Cypress

.

On Saturday it was good to get out of the house again after the big freeze. Dee and I went over to the college to take a walk around the retention ponds. As usual of late, these were busy with scores of Ring-necked Ducks accompanied by a few American Coots. At one point the ducks flew up when a juveniles Red-shouldered Hawk swooped over the water. The hawk then went to perch on a nearby post.

The ducks seemed less concerned when a Turkey Vulture flew low over the water.

The other birds around the ponds were the expected Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Eastern Meadowlarks, White-winged Doves and Savannah Sparrows.

Our last sighting was of a Loggerhead Shrike perched near our car and trying to look dignified while being buffeted about by the wind.

 

 At Home

Back at home the yards were once again crowded with American Goldfinches. Some 70 of them were spread out on the various feeders, the bird bath and the ground. 

This time I was very excited to see that there were no fewer than five Pine Siskins mixed in with the Goldfinches.

We had a good range of our normal residents and other winter visitors, including the inevitable sprinkling of White-winged Doves.

.