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Arrived at 6:10 PM, it was chilly and cloudy but at least it wasn’t raining. The backwater at the start of the trail was interesting in that it was 2.5 to 3 feet higher on the north side than on the south. Though water was flowing through the culvert, it must have been mostly clogged. Left at 6:45.
Species seen or heard:
• Red-winged Blackbird
• Red-tailed Hawk
• Canada Goose
• Eastern Bluebird
• Eastern Meadowlark
• Northern Cardinal
• Downy Woodpecker
• Mourning Dove
• Black-and-white Warbler
• Yellow-rumped Warbler
• Carolina Chickadee
• American Robin
• Northern Mockingbird
• Northern Flicker
• Red-bellied Woodpecker

Arrived at 5:22 PM. Cloudy, low 50s, light rain. Spent almost my entire time around the backwater marsh on the north side and start of the trail. Left at 6:30 PM.

Species seen or heard:
• Canada Goose
• Red-winged Blackbird
• Mourning Dove
• Eastern Bluebird
• Fish Crow
• Northern Cardinal
• Northern Mockingbird
• Yellow-rumped Warbler
• Northern Flicker
• Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher
• Pileated Woodpecker
• Carolina Chickadee
• Red-bellied Woodpecker
• Purple Martin
• Belted Kingfisher
• Red-shouldered Hawk

Arrived at 7:28. Overcast, 65 degrees, very windy. Of course, the water was high like everywhere else. The lower part of the parking area was underwater but much of Bell Slough itself was okay.
The most significant finding was the Blue Grosbeaks. They were about two weeks early. They looked like first winter birds with the tan body and darker wings. I could not see the rufous wing bars but they were also cardinal sized with the large beaks of their species.
Besides the Grosbeaks, a Double-crested Cormorant apparently fell into the water behind me. I heard a big splash like a rock or chunk of wood being thrown. I turned and saw the expanding ripples and after a few seconds the cormorant stuck his head up and flapped madly to move away. I never saw him fly so he may have been injured before or in the fall. Left area at 9:09.

Species seen or heard:
• Double-crested Cormorant
• Canada Goose
• American Robin
• Great Egret
• Great Blue Heron
• American Crow
• Fish Crow
• Carolina Chickadee
• White-eyed Vireo
• Northern Cardinal
• Pine Warbler
• Dark-eyed Junco (brown adult variant)
• White-throated Sparrow
• Blue Grosbeak
• American Goldfinch
• Red-winged Blackbird
• Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
• Turkey Vulture
• Black Vulture
• Blue-winged Teal
• Red-bellied Woodpecker
• Pileated Woodpecker
• Red-shouldered Hawk
• Eastern Phoebe
• Brown Thrasher
• Yellow-rumped Warbler
• Ruby-crowned Kinglet
• Tufted Titmouse
• Horned Grebe
• Mourning Dove
• American Coot