Thickson today ...

[SA Birder]

A beautiful Spring morning in the woods was the backdrop to the following;

Saw-whet Owl - sleeping ever so peacefully
Horned Owl - adult only (although the baby had been seen earlier by others)
Northern Flickers (many)
Ruby Crowned Kinglet
Song Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Cow Birds
Junco
Morning Doves
Black Capped Chickadees (several)
Tree Swallows
Robins
Brewer's Blackbirds ****** Please Note ****** likely a Rusty Blackbird and NOT a Brewer  :!:
Red Winged Blackbirds

And in the marshland beyond the forest;

Mute Swans
Canadian Geese
Mallard

One lifer for me - the Saw-Whet!
One surprise - saw a huge nest high high up in northern end and couldn't PI its contents .... took a while .... Rocky Raccoon had moved in and was basking in his comfortable bed

Enjoy a great birding weekend -

[thouc]

Nice list! Are you sure about the Brewer's Blackbirds? They are very rare around here, on e-Bird there are only a few reports ever from Durham region.

[SA Birder]

Thank you for your reply!  

Of course it is possible we are mistaken - wouldn't be the first time and won't be the last - just yesterday we thought we saw a Hermit Thrush in Glendon Forest ... only to realize it was not.  This one sure looked like a Brewer and did not fly like a Grackle - welcome thoughts on what else it might have been.

I missed listing a Blue Headed Vireo from above - also very exciting to see.

[feathered]

Might I suggest Rusty Blackbird, which is passing through right now and similar in appearance to Brewer's Blackbird.

[SA Birder]

Yes indeed - it could very well be - thank you.

[Andygod]

Where are you seeing the Northern Flickers, are they in the meadow or in the forest?  There were too many people in the forest chasing the owl around so I wandered around the meadow for a bit, but I have never seen a Flicker there.  I have seen them over by Halls Road, but I can only find them when the sky is overcast.

[SA Birder]

The Flickers were on the southern end of the forest - mostly along the pathway that is east of where the owls nested last year .... east of the box that houses the book of recent sightings.  Hope this helps!  I think I was lucky as there was only one other couple in the forest when I was there ...

[Andygod]

Thanks, I will try going back during the week when the crowds are smaller.  I finally got a good look at the Kingfisher sitting on the edge of the culvert staring into the creek, but never did get a good picture.  I have often looked in the bird book and seen mention of the flickers, but I can never find them.  At least now I know where to start looking, when I have some luck I will post some pictures.