Bennington Lake today

Migrants continue to move through.  Today we had several American pipits, a Townsend's warbler, a Lincoln's sparrow several yellow-rumped warblers and three greater yellowlegs. There were good numbers of downy woodpeckers and red-shafted flickers along with one yellow-shafted flicker.  The osprey made a few passes over the water and flew on.  Two western grebes and a ruddy duck joined the usual waterfowl.  About 80 canada geese were eating in the wheat stubble north of the lake and about half of them eventually came down to the lake.  A sharp-shinned hawk and a kestrel had a little altercation before the sharpie flew away.  Ruby-crowned kinglets and black-capped chickadees were busy eating berries.  It was a beautiful walk with fall colors, a crispness in the air and the sounds of birds everywhere.  Ginger