Purple Finch Haemorhous purpureus
As is usual, the short and sweet warble of this male Purple Finch prompted us to look up to see him high on a tree beside the marsh. He looks a lot like this male House Finch Haemorhous mexicanus who has a longer song with typical harsher notes.
The primary draw of this birding hotspot is the marsh, which today gave nice looks at a number of waterfowl.
Only a few Cinnamon Teal Spatula cyanoptera overwinter in our area, and this is a reliable spot.
This male and female Cinnamon Teal share the large dark "spatula-like" bill.
We first saw the one female Hooded Merganser Lophodytes cucullatus and then when we put up our binoculars the male and female Wood Duck Aix sponsa stole the show.
As is usual there were Canada Geese Branta canadensis loudly squabbling and not afraid of anything.
Adding to the chorus were singing Audubon's race of Yellow-rumped Warblers.
