Birding on Broadmeade Walk

Despite early morning rain, we had about 15 folks participate in the Birding on Broadmeade monthly bird walk today! Shortly before our starting time the last of the rain passed over us drifting south, leaving a cool, overcast morning for us to enjoy. The birds were a bit slow, but we ended up finding 33 species with a few highlights.

The only bird I photographed was this Common Grackle, which was on a neighbor's fence near the last dam on the creek. This is a different species than the Great-tailed Grackle which is so prevalent downtown. Common Grackles are a little less urban, and have slightly different plumage. The head and shoulders are blue-black like the male Great-tailed Grackles, but the rest of the body is a bronzy black. The light was just right in this photo to show these two colors, and where they meet.

Other highlights included a few good looks at Scissor-tailed Flycatchers and Eastern Phoebes. By the eastern edge of the soccer fields we got a decent look at a White-eyed Vireo which was singing an unusual song for the species. There were 3 or 4 Great Blue Herons on the creek. And 2 lingering male Blue-winged Teals were in the Parmer Village pond.

Here's our complete list.