Thanksgiving Weekend at Yates Mill

Birding with Wake Audubon at Yates Mill today.  Can you believe I forgot to take my camera?  Uh-duh.  I tried to take some pictures with my phone, but the ones of birds came out AWFUL.
Spotted Buffleheads, Ruddy Ducks, and Ring Necked Ducks on the pond.  Saw a Kestrel for my life list!
Saw Meadowlark, Cooper's Hawk, White Throated Sparrows, Song Sparrows, Ruby Crowned Kinglet, a beautiful female Red Winged Blackbird, possibly Pippet and Blue Headed Vireo.

Beaver Dam

Yates Mill picture taken with my phone.

Meetup with Wake Audubon

What a lovely walk with John Connors and the Meetup group from Wake Audubon at Anderson Point Park.  He was really knowledgeable and was spotting birds before we even got out from under the picnic shelter.  We saw Golden Crowned Kinglet, Hawks, Vultures, Mockers, White Throated Sparrow, Field and Song Sparrows, Pileated and Red Bellied Woodpeckers, Towhees, Northern Flicker, Bluebirds, Robins, and Cedar Wax Wings.  It was great to be with someone who can identify birds so quickly.  Will definitely check out another walk with Wake Audubon.

This cedar tree was full of Robins and Cedar Wax Wings. 

White Throated Sparrow--one for my life list.

A Shrew one of the ladies on the hike found.  Apparently, their
metabolism is so high that they just kind of peter out after a while.
He was a perfect specimen.  Got to see it really close.

Sparrows

Yellow Rumped Warbler 

Birding @ Mason Farm Biological Reserve

The dynamic birding duo headed out to Chapel Hill to check out Mason Farm.  Very cool place.  Nice variety of bird habitats.  Will definitely try it out in the winter.  Birds will probably be easier to spot.

 Before we even got in the park, we spotted an old Blue Heron who looked as old as Yoda and a whole flock of Canada geese on the water.

In general, we were a little frustrated because we couldn't get a good look at anything and my pictures came out pretty poorly.  Makes it hard to identify the birds afterwards.

Looks a little like a Bachman's Sparrow, but I dunno.

Tree swallow--I had no idea these were so abundant.
I've seen a couple of these lately.

This may be the same bird as above.  Can't tell if it's a Pine Warbler.

My guess is a female or immature Oriole of some kind.  This picture shows a real lack of any distinguishing features.

Mystery bird--not a clue!