Pandemic Pastimes

As suggested by Pastor Beryl, we would love to share your stories and pictures of how you are filling the days in this time of isolation. We are kicking off today with some bird-watching photos from Mary Lamey, who has been maintaining her sanity by walking the dogs in Angrignon Park and taking pictures of birds there and in her backyard.

As Mary says, “Everything is terrible, but we can still find beauty in the the quiet moments.”

How many of these local bird varieties do you recognize? Send your responses in to the office, southwestunited@gmail.com.

ANSWERS

Donna Davis is our winner this week having identified all five birds! They are: Cardinal, American goldfinch, Myrtle warbler (One of several kinds of yellow-rumped warblers, Mary would want to mention that warblers are easy to hear and difficult to spy in the woods, especially as the leaves fill in more and more); Ruby-crowned kinglet (we’re particularly impressed that Donna got this one as the red patch that gives him his name isn’t showing in the picture); and of course a Pileated woodpecker. These are the real Woody woodpeckers, measuring 16 to 20 inches long and with a wingspan of 26 to 29 inches. You can hear their slow, determined tree-pecking and their laughing call across long distances. You can tell this one is a male by the red stripe on his cheek. Otherwise, males and females look the same.

Donna adds that in the Crawford Park area recently she has spotted: song and chipping sparrows, mourning doves, a white-breasted nuthatch, and a great blue heron, as well as a pair of small accipiter hawks, “perched too high for me to pick up on much more than their silhouettes.”

Any other bird-watchers out there?