Yellow in Winter is Nice to See

[The long-staying Western Kingbird at Cape May Point State Park, NJ, January 10, 2020. click to enlarge photos.]

Mark Garland and I wandered around Cape May Point this morning, two old curmudgeons enjoying birds (I said "I like birds;" Mark allowed he had heard that. He does, too.) But we groused, me mainly, about the state of bird conservation, failings therein, bird-banding without purpose, social injustice, poor healthcare . . . but we like birds. Birds with yellow in winter are especially nice.

[One of two female Baltimore Orioles at a Lighthouse Avenue feeder, Cape May Point, NJ January 10 2020.Were it a bullock's Oriole, it would be brightest on the jaw, not the breast.]

Other birders were about on this especially nice winter day, including Tom Reed, man of mystery, Claudia Burns, and many others. Tell me again why climate change is bad? Oh, I will, it's coming to a blog near you, and Reed and I and many others are going to find out why as we watch our homes float away. . .

Birds. Mark pointed out it's nice to see Tundra Swans regularly in Cape May. I so agree, I love these birds, who's problem here is being driven off by Mute Swans.

 

[Above and below, Tundra Swans, Cape May Point State Park, NJ January 10, 2020.]

 



Our State Park list is below.

Cape May Point SP, Cape May, New Jersey, US
Jan 10, 2020 10:30 AM - 12:15 PM
Protocol: Traveling
0.8 mile(s)
41 species

Canada Goose  10
Mute Swan  15
Tundra Swan  4
Northern Shoveler  10
Gadwall  40
American Wigeon  30
Mallard  50
Northern Pintail  4
Green-winged Teal  6
Hooded Merganser  2
Ruddy Duck  4
Pied-billed Grebe  1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  4
Mourning Dove  1
American Coot  1
Great Blue Heron  1
Downy Woodpecker  1
Northern Flicker  3
Western Kingbird  1     Continuing, photos.
Blue Jay  4
Carolina Chickadee  3
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  1
Carolina Wren  8
European Starling  50
Brown Thrasher  1
Northern Mockingbird  3
Hermit Thrush  1
American Robin  35
Cedar Waxwing  15
House Sparrow  4
House Finch  4
Fox Sparrow  2
White-throated Sparrow  10
Song Sparrow  1
Swamp Sparrow  2
Eastern Towhee  1
Red-winged Blackbird  10
Orange-crowned Warbler  1
Nashville Warbler  1     Continuing, near Al’s pond, chipped several times: sharp, slightly burry spik.
Yellow-rumped Warbler  20
Northern Cardinal  4

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S63239593