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Yesterday Merrill Webb invited me to join him in
some Saturday birding. Our goal was the Surf Scoter in Morgan, a Blue Jay,
and Evening Grosbeaks reported in Huntsville.
Our first stop was the Morgan City sewage
ponds. Thanks to Arnold Smith we were able to see the first winter Surf
Scoter.
Our next stop, thanks to Arnold's son, Aaron, was
in Mountain Green, searching for a Blue Jay. We met the kind owner of the
house, but could not locate the jay. (It was later reported about 20
minutes after we left.) However, we were reward by seeing many Scrub Jays,
a Spotted Towhee, and House Finch.
Jim Poulter, who works at the Wild Bird Center in
Layton, told me that his daughter has Evening Grosbeak coming to her
feeders. That was our quest. However, after we arrived there were
none to be seen. Her mother told us that she had seen them on a line of
junipers near a Forest Service Nature Trail, west of where she lived. We
went there, but no success. However, at the trailhead of the nature trail
we spotted a Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow (juv.), and a Golden-crowned
Sparrow (juv.)
As we were returning to the Poulter's home Merrill
heard Evening Grosbeaks in the trees behind (west) of their home. We went
to the west behind this house where we were greeted by a very noisy Dalmatian
and a companion. These people had feeders in the trees just behind their
house. Merrill saw a Pine Siskin, and we also say Black-capped Chickadees
and Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon sp.) Then, Merrill heard the grosbeaks
leave. As we left out place of observation, just west of the house and
behind it, on a dirt road, he heard them again return. As we patiently
waited a long Evening Grosbeak was spotted at the feeder.
At that time we received a telephone call from
Aaron Smith, who informed us of the return of the Blue Jay. Back to
Mountain Green, where we patiently waited the return of the jay. Merrill
finally spotted it in a pine tree next to the house. We finally decided
the best place for viewing was the platform feeder to the east of the house,
which was near some scrub oak. We were again greeted by Scrub Jay, and we
had a nice view of a pair of Cassin's Finch. Suddenly the lady of the
house (an M.D.) appeared with a picture she had just taken of the Blue Jay on
the platform feeder. Shortly thereafter it appeared again on the feeder
and we had a very nice view of the bird feeding on the feeder.
Success! Three target birds and a bonus
Golden-crowned Sparrow. Who could ask for more?
Good birding to all!
Glenn
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