Tweeters,
Four of us followed JBLM guidance (all masked-up, social distancing, and 5 or fewer in a group) for a tour around the JBLM Eagles Pride GC today under partly cloudy skies (a couple of short sprinkles) and temperature in the mid-40's (degF). Highlights included the following:
1. Lots of ducks (for us) at Hodge Lake: 5 MALLARD, 11 BUFFLEHEAD, 12 AMERICAN WIGEON, 12 HOODED MERGANSER, 5 RING-NECKED DUCK, and 2 NORTHERN SHOVELER. The latter is not often seen during our walk.
2. An AMERICAN KESTREL and a soaring SHARP-SHINNED HAWK.
3. 34 (!) VARIED THRUSH in various areas around the course.
4. RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, which were not out of hearing distance anywhere during our route.
5. About 50 PINE SISKINS in one flock.
In addition, when we first started out, we saw an adult BALD EAGLE land in and fly to and from one of the taller Douglas-firs near the driving range. Later, a golf-course worker stopped by to let us know that Bald Eagles had been bringing nesting material to the largest Douglas-fir next to the tee box on the 8th hole of the Green Course. (Eagles Pride has three nine-hole layouts: Red, White, and Green. The Green Course is the longest of the tracks, and also has the largest of the remnant Douglas-firs, some of which are at least 8 feet DBH (diameter at breast height.) We'll be scouting that area prior to our next birdwalk.
Misses include Red-tailed Hawk, Pied-billed Grebe, and Wood Duck. Mammals include one black-tailed deer and several Douglas squirrels.
The JBLM Eagles Pride GC birders meet the third Thursday of each month at 8:00AM. Starting point is Bldg # 1514, Driving Range Tee, Eagles Pride Golf Course, I-5 Exit 116, Mounts Road Exit. Upcoming walks include the following:
* December 17
* January 21
* February 18
Anyone is welcome to join us! (Currently, wear a mask and maintain social distancing. In addition, we're limited to 5 birders in each grouping.)
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From the eBird PNW checklist:
32 species
Northern Shoveler 2 At Hodge Lake
American Wigeon 22
Mallard 18
Ring-necked Duck 5
Bufflehead 14
Hooded Merganser 12
Anna's Hummingbird 1
Glaucous-winged Gull 1 We don't see gulls very often at Eagles Pride
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Bald Eagle 1 See comments
Northern Flicker 5
American Kestrel 1
Steller's Jay 6
California Scrub-Jay 1
American Crow 22
Black-capped Chickadee 8
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 13
Golden-crowned Kinglet 6
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
Red-breasted Nuthatch 43
Pacific Wren 6
Bewick's Wren 1
Varied Thrush 34
American Robin 2
House Finch 3
Red Crossbill 2
Pine Siskin 50
Dark-eyed Junco 21
Golden-crowned Sparrow 10
Song Sparrow 13
Spotted Towhee 8
Red-winged Blackbird 1
View this checklist online at
https://ebird.org/checklist/S76428205
May all your birds be identified,
Denis DeSilvis
avnacrs 4 birds at outlook dot com
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