Winter Birds Have Returned - 09 Oct 2024

Kinglets and juncos, Oh My! This morning skies were clear, calm and cool at 45F while I walked the Nichols Arboretum in Ann Arbor. This week I was able to find somewhere to park (Geddes and Riverview) and entered the Arb next to the Dow Prairie.

I was immediately greeted by the "Tseet-Tseet" of Golden-crowned Kinglets and a flock of White-throated Sparrows. 

Downy Woodpeckers were active in the woods adjacent to the prairie.

White-throated Sparrows were frolicking by the dozen.

As were the Chipmunks.

I was hoping to find a Lincoln's Sparrow, but was happy to settle for this lovely Song Sparrow.

As I walked through the Dow Prairie I found lovely backlit Staghorn Sumac showing their brilliant orange-red fall leaves.

I hiked down to the railroad tracks that run along the Huron River and found a nice flock of Dark-eyed Juncos, White-throated Sparrows, and American Goldfinches. 

I walked the trail along the river to the Nichol's Entrance and found a Brown Creeper along the way.

Great Blue Heron along the far shoreline.

Black-capped Chickadees and Ruby-crowned Kinglets were the star of the show this morning. Flocks of both were foraging alongside the road as I walked.

Arb/Gallup Bike Pathway, Washtenaw, Michigan, US
Oct 9, 2024 10:10 AM - 12:20 PM
Protocol: Traveling
2.499 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Clear, cool, 50F, calm. Dow Praire and Huron River/RR Tracks to Nichols Entrance.
25 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  12
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)  1
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  1
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)  2
Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)  1
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)  5
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)  17
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)  11
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)  1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula)  9
Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa)  1
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)  2
Brown Creeper (Certhia americana)  2
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  1
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  6
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)  2
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)  4
American Tree Sparrow (Spizelloides arborea)  1
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)  6
White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)  1
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)  16
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  2
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)  4
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  2

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S198127487

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)