Christmas Eve this year fell on a Sunday and my usual afternoon to volunteer at Reifel. There was not much of a crowd and it was fairly quiet on the birding front as well. Fortunately some of the regulars were cooperating.
House Finch
Such as this House Finch,
Purple Finch
… and Purple Finch. Later in the day while trying to track down a woodpecker I could hear drumming on a tree,
Brown Creeper
… this Brown Creeper made a brief appearance next to me. And to finish the day of was the source of the drumming,
Another nice spring afternoon to be out volunteering at Reifel, just a lower number of visitors than I had expected. On the birding front it was fairly quiet according to those that did the morning walk. There was a Hermit Thrush just east of the parking lot, a pair of Hairy Woodpeckers and Yellow-rumped Warblers along the east dyke. I started off by heading down the east dyke trail. While I could see and hear them, none of the Yellow-rumped Warblers were cooperating for photos. I did not relocate the woodpeckers, but while at the northeast corner,
House Finch
… watching some of the regulars this House Finch did pose nicely for me. I spoke to one young visitor who was eager to share the fact he had seen a Bittern by the tower so that was my next stop. While this area is a good spot to see them, I did not find it. I then made my way back towards the inner display ponds. When approaching them,
Sandhill Crane
… I found the resident male Sandhill Crane napping adjacent to the trail. Of greater interest though,
Sandhill Crane
… was the female arranging sticks on the nesting island in the pond. While they have been hanging around the area of late, today was the first time to see them active and preparing the nesting area they have used the last few years. In past years the chick(s) have usually hatched around the May long weekend, give or take a day or two. One more regular while spending time at the inner ponds,
