[birding] Finley adventures 4/6

[Lisa Millbank]

Happy Spring everyone!

It seemed like Finley was the destination for a lot of people yesterday (Sunday 4/6).  When we arrived there was frost, but the day turned out so nice it chased winter out of our thoughts and we were really grateful for the warmth of spring.


Every shrubby area was full of Common Yellowthroats, and Orange-crowned Warblers were singing in all the deciduous woods.  A couple of Cliff Swallows had returned to the Finley Rd. barn.  There were also a few Ospreys, many Violet-green and Tree Swallows, Turkey Vultures, and Rufous Hummingbirds.  Welcome back, to all those little travelers.

A couple of Song Sparrows went careening into the grass and had quite a scuffle.  The victor sang loudly and the fight convinced a singing Marsh Wren to pick another perch where the neighbors weren't so rowdy.

We heard a Fox Sparrow singing, and saw a Hermit Thrush briefly.  A Lincoln's Sparrow was hanging around Cabell Marsh.  A flock of Greater White-fronted Geese flew over Finley.  Soon all those birds will leave us until fall.

In the woods in the north part of the refuge, we got a look into the private lives of some Winter Wrens.  A male Winter Wren was singing on a 10' rotten stump.  Then he flew down to a knothole and a female joined him.  She entered the hole and emerged a few times, and Mr. Wren was just beside himself with excitement or anxiousness.  While Ms. Wren investigated the nest for a few minutes, Mr. Wren fluttered his tiny wings, fanned his stubby little tail, and frantically preened himself.  Then he picked some moss and presented it to her, and she accepted his gift of nesting material.  After the wrens left the nest for a while, we took some pictures of the cavity.  We would never have noticed it had they not been performing their courtship.  I posted some photos, but it was too dark to get very good pictures of the quick little birds.  Don got some great video, and you can see it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyNJ8ptXaq0  Warning: this video contains shocking scenes of raw, uncensored, extremely graphic cuteness.  Viewer discretion is advised!

For plants, snakes, dragonflies, butterflies, and an elk close encounter, go to http://groups.google.com/group/mid-valley-nature/browse_thread/thread/f40dea3e5d65a74 

Lisa Millbank
Don Boucher
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