SFO group 6 had a really nice day despite the cold. In fact, this likely was one of the coldest days in SFO history (along with Saturday!!). Highlights: Right out the front door of the lab we
had one COMMON REDPOLL in the top of a bush. Next, on the Wilson Trail in one of the Willow Trees to the left of the Owens observation platform, we had a single RUSTY BLACKBIRD of which everyone got great views through the scope. There were also common grackles and red-winged blackbirds around for comparision...a great learning experience! Then we found a FOX SPARROW which was facing away from us in the top of a bush. We saw the two GREAT BLUE HERONS by their nests. We also had many others at SSW including BROWN CREEPER, and HOODED MERGANSERS. Then, after warming up in the lab for a few minutes, we headed to Stewart Park. There was a fierce north wind blowing down the lake and it was cold....very cold. There was a lot of waterfowl though, and we got great views of AMERICAN WIDGEON, RING-NECKED DUCK, REDHEAD, and LESSER SCAUP fairly close to shore. We cut our time short here, because we were all freezing. Then, we headed over by the boathouse out of the wind and walked by the canal toward Renwick Woods. We had many MALLARDs, and a nice group of WOOD DUCKs. In addition, there were two KILLDEER on the edge of the grass across the canal. Then we walked back into the woods to see the GREAT HORNED OWLS and they were VERY cooperative. Carl Steckler, one of the SFO students, got a nice photo of this pair in which he posted on the SFO class page: http://sfocornell.ning.com/photo/great-horned-owl-1?xg_source=activity If you look close near the bottom of the cavity, you can see the other owl tucked in. Thanks Carl! All in all, it was a nice start to SFO 2011 as we totaled 43 species for the day. Now let's hope we can get some spring weather for SPRING field ornithology in the coming weeks!!! Dave Nicosia -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
