Flycatcher, Owl, and Trail

I had the day off and this morning birded the length of the new hike-and-bike trail, from the new parking lot to near the Parmer Lane bridge over Lake Creek. I was anticipating many migrating songbirds after the storm last night but I guess it's still a week or 2 early. But the morning was still fun. Near the new footbridge I got this picture of a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. In it you can even see some of the under-wing pink color on its shoulder. On the flood plain property I found a singing Swainson's Thrush and the first Summer Tanager I've seen in the neighborhood this year. I usually only see a couple of these per year in the NASWC area, just during spring or fall migration.

From the flood plain property I crossed the creek and walked along its north bank downstream back to the T&C playing fields. I found another first neighborhood bird for the year -- a male Common Yellowthroat -- in the strip of woods along the creek. Nearby I thought I saw part of a squirrel behind a tree trunk. But I soon realized it was a Great Horned Owl! I got this picture of it peeking at me through the branches.

Downstream of the playing fields I found one more first-for-the-year: a Lesser Yellowlegs among 4 or 5 Solitary Sandpipers, about 20 Blue-winged Teal, and 5 Northern Shovelers. Between there and the last dam on the creek I saw that construction on the remaining section of the hike-and-bike trail has started:


All-in-all I found 60 species this morning, including 8 Nashville Warblers and 9 House Wrens. That's more House Wrens then I've ever seen on one outing before. Many are moving through the area right now, and they're singing!