Date: 1/22/25 2:47 pm From: James Pike via groups.io <jimpike444...> Subject: [OrangeCountyBirding] a few birds
This afternoon, 4 Ring-necked Ducks and 7 Buffleheads were on the pond in the nature center at Mile Square Park. While initially puzzled by their presence there, I expect it had something to do with disruption from ongoing construction activity near the ponds on park property to the south. While not meaningful to most birders, someone who keeps a bird list for the nature center might soon consider running red lights on his way from Garden Grove.
For the past three days, an interesting immature male Common Goldeneye has been frequenting the south end of Wintersburg channel near the tide gates. More subtly marked than the immature male of 17 Dec 2021, it has speckled white near the base of the bill and flanks that are beginning to whiten. Males are rarely seen in the county. There are still some Greater Scaups around, and I photographed another one in the lower Santa Ana River on the 19th.
