Category: Birding

After hearing that a Sora had been seen at the waterfowl protection area of Bell Slough on Thursday, I decided to go there today to see if I could add this to my life list. I arrived at 8:37 AM and walked the perimeter and back. I did hear a call that sounded like the sound of that bird but I did not actually see one. I did see a few first of season Swamp Sparrows and other birds. Left at 10 AM.

Species seen or heard:
• Great Egret
• Great Blue Heron
• Blue Jay
• Red-winged Blackbird
• Carolina Wren
• Belted Kingfisher
• Killdeer
• Double-crested Cormorant
• Red-bellied Woodpecker
• Pileated Woodpecker
• Carolina Chickadee
• Swamp Sparrow
• Eastern Phoebe

I arrived at the park at 8 AM and the weather was not looking good. Thunderstorms were slowly approaching from the west. I walked along the west side of the backwater and then the grassy field north of the trail and then the start of the horse trail before the rain was imminent and I decided to leave. Probably the highlight was two Gray Catbirds and a Sedge Wren. I had heard a catbird there last weekend but this time I got good looks at the two individuals. The Sedge Wren was neat, uncommon but not rare. I left the park at 9:45 AM.

Species seen or heard:
• Sedge Wren
• Gray Catbird
• American Crow
• Blue Jay
• Northern Mockingbird
• Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
• European Starling
• Red-shouldered Hawk
• Red-winged Blackbird
• Wood Duck
• Chipping Sparrow
• Red-bellied Woodpecker
• American Coot
• Carolina Wren
• Pileated Woodpecker
• Northern Cardinal
• Mourning Dove
• Brown Thrasher
• Great Blue Heron
• Carolina Chickadee
• Northern Flicker

Arrived at 8:00. It was beautiful, probably about 65°F with fog over the river. I walked the field with assistance of calf-high boot (I would have soaked and full of mega-burrs if I had not) and then walked the horse trail area. The highlight was probably the first of season Winter Wren who may have been a few days early. I saw him in the scrubby trees at the start of the horse trail only 12 feet away.

Species seen or heard:
• Winter Wren
• Great Egret
• Carolina Chickadee
• Red-tailed Hawk
• Northern Mockingbird
• American Crow
• Blue Jay
• American Robin
• Red-bellied Woodpecker
• Pileated Woodpecker
• Eastern Phoebe
• Northern Cardinal
• Belted Kingfisher
• Eastern Meadowlark
• Mourning Dove
• Carolina Wren
• House Finch
• Killdeer
• Brown Thrasher
• Canada Goose
• White-eyed Vireo
• Eastern Bluebird
• Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
• Turkey Vulture