Migration continues to be great birding at my local cemetery. As noted many times, the local ducks attract migrating waterbirds. For the past two days, a Double Crested Cormorant has made the Forest Hill Cemetery ponds its home. While this bird is certainly not rare, it does normally spook very easily. Thus, I have been enjoying the close-up views.
Double Crested Cormorant
And some more pics of the two youngsters.
I have made this point before, but as migration really starts to get going, bird your local cemetery. The best birding will always be at a cemetery which has a pond, and a decent local bird population. Migrants are attracted to both the water, and the fact that birds are already present. The local birds are accustomed to people, both above and below ground! Generally, even though there are lots of spooks present, this will mean even migrants will spook less easily. In my case, I have been visiting Forest Hill Cemetery in Duluth’s Hunter’s Park neighborhood.
Because of the drought, the water level in each pond is much lower, which has created some mud flats that shorebirds absolutely love for feeding. A flock of five Lesser Yellowlegs, migrating through from Hudson’s Bay and the Arctic, was actively feeding yesterday morning at 7:30 am.
The treat of the morning was finding two Soras, one of which ventured way out of the reeds (unusual).
Finally, the locals were busy fishing. I always enjoy watching Belted Kingfishers, in this case a female.
