The REDPOLLS were in 3 different spots. (1) Around 10am as I drove in, a large mixed flock of birds on and around the road about 100 yards from the lot contained 4 redpolls; in addition to the redpolls, the flock consisted of many goldfinch, many junco, 2 TREE SPARROWS, one SISKIN, one House Wren nearby in weeds (good view), one Winter Wren (heard only), several house finch, a song sparrow. Two other birders were there to enjoy the great views. (2) Around 11:30, two REDPOLLS with 8 or so goldfinch landed on top of a tree at the parking lot. They took off in the direction of (3) the play area (blue slide), where I found at least 4 REDPOLLS mixed in with approximately 25 goldfinch--feeding on the ground, flying into a tree when spooked, coming back down. (Some kids who were noisy, playing hooky, playing on the slide, made the birds a little skittish.)
A few other birds: hairy woodpecker, sharp-shinned hawk, 9 golden-crowned kinglets, 2 yellow-rumped warblers.
I made a brief and uneventful stop at North Point on the way home.
Tim Houghton
(Glen Arm)
--
|