A Birdy Bennington Lake

Tuesday walkers found lots of birds this morning on our trek around the lake.  And the nice thing was that we actually saw many of the birds!  Wilson's warblers were numerous.  There were also a few yellow warblers and one very striking Townsend's warbler.  Warbling vireos, house wrens and Bewick's wrens were also seen.  The most abundant species of the day was cedar waxwing.  They were everywhere!  There are still a few western wood peewees and lazuli buntings around, and we saw one black-headed grosbeak.  We all got a nice close-up look at a lesser goldfinch.  Swallows were swarming all over the lake.  There were also many Vaux's swifts.  The biggest surprise of the morning was finding a Townsend's solitaire.  It's very early for them to arrive at the lake.  Their normal arrival date is usually a month away.  There was a greater yellowlegs and a western sandpiper in with the usual killdeer and spotted sandpiper in the mud.  Migration is in full swing so get out there and enjoy the birds before they leave for the winter.