6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary – Good Birding Continues

This Yellow-billed Cuckoo made my morning. 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 9/21/14.
This Yellow-billed Cuckoo made my morning. 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 9/21/14.

I had some things to take care of at the house this morning before getting out, so I got a little bit of a late start. Because of this, I decided to go to 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary again, since it is only a few minutes from the house. I was not disappointed. The highlight was getting great looks at a Yellow-billed Cuckoo, one of my favorites to see and photograph. Other good birds for me included this Blue-headed Vireo, a bird that I have not had much luck photographing:

Blue-headed Vireo on the Heritage Trail at 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 9/21/14.
Blue-headed Vireo on the Heritage Trail at 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 9/21/14.

I also got what I think is sort of an unusual life bird for me at this point in my birding (#314). While walking the Heritage Trail, I had a pair of PURPLE FINCHES. This is a bird that for some reason, I have never gotten a good enough look at over the past few years to report with confidence. I got a great look today and I also managed a couple of photos:

I was happy to get this bird in pretty good  focus through all the branches. Female Purple Finch, 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 9/21/14.
I was happy to get this bird in pretty good focus through all the branches. Female Purple Finch, 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 9/21/14.
A little more distant look at the male Purple Finch at 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 9/21/14.
A little more distant look at the male Purple Finch at 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 9/21/14.

Other notable observations include an apparently growing number of Green-winged Teals in the small pond at the end of the Citgo Trail. Shorebirds have abandoned the small pond and today I located several Killdeer and a likely, but too distant to be sure, Least Sandpiper on the far side of the large marsh (looking from the Heritage Trail). I will keep my eye on this area for sure. I ended the morning with 37 species which is not too bad. You can see my list at the bottom of this post. Here’s one more shot of the cuckoo:

YBCU at 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 9/21/14.
YBCU at 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 9/21/14.

Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Wood Duck
American Black Duck
Mallard
Green-winged Teal
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Cooper’s Hawk
Killdeer
Ring-billed Gull
Mourning Dove
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Eastern Phoebe
Blue-headed Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Marsh Wren
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Cedar Waxwing
Common Yellowthroat
Yellow Warbler
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Scarlet Tanager
Red-winged Blackbird
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

4 thoughts on “6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary – Good Birding Continues”

  1. Nice morning for you too! I’m sorry the shore bird season is all but over. Maybe a last hurrah is in the making.

    1. I am sorry about the shorebirds too John. I’m holding on to the hope that we might get something else… Matt

  2. Great shots Matt
    You are getting to deserve the bird magnet name like John!!! LOL
    I really like the cuckoo shots. Their tails are so strikingly different.

    Wilma

    1. Wilma you know John is the only Bird Magnet! The cuckoo was awesome today, it made me so happy. Glad to see you got out at the bash with John. Matt

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