With at least three days of temperatures over 40F (5C), sights like this became more common around campus. And with the increase of grassy patches, there were increases in certain bird species. The goose flock was noticeably larger, spread out in several groups, and totalling more than 100 birds.
American Robins, which have been around recently in smallish groups, were more numerous, and flocked with European Starlings, which had been conspicuously absent the previous week. Another nice surprise came late in the week. As I was leaving on Friday afternoon I saw two Killdeer, back in their old haunts, the parking lot near the A-21 loading dock.
It won't be long before snow is a distant memory here in coastal Connecticut, so I had fun framing this shot. Reminds me of snow-capped Himalayas in northeastern India this past December - the view outside the door of my tent for a week.
The West Campus bird list for the week of February 14 - 18, 2011.
Wild Turkey
Red-tailed Hawk
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Canada Goose
Killdeer
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Mourning Dove
Rock Pigeon
Downy Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
American Crow
Blue Jay
Black-capped Chickadee
American Robin
European Starling
Northern Cardinal
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow
Twenty-one species for the week. Have to say it's respectable, considering all we really do is just keep our eyes open as we pass through our buildings and around campus. If the snow continues to disappear, maybe this week we'll actually be able to get out into the woods a bit.
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