North Star Birding: The South Side of the River | August 11, 2016

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Thursday, August 11, 2016, 7:30AM – 9:30AM
Weather: mostly sunny
Location: North Star

Species Identified
Mallard Great Blue Heron Spotted Sandpiper Broad-tailed Hummingbird Belted Kingfisher Northern Flicker Common Raven Violet-green Swallow Black-capped Chickadee House Wren		Ruby-crowned Kinglet (pictured above) Cedar Waxwing Yellow Warbler Chipping Sparrow Song Sparrow Lincoln’s Sparrow Lazuli Bunting Red-winged Blackbird House Finch Pine Siskin

Comments:
Of special note this morning were two belted kingfishers that we saw several times, a great blue heron fishing very successfully in open water toward the back area of the preserve, and a male lazuli bunting viewed in excellent morning light.  Birds have shifted gears, with a few still singing, many beginning to flock (waxwings and blackbirds), and young of the year out and about providing fun identification challenges.  Mule deer does and bucks with velvet antlers were backlit by the morning sun, meanwhile steam rose off the wet vegetation, and the scent of sage filled the air.  An excellent morning for appreciating the vitality of the habitats in this special place.

~ Rebecca Weiss, ACES Bird Guide