6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 2/14/16

~American Robin feeding at 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 2/14/16.~
~American Robin feeding at 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 2/14/16.~

I spent a couple of cold hours this morning walking the Heritage Trail at 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary. It was quite birdy and I tallied 20 species for the walk; I’ll include my species list below. The best and most surprising bird for me was a female Northern Harrier which was cruising the open area below the Orange County Jail. I also enjoyed seeing 2 Great Blue Herons, one that flushed as I walked along the trail and the second was all tucked in on the bank of the stream alongside the trail. It was a brisk -3 degrees Fahrenheit when I started my walk, and it warmed up to a balmy 1 degree Fahrenheit by the time I got back to the car.

A male Eastern Bluebird shows a little wing, 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 2/14/16.~
A male Eastern Bluebird shows a little wing, 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 2/14/16. This is a species that I seem to see often when it’s very cold like this.~
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~It was really cool to see this Great Blue Heron all hunkered down on the bank of the stream which runs parallel to the Heritage Trail, 2/14/16.~

 

Great Blue Heron 2
Northern Harrier 1
Red-tailed Hawk 2
Ring-billed Gull 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Downy Woodpecker 6
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Blue Jay 8
American Crow 1
Black-capped Chickadee 2
Tufted Titmouse 2
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Eastern Bluebird 4
American Robin 12
American Tree Sparrow 25
Dark-eyed Junco 65
White-throated Sparrow 6
Song Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 1

 

A pair of White-throated Sparrows forage on the trail in front of me at 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 2/14/16.~
A pair of White-throated Sparrows forage on the trail in front of me at 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 2/14/16.~
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~A puffed up American Tree Sparrow, 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 2/14/16.~
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~Downy Woodpeckers were plentiful during my walk and also very accommodating. 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 2/14/16.~
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~One more shot of the American Robin feeding, 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 2/14/16.~

4 thoughts on “6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 2/14/16”

  1. Nice shots Matt. I really like the blue birt,nice color. Do you have new equipment since last year?
    Dick

    1. Thanks Dick. I got the Canon 70D just over a year ago, but still using the 100-400mm lens. Hope to run into you one of these days. Matt

  2. Matt,
    I LOVE the Bluebird shot. It is such an unusual pose and looks like he is hugging the tree.

    Wilma

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