Birding (Twice!) at Lake Artemesia
New season, old haunts! Lake Artemesia had been on my mind ever since last year’s outing, and I decided there was no better venue for the first trip back after the summer break.
I struck out at the crack of dawn, optimistic for a beautiful sunrise and several birds greeting me. There was a beautiful sunrise, but I saw probably only 20 birds in total the whole three hours I was out there!
Still, determined to enjoy the cooler weather and pleasant walk, I ventured on until I finally spotted a smaller bird flitting about in the trees: a blue-gray gnatcatcher!
About halfway through the loop at this point, I resigned myself to the reality that the birds just weren’t out yet. I did spot a hummingbird towards the end of the loop, but he was buzzing about too quickly for my camera.
After the first trip proved disappointing, my loving boyfriend, Jake, volunteered to brave the August heat for a second trip later in the afternoon. He turned out to be quite the good luck charm!
Just a little past the point where I’d spotted the gnatcatcher, we stopped to look for a cardinal chirping in a nearby bush. Suddenly, Jake gasped and pointed upward - there in the tree above us was a hulking, massive bird!
I’d never seen a predatory bird so close before! I only wish the sun were more cooperative. Based on the black-and-white tail, it appears to have been a red-shouldered hawk.
He kept a close eye on the pair of us, but didn’t move. After a solid 10 minutes of dutiful admiration, we wandered on, casting a wave back at him. Not a minute later, we spotted two ducks in the lake!
We followed them for a while, sprinting between openings in overgrowth for photo opportunities, and eventually intercepted them at the bridge.
I didn’t know it at the time, but I’d just seen my first wood ducks up close!!!
We took the road bisecting the loop; I was still giddy from the hawk and ducks when a flash of yellow swept across my vision.
“Goldfinch!” I exclaimed, and dashed hurriedly toward the bush to which I saw him dart. Goldfinches have become a sentimental bird for me; it was such a rare and special thing when they’d visit my window feeder back in Virginia, when I was just starting out as a birdwatcher. Jake has one outside his apartment that occasionally makes an appearance, and it’s always a treat to see him.
I was lucky enough to get a few pictures of this one as he busied himself pulling fluff from the thistles.
It was nice to get back in the groove after the summer break, and to have been surprised and delighted by some new (and old) birds! What a thrilling start to the season, and I couldn’t have asked for better company, either!