Ben Ringer and I along with out wives drove around the
Hendersonville area Saturday afternoon (11/!!) and were not
disappointed.
We started at Four Seasons Marsh (on Four Seasons Blvd NE of
Jackson Park) and birded from the side of the road with a scope. We saw an
Eastern Phoebe perched on the ear of cat or dog sign next to the road.
Other birds included American Kestrel, Great Blue Heron and Belted
KIngfisher.
Then it was off to Osceola Lake (SW H'ville) where we were
treated to 2 male Hooded Mergansers. You can't believe how they can
contort themselves to make it hard to identify such a strikingly beautiful
bird. The usual ducks where there: Ring-necked Ducks, Mallards and two
Gadwalls. There were also 2 or 3 Pied-billed Grebes.
Hooper Lane was our next stop. Being new to the area, I
did not hold out much hope because all I had seen there where White-throated
Sparrows, Starlings, and Crows. But our luck changed, we saw a Northern
Harrier and a flock of American Pipits. I, the newcomer from California,
really enjoyed Cardinals, Eastern Bluebirds, Common Grackles and an Eastern
Meadowlark.
Our last stop was Lake Julian. Last time all I could
find was a Double-crested Cormorant; but with Ben and his scope we were able to
see a Common Loon, a Horned Grebe and small parties of Canada Geese landing in
the lake at sunset, very beautiful. Not one of those huge birds made a
splash! They had their wings pumping away and settled into the
water.
Winter birds are coming. Ben said that he has had a Pine
Siskin at his feeder already.
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