Christmas Eve Hermit Thrush

~It was a less than ideal morning for photos, this shot was taken at ISO 3200.   Hermit Thrush at Goose Pond Mountain, 12/24/15.~
~It was a less than ideal morning for photos, this shot was taken at ISO 3200. Hermit Thrush at Goose Pond Mountain, 12/24/15.~

I took a nice walk at Goose Pond Mountain this Christmas Eve morning in the unseasonably warm weather. While there were plenty of birds on my walk, the variety was not great and I had a modest 17 species. The highlight for me was seeing this Hermit Thrush. Conditions were not great for photography, but I was still very happy to photograph this bird since it was only the second HETH I’ve had this year in Orange County and my first was just a brief look with no time for photos. It was a nice way to spend Christmas Eve morning; I’ll take this opportunity to wish a Merry Christmas to everyone who is celebrating.

Here’s my list for the morning:

Mallard
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Ring-billed Gull
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Blue Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Hermit Thrush
Cedar Waxwing
American Tree Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow

6 thoughts on “Christmas Eve Hermit Thrush”

  1. Wonderful photo of the Hermit Thrush. Where were you exactly? I know
    Goose Pond Park and enter it by LaRue road. Were you over there? Are we talking about the same place?

    1. Thanks so much, Amy. That’s exactly where I was. I walked the trail until I went over the bridge and then took a little trail off to the right that climbs up, about 500 yards up that trail is where I saw the Hermit Thrush. Matt

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