Sunday Summary: November 12-November 18, 2018

It has been a while since I have posted a Sunday Summary, or anything else on this blog for that matter. I apologize for the long break, but I have been very busy with classes and haven't been able to get out and do much birding to report to you all. Luckily, Kansas State gives a whole week off for the Thanksgiving holiday, which will allow me to catch up on some much needed birding and blogging.

Since my last Sunday Summary, I have added four birds to my Riley County list, bringing my total to 112 species observed. New species are as follows: Golden-Crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa), Brown Creeper (Certhia americana), Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis), and Snow Goose (Anser caerulescens). The Snow Goose also added t my life list, bringing that total to 190 species. I have again reached my pre-winter goal, and will be setting my new goal to 125 species in Riley County before winter.

My most observed species this week was the Snow Goose with 100 individuals observed. I was lucky enough to spot this group as they flew in their nice V above me just when I arrived at Fancy Creek this afternoon. It was nice to finally see this species while conducting a bird count.

There is no picture of the week this week. With the leaves having fallen and the cold weather species moved in, it is becoming harder and harder to spot birds that I am able to get good pictures of. Most of the species that I observe are in dense clusters of Eastern Red Cedar trees, making it almost impossible to tell that there is even a bird in the picture sometimes.

My highlight of the week is between getting to observe the Golden-crowned Kinglets and seeing a group of Cedar Waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum) getting a drink from the puddle of a melting icicle under a picnic shelter. The Golden-crowned Kinglets always make my day when I see them because they are such tiny little birds that seem to have so much energy. The Cedar Waxwings were the largest group of this species that I have observed in Kansas at one time and it was great to see them taking advantage of the melting ice pooling in the shelter.

I would like to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving. To get rid of that feeling in your gut after the big meal, may I suggest taking a nice peaceful birding walk. Who knows, maybe you'll spot a Wild Turkey.

Also, if you would like to read more from me with a focus less on birding and more on nature as a whole, check out my new blog Journals of a Naturalist at https://journalsofanaturalist.blogspot.com/.