Observation 2 - Feb. 15, 2016

Emily Feng and I decided to brave the cold this long-weekend and do our observations near the Donahue Sea Caves. The temperature was 11F, with 9 mph wind and mostly sunny skies. The Donahue Sea Caves are located in the Winooski Valley Park District, and can be found by following a trail that begins across the road from Burlington High School.

Walking down the trail, we heard multiple Black-capped Chickadee calls, in both a mixed hardwood section and a stand of softwoods (predominantly eastern hemlock.) We first explored the sea caves, and as we were walking along the edge of the frozen pond we also heard a call from a Northern Cardinal, and another from a Nuthatch (sounded more like a White-breasted Nuthatch.) There weren't any birds in the cave, but there was a large bird nest tucked into a crack in the back cave wall.

Once outside again, we stopped in the clearing adjacent to the pond. There was a lot of bird activity here, and we first noticed the Black-capped chickadees flying from tree-to-tree. During the 20-30 minutes we spent there we were able to distinguish at least 5 separate Chickadees. There were also 2 male Northern Cardinals that appeared to be circling around us for awhile, flying in an out of the smaller trees/shrubs/grasses at the pond edge. Also near the pond edge were 5 Dark-eyed Juncos; one was perched in a tree near the pond edge and appeared to have its feathers puffed up and its face tucked away. The others were flying in and out of the grasses at the edge of the trail/water. On the opposite side of the clearing, there was 1 Tufted Titmouse pecking at the ground underneath a stand of eastern hemlocks, looking for food. Adjacent to the hemlock stand heading up one slope, were a few yellow birches. There were at least 5 American Goldfinches pecking at the catkins left on the yellow birches.

From here we headed back up the trail toward the road. We stopped in a mixed hardwood stand only 6 m from the road edge when we noticed a flash of black, white, and red in a snag on the side of the trail. There was a Hairy Woodpecker sticking its beak into pre-existing holes in the snag, as it appeared to be looking for bugs to eat in the tree. This first Hairy Woodpecker flew away, but two more were spotted coming to the same tree. There was also another American Goldfinch perched just inches away from the second Hairy Woodpecker. We also saw 2 Mourning Doves in this area, flying downhill into more mixed hardwoods.

After this walk on this very cold day, I am amazed how active the birds were! I could barely take my large gloves off to write notes. Maybe the 11F and sunny day felt warm to them after a subzero weekend.

Publicado el 17 de febrero de 2016 a las 01:44 AM por caitlindrasher