[Birdtalk] Farmington Bay this weekend

[Steve Coleman]

Hi All
 
I went out to Farmington Bay Saturday morning the first bird of note that we saw was a Merlin in the Trees next to the road where people stop to observe the eagles in the "eagle trees", there were many Northern Harriers and American Kestrels we counted 5 Barn Owls all were very active flying right next to the unit one dike road. We observed a half dozen Bald Eagles, I saw a female Greater Scaup in the boat launch area near the Light Pole, We saw a Virginia Rail eating among the Greater and Lesser Yellow Legs in the pond next to the parking lot at the gate of Turpin Dike. The Rail was tame letting us get within 10 or 12 feet. I went out again Sunday and the Rail was still there in the same area. We saw one Loggerhead Shrike in the trees near the first turn that heads to Goose Egg Island the same place I usually see Shrikes including a Northern Shrike which I have yet to see this season. Yesterday and flock of 30 Tundra Swans flew over. The Meadow Larks are everywhere close to the road and huddling in the trees. I saw two Horned Larks and several Pippits along the side of the pod at Turpin pecking around the ice. We also saw many White Crowned Sparrows and Song Sparrows along the road. We saw a White Faced Ibis still hanging around.
 
I too finally had some Gold Finches at my feeders this weekend but a Sharpie flew in Saturday and spent the whole day in my yard so the song birds stayed pretty quiet until he left around 4:30 in the afternoon 
 
Happy Birding 
Steve 

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