May 21
First survey of the season and by all accounts it was slow. Quiet, cold, and overcast. Still I was greeted at my first point by the resident pair of Ravens flying over the field with the rising sun in the back ground. And there at my first point I had my first Blue Grosbeak pair. I hope they nest in my circle. They popped up out of that little wet spot with the fragmites, which I found interesting.
But as I said it was quiet, and my BLGR numbers were down. I only had two pairs and two other males who certainly had mates nearby, but I didn't detect them. Compare that to last year when I had eight pairs, plus a few singles, all adults. These are not a target species, but I like to keep track. We'll see what happens as the season progresses.
Even though it was slow, I still had 20 Grasshopper Sparrows. More then most everyone else. My theory is that my route takes so much longer, and they started to sing more after it warmed up a bit. *I'll have to research this.
In total 42 species. The only target birds were GRSP and 2 E. Meadowlarks, plus a Horned Lark not in the count.
I was not able to check for Uppies because the Jump Circle was "in use", but I'm told they could be heard calling from over the fence. I hope it doesn't come to that.
Also of concern was the missing Kestrel pair. More on that later.
Keep in mind all of these numbers are from an official survey visit and not a day of birding. Survey protocol dictates my locations and the amount of time I spend there.
I've begun photographing plants in an effort to learn to ID them. It's such a unique biosphere on the base. So much to learn.
