\n<\/p>\n
I was about halfway through the park when I noticed what first looked like a crow half-flying, half-falling out of a tree. It looked a little funny so I put my binoculars on it, and Bam! Life Bird #398! Somehow I didn’t think they were this big. I had thought they were Blue Jay or Robin sized, but it really is as big as a crow. I guess it would have to be for its preferred diet of snakes. The bird ran along the mowed grass and eventually disappeared in some shrubbery before I could get close enough to take a better picture. <\/p>\n
I have a vague recollection that I may have seen a roadrunner in New Mexico or Arizona back in the early 90’s before I was seriously birding. However I’m not certain of that, and I haven’t counted it on my life list previously. <\/p>\n
Another surprise for the day were four warbler species: Yellow-rumped (very common, over 50, probably over a 100), Townsend’s, Orange-crowned, and Common Yellowthroat (all singletons). In New York at this time of year, you may may get one species, and two if you’ve scouted out a second that’s overwintering at someone’s feeder; but that’s the absolute maximum. Four warblers on February 17 is simply impossible back east. Here it’s a pleasant morning walk in the park. <\/p>\n
Total species count for the day was 41:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"