Birding at Owen Bell Park WBW

 Who is watching who?

On February 22nd I was headed to Connecticut to be with my Mom for her chemo treatment for breast cancer the next day. Since February 22nd is my birthday I decided to treat myself to a bit of bird watching at Owen Bell Park in Dayville, CT. Owen Bell Park is located right off exit 93 of Route 395 in what is known as Connecticut's Quiet Corner. I am familiar with the area since I use to live here years ago. This park is where I used to take my kids when they were young to play on the playground and feed the ducks in the pond. Now I come here to stretch my legs and count the birds!

I had barely parked the car and gotten out when I saw two vultures soaring overhead. One was obviously a Turkey Vulture with its long tail and wide wingspan with its wings held slightly above the horizontal. I watched as it tilted and rocked on the wind. But the other vulture gave me pause, and then excitement!

 It had a short tail and a shorter wingspan with a solid black body and black secondaries. At the tips of the wings I saw the diagnostic white or silver squares of a black vulture. I quickly grabbed my camera from the back seat and started shooting. In the photo you can even see that black head! After watching the vultures drift slowly off beyond the horizon I got my gear together and headed for the park.

 I avoided the playground area and walked down by the pond.

 Of course there were a couple of mallards,

 

 and the handsome and beautiful Canada Geese!

 

I love the way their bodies reflect in the blue water.

 

With the temperature at 56 degrees F it was a pleasant day to be outside. Only the bare brown grasses and trees belied the fact that it was still winter! In the trees and hedgerows I heard a few Chickadees greeting me merrily with their characteristic call of  “Chick-a-dee-dee-dee!” They should be the ambassador of the bird world because they are so friendly and cheerful!! However, though the day was pleasantly warm for February the wind was gusting quite strongly at times and I did not see very many little birds.

Back at the car I spotted a little slate-colored dark-eyed junco feeding along a rock wall. I only stopped for a half hour but what a pleasant break it was! Since Windham County is the least eBirded county in Connecticut I always try to stop here whenever I am passing through to count the birds! you can find out about other parks and natural areas in Killingly, CT by clicking on the link for the Killingly Conservation Commission.

Click on the link below to see who else is watching birds!

World Bird Wednesday!

And Come on Over to Birding is Fun to see

The Birds I Thought I’d Never See!

Birds seen at Owen Bell Park 2-22-12:

1. Canada goose
2. Mallard
3. Turkey Vulture
4. Black vulture
5. Ring-billed gull
6. Black-capped chickadee
7. European Starling
8. Dark-eyed Junco

I counted birds for 35 minutes over 3.3 acres of land.

Canada Geese at Owen Bell Park 2-22-12