Day 17.320: Thursday birding on a Wednesday

Our group moved our birding walk to today to avoid tomorrow's Thanksgiving festivities. It was a chilly morning at the cemetery. Here is some of what we saw.

In the river: Some of the usual suspects - Canada geese, American black ducks and mallards:

But also, a pair of hooded mergansers - small and distant but very distinctive by the shape of head and bill:

And a pair of green-winged teal. At this point they were (despite being dabbling ducks) managing to dive for a few seconds - presumably straining for food just out of reach from the surface.

Elsewhere:

A song sparrow that we heard long before we spotted him.

Turkey vulture. This one flew by and then was joined by seven more

Red-bellied woodpecker

Red-tailed hawk - perched high above the river until the first morning sun reached it and then...

it took to the wing (and showed-off its red tail)