Austin Mohr Writes:
I birded DeKorte and the Disposal Road today from 8:45AM to about 12:30PM.
The definite highlight and very unexpected surprise was an unseasonable Nashville Warbler that I observed loosely associating with a pair of Ruby-crowned Kinglets …
My view was brief but very clear, and I noted the typical, distinctive jizz of this species including the fairly rotund shape and relatively short tail, the obvious, complete white eye-ring on an otherwise unmarked, clean gray head, the conspicuous, pale yellow breast lacking any streaking, yellow undertail coverts with unmarked, greenish wings, all characteristics clearly ruling out Orange-crowned Warbler or any other species. Before I could get my camera attached to my scope to digiscope the bird, it flew off toward the Kingsland Overlook where I followed it but could not relocate it.
Otherwise, a thorough study of the gulls did not turn up any unexpected species for me and, unfortunately, I did not find any Rough-legged Hawks today, but DeKorte was still a pleasure to bird, as always.
A good variety of waterfowl present included a nice count of 123 Canvasbacks in the large impoundment, which seems to be a reliable bastion of theirs as they are otherwise pretty scarce and local in our area
A nice variety of winter passerines was also present, including Horned Larks and a pair of adult White-crowned Sparrows along the Disposal Road as well as three Fox Sparrows at the Kingsland Overlook.
(Thanks, Austin!)
(DeKorte Park is open this week, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
