Nature Note: A Naturalist's Travels Through Nature

As my first weekend in Horsham continues, I took a trip to two nearby reservoirs to try my luck at finding some migrating waterfowl and shorebirds. It has been an interesting transition with having gotten a bigger room than I had last spring*, nearly getting Poison Ivy ( Toxicodendron radicans ) the first day here, dealing with itchy bug bite ridden legs from having refused bug spray at a barbeque on Labor Day, and anticipating the prospecting of using washing machines that I'm fairly certain use a type of detergent that I'm allergic to. Other than that, it's been smooth sailing. As I left this morning, I drove along the familiar routes that I'd taken in the spring to a local spot called Bradford Dam Recreation Area. Located about 5 minutes up the road from where I'm currently living, it's where I saw my first Bobolinks ( Dolichonyx oryzivorus ) and Broad-winged Hawk ( Buteo platypterus ) of the year. As I trod near to the pond, I looked at the murky pond weed...

What a day yesterday! I got two more lifers and saw a ton of species for my year list. It was such a great day and tiring too. I was so beat when I got in and so pumped after all that I'd experienced. I visited at the perfect time it seemed. Shorebirds were stacking up on the main pool/mudflats and it seemed like everyone was filling themselves up for the warmer months ahead. With new camera in hand and notes taken, I headed off to document my roaming. Here's what I found. Icterids like Red-winged Blackbirds ( Agelaius phoeniceus ), Common Grackles ( Quiscalus quiscula ), and Brown-headed Cowbirds ( Molothrus ater ) were so common, especially around the visitors center. Everywhere you turned your eyes and ears you saw and heard the chacking, clinking, and checking of these black flocking birds. Northern Cardinal ( Cardinalis cardinalis ) seen at the visitors center. The Raymond Pool was teeming with bird life. Dunlins ( Calidris alpina ) flurried around and fed feve...