Vesper Sparrows, Twin Elm and GHOW

 April 21, 2022

With rain predicted late morning, we ventured to Viewbank Road to try again for Vesper Sparrows, since several others have reported them on eBird.  Once again, it was quite windy, but at least not so cold.  We pulled up to a brushy spot and parked the car.  Right away, we spotted a sparrow in the tangle.  It was a Vesper.

It soon vanished and we never saw another one.  We were very fortunate.  All of the other sparrows were Song Sparrows.  Before we left, two Pileated Woodpeckers flew in for a brief show.

We decided to go to Twin Elm to look for Rusty Blackbirds - some had been reported.  We went via Trail Road and saw a few Savannah Sparrows on the fence.

The east end of Trail Road is getting such large potholes that avoidance is probably the best strategy.  We proceeded to Cambrian Road, arriving at Twin Elm in time to see the Ospreys mating.  Unfortunately for us, the male finished and took off before we could park, and the female hunkered down almost invisible in the nest.  We parked and walked the road, but did not see any Rustys.  In fact it was very quiet.

We got an email that a Great Horned Owl was on a nest, barely visible, so we abandoned Twin Elm and headed over to see it.  We have been asked not to disclose the location.  Sure enough, an owl was on the nest, barely visible.  It took off when some crows came by, but did return briefly, but did not perch, as we may have been too close.  

The predicted rain began in earnest, so we had to call it a day.