February 24, 2008 [LINK / comment]
"Uncommon" snipe on Bell's Lane
I picked a good day to stop at Bell's Lane yesterday (it's been a while), as I came across a WILSON'S snipe (formerly known as a Common snipe*) foraging along a muddy stream. It's perfect habitat for those bizarre long-billed "shorebirds," but for some reason (camouflage?), I hardly ever see them there. So for me, it's big news!
This afternoon I returned to Bell's Lane in hopes of getting a photo, but no snipe was to be seen. I did see my first Redheads of the season on the (south) farm pond, however.
The weekend highlights:
- Bluebird
- Downy woodpecker
- Wilson's snipe (FOS!)
- Hooded mergansers (5-6)
- Great blue heron
- Coots (2+)
- Ruddy ducks (2+)
- Kestrels
- Robins (200+)
- Red-winged blackbirds (FOS!)
- Redheads (1 M, 2 F; FOS!)
- Northern shovelers
I have moved the table of first-of-season sightings from the Wild birds intro page to a new page: Annual arrival. Further updates are forthcoming...