Pintail and Kinglet at Col. Sam Smith Park: November 2, 2020

This morning awoke to the first light snowfall of autumn.

frost on burdock leaf
frost on fallen sumac leaves

I am always excited to visit Col. Sam Smith Park as you never know what ornithological treasures might be found there.

Today featured a Northern Pintail:

Northern Pintail (male)
Northern Pintail (male)

Pintails are usually seen in early spring and late fall migration.

Northern Pintail (male)
Northern Pintail (male)

The name comes from the longish spiky central tail feathers.

Northern Pintail (male)

Pintails are common in the West and uncommon in the East. They are found on shallow ponds and marshes usually with emergent vegetation.

Northern Pintail (male)
Northern Pintail (male)

Ruby-crowned Kinglets measure about 10 cm in length; about the length of my thumb. The scarlet crown patch is often concealed.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Other birds:

Red-necked Grebe
American Black Duck
American Black Duck and Mallard (female)
Northern Pintail (male) and Mallard (male)
Northern Pintail (male) and Mallard (male)
Mallards
Gadwall (male), Buffleheads (male) and Hooded Merganser (female)
Buffleheads (male) and Hooded Merganser (female)
Buffleheads
Red-breasted Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Canada Geese
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
American Tree Sparrow

Species list: red-necked grebe, Canada goose, mallard, gadwall, American black duck, red-breasted merganser, hooded merganser, northern pintail, bufflehead, ring-billed gull, black-capped chickadee, white-breasted nuthatch, ruby-crowned kinglet, yellow-rumped warbler, house sparrow, northern cardinal, American goldfinch, American tree sparrow, white-throated sparrow, field sparrow, song sparrow.  (23 species)

Park views:

Squirrel

Today’s group:

NATURE POETRY

Late in November, on a single night
Not even near to freezing, the ginkgo trees
That stand along the walk drop all their leaves
In one consent, and neither to rain nor to wind
But as though to time alone: the golden and green
Leaves litter the lawn today, that yesterday
Had spread aloft their fluttering fans of light.

What signal from the stars? What senses took it in?
What in those wooden motives so decided
To strike their leaves, to down their leaves,
Rebellion or surrender? and if this
Can happen thus, what race shall be exempt?
What use to learn the lessons taught by time,
If a star at any time may tell us: Now. – Howard Nemerov

Miles Hearn

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