Eleven people turned out for Saturday’s walk for beginning birders (some of them were actually beginners). The sun was shining, but it was a little cold with a nagging wind. But the birds made it worthwhile, and the company made it even better. A fair number of birds were seen, and some of them were first-of-year (FOY) sightings of returning migrants, which made it that much better.
The first stop was at the parking lot of the Franco Center, where we all had a good look at a Peregrine Falcon sunning itself on the steeple. What a great way to start a bird walk for beginners. After that we parked at Simard-Payne Park and walked across the footbridge and along the Riverwalk on the Auburn side, all the way up to the Hilton Hotel.
Participants: Stan & Joan DeOrsey, Steve Reed, Jurdy Marden, Bruce and Sue Marsden, Sally Smith, Ina Small, Anne & John White, and Dan Marquis – Leader and recorder.
Birds seen or heard:
Double-crested Cormorant (FOY)
Canada Goose
Mallard
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Peregrine Falcon
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Northern Flicker (heard)Eastern Phoebe (FOY, several)
Tree Swallow (FOY – 3)
Crow
Chickadee
Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch (heard)
Robin
Mockingbird (at least 3)
Starling
Cardinal (several , one seen with nesting material)
Song Sparrow
Common Grackle
Goldfinch
House Sparrow
24 species