November birding - sunny, 70s, beautiful

November - sunny, 70s, beautiful. Seems like an oxymoron, but that was yesterday. I made a late morning trip to Heinz NWR. Songbirds were quiet and resting. Most waterfowl were sleeping or preening. Only the Greater Yellowlegs were noisy and busy (next post will be GRYE).

But a very pleasant day for a walk. A sampling of the morning.

Ducks in the impoundment were all dabblers. The numbers were modest, but a few were fairly close to the pond edges.

Northern Shoveler

Northern Shoveler

Green-winged Teal

Green-winged Teal

Autumn Meadowhawks were flying all along the trails. They are so small that often they seem like a figment of the imagination, especially the females whose orange-brown color camouflages them among the brown and yellow leaves. The occasional male perched for me, and a pair flew locked in the copulatory circle.

Autumn Meadowhawk (male)

Autumn Meadowhawk (male and female)

 Only a few butterflies were still about. This Eastern Comma was a particular treat.

 

Eastern Comma

 Most sparrows were deep in the thickets, while robins were moving about, but rarely pausing for more than a few moments.

White-throated Sparrow

American Robin

 Good Birding!!