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Posted by Stephen Paez on 16:31:14 11/06/11
This afternoon discovered a pond in horse country with lots of birds hanging around. Had never seen it before and glad I found it as it's a good place to count birds for this CBC. There were all types of horses hanging around. Some feeding in the pond up to their neck in water, like a moose. Donkeys, mules, ponies and even a zebra, plus some weird looking mule with striped legs that might be a zebra hybrid. Also some very large iguanas. Just parked there for half an hour and had 26 bird species:
Domestic Muscovy
Domestic Mallard (several varities)
Domestic Graylag
Domestic Swan Goose
Pied-billed Grebe
Anhinga
Green Heron
Great Blue Heron
Cattle Egret
White Ibis
Turkey Vulture
Black Vulture
N. Harrier (female)
Cooper's Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
C. Gallinule
Coot
Killdeer
Rock Pigeon
Collared Dove
Mourning Dove
Belted Kingfisher (some nice dives into the water)
Mockingbird
Starling
House Sparrow
BT Grackle
Later, thousands of starlings, tons of Grackles, both species) and a couple of Common Mynas were noisy and preparing to roost on the corner of SW 117 Ave and Sunset. A Merlin was hanging out making half-hearted attempts at catching Starlings.
On SW 76 St, by Indian Hammocks park, added a perched Osprey as well as 1 Western Kingbird and 3 Gray Kingbirds.
Just got the 6th Edition National Geographic Bird Guide. A few species have been added, like Loggerhead Kingbird, White-eyed Parakeet and Peach-faced Lovebird (called Rosy-faced Lovebird in the book but as I hate unecessary name changes, I will not call it that). The former Moorhen appears as Common Gallinule. Some of the drawings are different also, example the Buntings. Other new features such as subspecies maps also. Nice book.
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