The welcoming committee this beautiful morning was a California Quail family, mom, dad and four tiny fledglings resembling walnuts with itty bitty legs. Bird song filled the air. I had Sweet Springs to myself.
Nuttall's Woodpecker, singing it's flight song, dashed between the trees. Two Tree Swallow sped overhead in their relentless pursuit of insects. House Sparrow brightened the semi-sunny morning with it’s cheerful chatter.
High in the canopy, Black-headed Grosbeak sang its little heart out; on the far side of the preserve an answering song could be heard. (Unfortunately, too breezy to record the song.)
Dark-eyed Junco scratched in the leaf litter. Four Mallards fed in a channel; I doubt they noticed the melodious song of the Black-headed Grosbeak. Faithful Black Phoebe was flycatching from her usual perch on a fallen eucalyptus tree. (the channels empty when tides are low)
I experienced birding nirvana for about a half hour in Sweet Springs this morning. Before I departed for home, I gently educated a pair of gentleman from Mohave who were convinced the Mallards were Northern Shovelers.
I enjoy the way you discribe birding ,I can almost hear the singging.
ReplyDeleteWhat is birding Nirvana ? Nirvana is the name of one of my daughter's friends.