Whitaker Ponds Nature Park II
I made a quick visit to Whitaker Ponds yesterday morning since it is so close to home. The park was foggy, but there were plenty of birds to see.
One in particular, with a lovely song, that I have only encountered by sound this year until now. Their classic conk-la-ree! song reminds me of summer days in the South though they are common all across North America. Walking around the pond, I finally laid eyes on the beautiful Red-winged Blackbird, perched as it was on a not-so-beautiful piece of industrial machinery:
I also came across an unfamiliar species swimming in the pond:
- Thanks for standing still! (Ring-neck in the background)
These lovely ladies are Common Mergansers; large diving ducks with orange-red bills, chestnut-colored heads with a white chin and neck (which distinguishes them from the Red-breasted Merganser).
Other cool sightings:
- Brown Creeper
- Puffed up Northern Flicker
- Downy Woodpecker
- Bald Eagle (fanning its wings?)
- Common Goldeneye
- Gadwall – I recognized this species from the Audubon outting!
- Golden-crowned Kinglet; look at that fiery head!
- Golden-crowned Kinglet rear
- Hooded Merganser
- Red-tailed Hawk
- Anna’s Hummingbird
- Anna’s Hummingbird
And just for fun, a video of an Anna’s Hummingbird:
Enjoy!
Audrey