chris runk
01-16-2007, 03:19 PM
Winter resident duck species on the lake commonly include Mallard, Gadwall, Bufflehead and small rafts of Ruddy Ducks. These species can be joined by Canvasback, Lesser Scaup, Redhead, A. Wigeon and occasionally American Goldeneye. Horned Grebes are usually present along with 1000’s of D.-crested Cormorants (numbers vary from year to year) and the White Pelicans. Gulls seem to move around among area lakes but are easily seen on White Rock, either flying over the open water (especially above the cormorant-pelican feeding flocks) or early AM on the spillway. Some mornings the spillway can have several species of gulls, other mornings NONE! January sightings have included the striking Little Gull along with Herring, California, Franklin's (often a single overwintering adult) and the Lesser Black-backed Gull. Gull numbers, mostly Ring-billed and Bonaparte’s, can range from over 1000 to only 100 or so on some other days. Weather seems to be a factor…
Winter irruptive species from the north can make it all the way down to our area in some years. 2006-2007 saw Golden-crowned Kinglets throughout the hatchery and 2007-2008 will be remembered for the Red-breasted Nuthatch invasion! Two other winter irruptives, much less common here, are Purple Finch and Pine Siskin. Common wintering species in the woods include Cooper’s Hawk, N. Flicker, Br. Creeper, Ruby-cr. Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Orange-crowned Warbler and Yellow-rumped Warbler. Winter Wrens are always present, best found by their distinctive, usually doubled chips. A few Rusty Blackbirds are usually present by January (at least by mid-month) often foraging along the edges of the beaver ponds. Sparrow species and numbers can fluctuate from year to year -- high water levels in the ponds eliminate much of their grassy habitat. The surrounding fields prove more attractive to them during those wetter years. White-throated Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos are always found in good numbers, however, year in and year out.
Winter irruptive species from the north can make it all the way down to our area in some years. 2006-2007 saw Golden-crowned Kinglets throughout the hatchery and 2007-2008 will be remembered for the Red-breasted Nuthatch invasion! Two other winter irruptives, much less common here, are Purple Finch and Pine Siskin. Common wintering species in the woods include Cooper’s Hawk, N. Flicker, Br. Creeper, Ruby-cr. Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Orange-crowned Warbler and Yellow-rumped Warbler. Winter Wrens are always present, best found by their distinctive, usually doubled chips. A few Rusty Blackbirds are usually present by January (at least by mid-month) often foraging along the edges of the beaver ponds. Sparrow species and numbers can fluctuate from year to year -- high water levels in the ponds eliminate much of their grassy habitat. The surrounding fields prove more attractive to them during those wetter years. White-throated Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos are always found in good numbers, however, year in and year out.