Birdwalk Highlights for 2/14: Winslow Park, Freeport

No wind? Temperatures rapidly climbing into the 20's? Of course we would take advantage of the conditions and visit our best local winter birding hotspot.

And it definitely did not disappoint! A little more open water than two weeks ago, and glass-calm conditions made for perfect waterbird watching conditions at the point. The drake BARROW'S GOLDENEYE was just stunning in perfect light, and we had really nice, close and lengthy studies of the continuing female "NORTHERN" COMMON EIDER (ssp. BOREALIS). Unexpected were four dapper drake GREATER SCAUP as well, offering some really good study time.

It was a quality over quantity kinda day today, as other waterfowl tallies were still below average for here, but included 125 BUFFLEHEADS, 55 COMMON EIDER, 50 MALLARDS, 35 LONG-TAILED DUCKS, 30 COMMON GOLDENEYES, 25 HERRING GULLS, 11 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS, 8 SURF SCOTERS, 4 AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS, and 4 COMMON LOONS.

Two BALD EAGLES were watching some distant waterfowl as well, and landbirds were quite conspicuous today, including quite a bit of territorial singing! Spring (or maybe it was just because it was Valentine's Day?) was in the air: 13 HOUSE FINCHES, 12 BALCK-CAPPED CHICKADEE (including a tussle that resulted in two fighting birds tumbling over 50 feet down to the ground!), 7 EASTERN BLUEBIRDS, 6 TUFTED TITMICE (including the unique songster that has been here all winter), 4 NORTHERN CARDINALS, 4 AMERICAN CROWS, and 2 DOWNY WOODPECKERS. We also heard a calling RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER and a singing CAROLINA WREN.

A quick stop at the Freeport Town Wharf added to some of our above totals, but improved greatly on our views of Red-breasted Mergansers. There, we also observed a "white-headed morph" female Long-tailed Duck for another educational opportunity on the morning's outing.