2011 October 8 - Ankeny and Baskett Slough

In addition to having fabulous weather for this time of year, a highlight of the day at the Ankeny and Baskett Slough refuges was Dan spotting a noteworthy Clay-colored Sparrow standing on the road next to a Chipping Sparrow, making comparison of the two closely related species easier. I listed 68 species for the day, on our penultimate field trip for the Fall term.

Greater White-fronted Goose. Anser albifrons.

Cackling Goose. Branta hutchinsii

Canada Goose. Branta canadensis.

American Wigeon. Anas americana.

Mallard. Anas platyrhynchos.

Northern Shoveler. Anas clypeata.

Northern Pintail. Anas acuta.

Green-winged Teal. Anas crecca.

Ring-necked Pheasant. Phasianus colchicus.

Pied-billed Grebe. Podilymbus podiceps.

Horned Grebe. Podiceps auritus.

Great Blue Heron. Ardea herodias.

Great Egret. Ardea alba.

Green Heron. Butorides virescens.

Turkey Vulture. Cathartes aura.

Bald Eagle. Haliaeetus leucocephalus.

Northern Harrier. Circus cyaneus.

Sharp-shinned Hawk. Accipiter striatus.

Red-tailed Hawk. Buteo jamaicensis.

American Kestrel. Falco sparverius.

American Coot. Fulica americana.

Killdeer. Charadrius vociferus.

Greater Yellowlegs. Tringa melanoleuca.

Long-billed Dowitcher. Limnodromus scolopaceus.

Rock Pigeon. Columba livia.

Eurasian Collared-Dove. Streptopelia decaocto

Mourning Dove. Zenaida macroura.

Acorn Woodpecker. Melanerpes formicivorus.

Downy Woodpecker. Picoides pubescens.

Northern Flicker. Colaptes auratus.

Black Phoebe. Sayornis nigricans.

Western Scrub-Jay. Aphelocoma californica.

American Crow. Corvus brachyrhynchos.

Common Raven. Corvus corax.

Tree Swallow. Tachycineta bicolor.

Violet-green Swallow. Tachycineta thalassina.

Barn Swallow. Hirundo rustica.

Black-capped Chickadee. Poecile atricapillus.

Bushtit. Psaltriparus minimus.

White-breasted Nuthatch. Sitta carolinensis.

Bewick's Wren. Thryomanes bewickii.

Marsh Wren. Cistothorus palustris.

Hermit Thrush. Catharus guttatus.

American Robin. Turdus migratorius.

Varied Thrush. Ixoreus naevius.

European Starling. Sturnus vulgaris.

American Pipit. Anthus rubescens.

Cedar Waxwing. Bombycilla cedrorum.

Yellow-rumped Warbler. Dendroica coronata.

Common Yellowthroat. Geothlypis trichas.

Spotted Towhee. Pipilo maculatus.

Chipping Sparrow. Spizella passerina.

Clay-colored Sparrow. Spizella pallida.

Savannah Sparrow. Passerculus sandwichensis.

Fox Sparrow. Passerella iliaca.

Song Sparrow. Melospiza melodia.

Lincoln's Sparrow. Melospiza lincolnii.

White-crowned Sparrow. Zonotrichia leucophrys.

Golden-crowned Sparrow. Zonotrichia atricapilla.

Dark-eyed Junco. Junco hyemalis.

Red-winged Blackbird. Agelaius phoeniceus.

Western Meadowlark. Sturnella neglecta.

Brewer's Blackbird. Euphagus cyanocephalus.

Purple Finch. Carpodacus purpureus.

House Finch. Carpodacus mexicanus.

Lesser Goldfinch. Spinus psaltria.

American Goldfinch. Spinus tristis.

Evening Grosbeak. Coccothraustes vespertinus.