I decided to stop at what is becoming an interesting spot for me - Trolley Bed Road. I decided to check out what I could see in the pond as well as both sides of the road itself. It did not take me long to see a male and female Hooded Merganser nor a Great Blue Heron in the pond. I wish I had my camera!!! There were also numerous Red-Winged Blackbirds and Grackles in the trees.
As I started to walk down Trolley Bed Road towards Route 64, I scared a Red-Shouldered Hawk out of a tree which then flew to another tree intently looking down into the pond for food, I am assuming. I looked at the lawn of the house on the corner and saw 10 Starlings and 5 Robins. Then 5 Canada Geese flew over head.
Then I heard 'it'! A high call. I looked up and saw a distinctive wing shape as the bird flew overhead - somewhat sickle shaped or a swept backed curve - is the best way I can describe it. A Killdeer! It circled around a few times and then it flew off. Bird # 45 for my Big Year.
On the way back to my car, I saw 2 Palm Warblers in the bushes where I had seen that Mockingbird earlier in the year. I checked out the pond once again and saw ripples in the water. I looked at the spot where the ripples originated from and saw either a Muskrat or Beaver. he animal stopped in the water and at that moment the Red Shouldered Hawk bounced onto the water but flew off empty handed. What a picture that would have been!
So I go into my car and as I drove down Trolley Bed Road, I saw a Mockingbird in the usual place as well as some kind of woodpecker in a tree.
Not bad for a quick stop.
DATA: 5:30-6:00 pm; 55F; Cloudy; Slight to Moderate Breeze
45) Killdeer
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