Registrar: Evelyn Huang
Participants: 16
Weather: 28–33° F; mostly cloudy, some snow, 6 mph NW wind
Bird Species: 41
The group met at 9:00 am at the Orchard Beach parking lot, and immediately proceeded to Orchard Beach. We started scanning the SE corner of Hunter Island, then scanned the Sound from the middle of Orchard Beach continuing to Twin and Two Tree Islands. We then did some land birding through Hunter Island, persisting even when it started snowing in contravention of the weather forecast.
Walking back from the shore, we saw some White-tailed Deer walking in the woods, and the sight of them in the falling snow was very charming. Just before we were set to depart, someone suggested checking a nearby spot in the woods where a Barred Owl had been seen. The majority of the group made the short walk and after scanning the copse of trees we shortly found the owl and had good looks. It was a wonderful morning despite the snow and wind-chill.
Species Lists
Birds
Brant (Atlantic)
Canada Goose
American Wigeon
Mallard
American Black Duck
Greater Scaup
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Red-breasted Merganser
Horned Grebe
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)
Mourning Dove
Purple Sandpiper
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Red-throated Loon
Common Loon
Great Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Barred Owl
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Blue Jay
Common Raven
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
European Starling
American Robin
House Sparrow
American Tree Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored)
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Common Grackle
Mammals
White-tailed Deer
