birdsoup

On Saturday, the first of December, our monthly BirdWalk took us to Tibbetts Brook Park in Yonkers. The damp, cold, windy weather foretelling the beginning of winter did not deter the fourteen hardy souls who joined in the walk. We were reward by a nice assortment of birds. Probably the best sighting of the day was a good view of the amazing colors of male Wood Duck.

But the simply elegance of the Hooded Merganser came in a close second. A raccoon sleeping in a hole in a tree trunk was unexpected.

For those of you keeping score, here is a complete list of the birds seen:

Waterbirds: Canada Goose, Mallard, Mute Swan, Black Duck, Hooded Merganser, Wood Duck, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron.
Backyard Birds: Cardinal, Mourning Dove, Goldfinch, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Dark-eyed Junco,

Others: Song Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Carolina Wren, Winter Wren, Pigeon, Ring-billed Gull, Brown Creeper

By the time the walk concluded around 10AM I felt tired but invigorated from a pleasant walk in the fresh air, in pleasant surroundings and, of course, with pleasant company.