With crisp blue skies and a stiff Northwest wind, I set out once again back to Lost Bridge to see if I can get a better view of the Little Gull. Yesterday was more of a fly-over than anything else. Today my plan was to get there somewhat early and stay till I got a good view. The next couple of pictures leave something to be desired, however it’s the best I could do under the conditions. The wind was unrelenting which proved that holding the camera still would be rather difficult. I know that’s it no consolation, but the view through my spotting scope was 100% better. This to will change.
As you look at this picture you can see the group of Gulls on that small patch of mud. Now if you look to the right, that smallish looking Gull sitting alone is the Little Gull.
This picture is more from the right side than the previous picture. The Little Gull is the one to the right.
Here’s a sad example of the Little Gull as I try to zoom in.
It may be real blurry, but it’s him.
I had to do some changing of my plans for the day. I needed to cut out the field trip to Miami Whitewater simply because I didn’t want to be out that late. Also I need to let the dog out every now and then. The responsibilities of pet ownership weigh heavy on the bird watcher.
However I made the best of what time I had and covered some ground by going back to some of my favorite haunts. After Lost Bridge I felt the need to re-cycle some morning coffee, so I headed over to Shawnee Lookout to use the facility.
Drove around the park and pulled over and did a little bit of birding before I decided to head over to Fernald Preserve.
By the time I arrived at Fernald the sky had clouded over and the wind was bone chilling. I’m usually a hardy soul who doesn’t mind the cold, but today it just seemed to chill me to the core. The birds were few and far between and even if you tried to listen for them the wind was howling past your ears, which made sound identification difficult. And as open as Fernald is, the wind really blows out there. I really wanted to hike more than I did, however I did manage to view some of the larger ponds and hike on this one trail in hopes of catching some Pine Warblers.
With it already past one o’clock, and having nothing to eat, I was fading fast. So the decision was made by all present, me, myself, and I, to head home and eat something and take a nap. Ahhh, one of life’s little pleasures. On the way out I did get this Goose to pose for a picture.
Notable birds for the day include:
- Bonaparte’s Gull
- Ring-billed Gull
- Little Gull
- Great Blue Heron
- Blue-winged Teal
- Ring-necked Duck
- Pied-billed Grebe
- Eastern Bluebird
- Turkey Vulture
- American Robin
- Carolina Chickadee
- Red-bellied Woodpecker
- Eastern Towhee
- Dark-eyed Junco
- Northern Cardinal
- Crow
- Field Sparrow
- Brown-headed Cowbird
- Mourning Dove
- Northern Shoveler
- Coot
- Mute Swan
- Killdeer
- Northern Harrier
- Eastern Meadowlark
- Song Sparrow
- Carolina Wren
- Tree Sparrow
- Green-winged Teal
- American Kestrel
- Lesser Scaup
- Mallard
A Birder's Notebook 