Xmas Bird Count- The Holden Arboretum

Group of 5 xmas bird count volunteers

Frozen Carvers Pond

Female Merlin

The temperature was a balmy 60+ degrees for this years xmas bird count on December 27 in at The Holden Arboretum, Kirtland, Ohio. Typically the temperature is below freezing. I believe we hit a record temp for the day. The group decided since it was so nice we would trek 5+ miles to carvers pond to find a male Merlin. Not only did we find one Merlin perched high in a dead tree put we also found a female perched nearby on another dead tree.

Long Eared Owl- The Holden Arboretum

While looking for Mockingbirds in the Holly Collection at The Holden Arboretum, we came across a Long-eared Owl. Long-eared Owls are not as common in Ohio. They are found mostly during the winter. This was an unexpected surprise and one of the highlights of the day. This was the first time the owl was spotted on Xmas bird count.

Cedar Waxwing - The Holden Arboretum

150 cedar waxwing were seen in

The Holden Arboretum Holly collection.

Here he is eating off of a winterberry bush.

White-throated sparrow - The Holden Arboretum

This white-throated sparrow flew into a window of one our buildings. Obviously stunned, I brought him to my office to stay warm and check him out. Within ten minutes he was alert and ready to go back to his outside world. Upon release he took a few moments to pose for me, then took off into the brush.

Blackbrook Helps at Eagle Creek!!

Julie, Becky, Nancy and Beck (see in pic) assisted guests with selecting appropriate bird seed and feeders.

Can you identify this bird?

Any guesses??