Andrea

Activity 1: I have taken pictures and notes of local birds, and birds that are in this area for breeding in the Summer. I took some notes during the time when some Mourning Doves made a nest right in front of my window, I took pictures after the eggs hatched and once when the mother was feeding the little chicks. Also, after spending the spring and the first part of the summer listening to Acadian Flycatchers that are temporarily in the local parks I could take a picture of a nest, which was very interesting to see. This has helped me have a more broad view of these species and be more attentive to nests in order no to disturb them.

Activity 2:  Down House: Birds present in towns and buildings such as different kind of pigeons. There are birds that live in open habitats with some woods as farmland such as hawks, kestrels, and woodpeckers. Also there are birds that are present in aquatic habitats as different kinds of gulls. Sevenoaks: Most of the birds are present in aquatic habitats like swamps, marshes, ponds and lakes.

Activity 1: I have been observing a Northern Mocking hanging on a power line in front of a house. I think it is the same individual. It sings its long repertoire of songs and calls by itself. While I walk along the street he sings very loud and sometimes it flies in a circle over the wire and returns to the same spot. Activity 2: Mourning Doves and European Starlings were picking the seeds from the ground, Common Grackles elevate their head to forage in the panel that was perpendicular to the ground, Red-bellied Woodpeckers were reaching the food from the trunk-like structure in the feeder. Activity 3: Depending on the time of the day, very early in the morning when it is still dark I hear Mourning Doves and House Sparrows. Later in the day I hear Blue Jays, Northern Cardinals, and House Sparrows, and in the afternoon I hear Gray Catbirds in addition to the ones I have heard earlier during the day.

- Year-round residents (Northern Virginia) Carolina Chickadee/ Tufted Titmouse/ White-breasted Nuthatch: the three of them share the same habitat. Both, the White-breasted Nuthatch and the Carolina Chickadee are smaller, but they have specific behaviors. Although they also share the same colors in their plumage their shape is distinct. Their calls are also very particular for each one of them. I hear them and see them all the time, even in the winter they are abundant. - Residents for part of the year: Gray Catbird/ Yellow Warbler/ Wood Thrush: Ii saw the Wood Thrush for the first time last year in the Summer. While birding I was intrigued by this flute-like call that sounded as if it was actually calling me. I waited and followed it until I saw it, a very pleasant finding. I noticed a Gray Catbird last year in the Summer too, then searched information about it and saw it with my binoculars when chirping the cat-like call. Then this year starting in Spring I have seen many of them flying around and with the help of the Merlin ID I have learned more types of its calls, very diverse and lively. The Yellow Warbler I saw it for the first time three weeks ago and was a very pleasant view of a yellow little thing flying close to a river.  Then I searched  more information about it.           Wood Thrush

Activity 1: I spent 50 minutes in Long Branch Nature Park; I was able to see a Red-bellied Woodpecker, I heard several others that I was not able to see, but thanks to the Merlin Bird ID app with its Sound ID feature I have been able to learn to identify some of the calls of local birds- I heard some American Crows, Fish Crows, a White-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Chickadees, Northern Cardinals, a Tufted Titmouse, a Hairy Woodpecker, and a Barrel Owl. Activity 2: From my balcony I have been able to see many Blue Jays, Mourning Doves, Northern Cardinals (they are usually in pairs, if I see a male I look for the female which is usually around in the same tree), and House Sparrows. Activity 3: Next time I go birding I will look for a Northern Flicker which is a very pretty bird and appear in charts as present in this area the whole year. I have heard its calls many times but I haven't been able to see it.

Activity 1: MOURNING DOVE: Round body, small head, long slender tail. Medium size bird with small bill. BLUE JAY: Although the size is similar to the Mourning Dove its head is medium size in relation with its body which is more slender. It has a perky crest and long tail. Longer legs than the Mourning Dove. Activity 2: MOURNING DOVE: Plain brown overall with dark spots on wings. Darker brown on wings and lighter brown in head and breast. Under the wings and tail it looks a little beige. WOOD THRUSH: Uniform brown above from head to tail. White on face, under the bill and breast. Darker brown spots from cheek down, concentrated and clearly defined on upper breast, becoming smudgier towards belly. NORTHERN MOCKING BIRD: Gray/Light brownish on head, on top of the wings, and tail. Whitish underparts. On top wings are darker with white patches on wings and tail. Activity 3: WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH: Forages up - down and sideways over tree trunks and around large branches. It starts often high in trees and move down head first. Chips away at wood to find food. Eats insects and seeds. Stores them under loose bark in trees in its territory. In winter joins chickadees, titmice, and woodpeckers to forage. GREAT BLUE HERON: Usually forages alone. It stands still into shallow water or open fields stalking fish and other prey. When they see prey in the water introduce their bill fast to catch them. MOURNING DOVE: It scatters seeds on the ground and in the open. It pushes aside ground litter, but doesn't scratch at the ground. Swallows seeds and stores them in an enlargement of the esophagus called the crop. Once they've filled it they fly to a safe perch to digest the meal. Activity 4: RED-SHOULDERED HAWK: Medium size in the raptors group. Medium size head and balanced with the size of the body. The tail is rounded, medium size. Very short neck almost unnoticeable. Very short bill with hook shape. The little feathers around the eye extend to the back creating a soft border pointing to the back. They fan out the tail when they soar, and the tips of the wings point forward a little bit. Light brown / reddish in the breast with soft white brush strokes on the underparts. In the back the feathers are black with brown border in the upper side and half down are white in the border. The tail is black with white bands and the lower border is white. Flying under the wings you can see in the interior side a "V" shape of brown color with dark dots. the exterior part under the wing is white with dark bands that go all the way to the end of the tail. On top the wings are dark brown with white bands. Brown eyes. brown head with white brush strokes. BEHAVIOR: it soars over forests. It can be seen perched on tree branches or wires. Hunts small  mammals, amphibians, and reptiles. HABITAT AND RANGE: Lives in deciduous forests and swamps or suburban areas mixed with woodlands. It builds nests in a main crotch of large trees. Medium distance migrant. The ones that live North East and Northern Midwest migrate to more southerly states for the winter. Some in the East spend winter in Mexico but in the West Coast they are non-migratory. SOUNDS: Call: high pitch whistle. Loud "kee-aah" of different lengths. SOUNDS: Call: high pitch whistle. Loud "kee-aah" of different lengths.