I usually find 12 -18 species and 60 - 100 birds. I'm sure there are more species and if I had enough time and patience I would find them. For example, I know there are Downy, Hairy and Pileated Woodpeckers in the area. I have seen Brown creepers but only every five years or so. You hear many Warblers but they stay in the canopy and unless you're really lucky you can't see them. I am not confident enough to identify them by sound.
Today my friend Mike came with me. When I bird I find them by sound more than anything else because this area is heavily forested. Mike and I like to visit. Since we are both in our seventies and somewhat hard of hearing we talk quite loud. I'm sure the birds heard us coming from a long way off and fled to safer areas.
We did find 16 species in 2 1/2 hours. We walked about 5 km (3 mi.)
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| Red, the birder taken a long time ago. |
We are also supposed to count any plant that is in bloom. Since birds don't pose too well and my camera is limited, I do have some flower pictures. I took these last year and didn't have to repeat them again this year.
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| Buffalo Bean (Thermopsis rhombifolia) |
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| Early Blue Violet (Viola adunca) |
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Saskatoon Berry (Amelanchier alnifolia) |
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| Fairy Bells (Disporum trachycarpum) |
The weather was beautiful so we had a very pleasant morning.
