JBWR 6/5

I finally saw my first American Redstart of the year, on the trail between the south and north gardens. It was getting embarrassing how long it took to find one. And I probably wouldn't have seen this one had Shari not picked it out.

24 American Oystercatchers made Shari happy. Late scaup, ruddies and Brants were hanging around.

We went counter-clockwise around the West Pond today, so our last stop was Bench One where we showed a guy with 2 little kids their first Yellow-Crowned Night Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron and Great Egret. Dad was excited, the two little kids semi-interested, but we did our bit to recruit a couple of new birders. Someday one of those kids will be saying, "Gee, I remember the first Yellow-crowned Night Heron I ever saw, my dad picked me up and put my eye to the scope this nice couple had set up." Or maybe dad will get hooked; he was writing down the sightings in his new Sibley's.

48 species among the 3 ponds. No shorebirds but the oystercatchers. I guess we have to wait for mid-summer when they start heading south.

West Pond
Brant    3
Canada Goose    100
Mute Swan    1
Gadwall    5
American Black Duck    3
Mallard    10
Greater Scaup    2
Ruddy Duck    32
Double-crested Cormorant    1
Great Blue Heron    1
Great Egret    8
Snowy Egret    5
Little Blue Heron    1
Black-crowned Night-Heron    5
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron    4
Glossy Ibis    20
Osprey    4
Clapper Rail    1
American Oystercatcher    24
Laughing Gull    50
Ring-billed Gull    1
Herring Gull    1
Great Black-backed Gull    1
Forster's Tern    20
Mourning Dove    2
Willow Flycatcher    3
American Crow    3
Tree Swallow    50
Black-capped Chickadee    2
Carolina Wren    1
House Wren    1
Marsh Wren    2
American Robin    2
Gray Catbird    10
Northern Mockingbird    2
European Starling    5
Cedar Waxwing    4
Yellow Warbler    12
American Redstart    1
Common Yellowthroat    4
Eastern Towhee    6
Song Sparrow    4
Northern Cardinal    5
Red-winged Blackbird    50
Boat-tailed Grackle    2
Big John's Pond
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron    3
American Crow    1
Yellow Warbler    2
Red-winged Blackbird    1
East Pond
Canada Goose    100
Mute Swan    95
Gadwall    4
Mallard    10
Double-crested Cormorant    5
Laughing Gull    150
Herring Gull    25
Great Black-backed Gull    20
Common Tern    1
Willow Flycatcher    1
American Crow    1
Tree Swallow    20
Barn Swallow    5
American Robin    3
Gray Catbird    10
Brown Thrasher    1
Yellow Warbler    10
Eastern Towhee    1
Red-winged Blackbird    10