Foster Island Field Trip (3/24/03) Highlights

Hundreds of American Coots were the most visible birds. Other numerous ducks were American Wigeon, Bufflehead and Common Mergansers. We had good comparisons between Ring-necked Ducks, Greater and Lesser Scaup. A male Anna’s Hummingbird posed for excellent scope viewing. One Tree Swallow flew overhead. We watched a pair of Downy Woodpeckers for some time. A Virginia Rail was heard answering to hand clapping.

A complete list of sightings follows:

Pied-billed Grebe - Double-crested Cormorant - Canada Goose - American Wigeon - Gadwall - Mallard - Ring-necked Duck - Greater Scaup - Lesser Scaup - Bufflehead - Common Merganser - Great Blue Heron - Virginia Rail - American Coot - Glaucous-winged Gull - Rock Dove - Anna's Hummingbird - Downy Woodpecker - Northern Flicker - American Crow - American Robin - European Starling - Bewick's Wren - Tree Swallow - Ruby-crowned Kinglet - Black-capped Chickadee - American Goldfinch - Song Sparrow - Red-winged Blackbird.

There were 7 birders and 29 species sighted.