First Robin this Year!

Another visit to Chichester and more evidence Spring is on the way …

First Robin of the year

There were also 4 Bufflehead males and a female floating in the Sumac pond. Two of the males were vying for pairing rights with the female and their antics were quite humourous to watch. She’s playing hard to get, though, and paid them no attention while they scooted and flapped and strutted their stuff.

Male Bufflehead showing off

Two male Buffleheads competing for a female

Bufflehead Ducks - she hasn't made a choice yet

Spring is Springing!

The Red-winged Blackbirds are showing up again – must mean Spring is on its way!

I stopped in at Chichester today and a male was yelling his head off from the bullrushes. I haven’t seen one there for a few months.

First RWBB at Chichester in 2010!

I am soooo ready for Spring!

A Herd of Quail

Lots of California Quail at Chichester today.

The List Grows to 112

At Chichester today I added to my Bird List. The list I keep is a little different from most birders’ lists in that my species only count if I have photographed them.  Some birders keep Life Lists, some Yearly Lists and some Monthly Lists – or all three. While I may see them and identify them, or hear them but not see them, they don’t count until I get a picture of them and add them to My Bird List. Simple, eh?

It is always exciting when I can add to my list.

I have five new birds to add today, plus new pictures of some already on my list.

Here’s the new ones:

COMMON YELLOWTHROAT

RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET

ROCK PIGEONS

DOWNY WOODPECKER (female)

I already had a Male Downy Woodpecker on my list from last winter when one visited my suet feeder but I got this new one today, too …

BELTED KINGFISHER (female)

GREEN-WINGED TEAL DUCK (female)

Among the other birds I saw and photographed today, but which were already on my list, were Black-billed Magpies, Yellow-rumped Warblers,  Song and House Sparrows, dozens of Mallard Ducks, Northern Flickers, Gulls, Oregon Juncos (the first I have seen since the spring so winter is coming ), …

… and this scene from “The Birds” …

Cheers,

Sue

A New Bird for my List

I was at Chichester today looking for a Red-necked Phalarope, but couldn’t find it.  Instead I found this small seclusive Brown Creeper …

This little fella makes 108 on my Bird List.  Maybe I’ll find the Red-necked Phalarope next time I go.