at the log bay, or just past it, was where all the activity was…mainly those Red-Wing Blackbirds and American Robins!

Lots of American Robins!!  8 in the above picture alone – this is more like what we expect by this time of the year.

here is a closer look…

There was just as much activity going on in the bushes back by the viewing platform although the species were different….several ‘streaky’ sparrows – right – Song Sparrows….and even more….

Spotted Towhee (2 in this bush), also Dark Eyed Junco, a few Black Cap Chickadee and some Kinglets….couldn’t make out if they were Gold-crowned or their cousin’s the Ruby Crowned….also heard a woodpecker, a Downy I think, but couldn’t actually spot it to give a definite ID – as already mentioned, some birders would know just from the call…