Winter Birding on the Colchester Causeway
By Pat Phillips
A Barred Owl perches in a tree along the path.
A cool gray morning with mixed rain and snow seemed an inauspicious start to this November outing to the Colchester Causeway. As our group assembled, the precipitation abated, and birds could be heard calling all around us. Not two minutes into our walk, participants were greeted by a most accommodating Barred Owl that provided the opportunity to admire this large stoic bird at close range. Several other species were heard and seen as the group made its way through the sheltered portion of the trail, including a Carolina Wren, Red-bellied Woodpecker, and many Chickadees, Nuthatches, Titmice, Red-winged Blackbirds, and Cardinals. Emerging out by the lake, numerous Scaup, Mallards, and Mergansers were observed along with a Great Blue Heron. The outing ended with a return visit to the same owl at the same location. The positive comments and smiles on the faces of both children and adults as we parted served as a reminder that wonderful surprises may await us when we least expect them.
eBird report: https://ebird.org/checklist/S283754729