Hal Scott Preserve, 5/24/2014

Hal Scott Preserve
Red-cockaded Woodpecker
Well, third time's a charm it seems. Today I made my third visit to Hal Scott Preserve (I went twice in the summer of 2013 and then today).  This is the one park I know of where Red-cockaded Woodpeckers can be found in Orange County, but until today I haven't been able to find them here.  I've seen lots of trees with white rings around them (indicating that at some point in time there has been a nest in the tree), but never any sight or sound of them.  Until today, when I took a different route and got lucky I suppose.  I found a pair of them together.  One of them was pretty perturbed with a Downy Woodpecker.  The Downy just seem like it had to be working the same tree with it, but every once in a while the Red-cockaded Woodpecker would chase off the Downy.  It was pretty fun to watch.  I just stood in one spot, and the woodpeckers were so interested in each other they didn't seem to mind me at all.

Hal Scott Preserve
Red-cockaded Woodpecker Chasing a Downy Woodpecker
There were other species I was hoping to get on my Orange County year list, and I found all of them: there were many Northern Bobwhites, Bachman's Sparrows, and Brown-headed Nuthatches. The bobwhites and nuthatches didn't pose for photos, though.  One Bachman's Sparrow decided to be cooperative.

Hal Scott Preserve
Bachman's Sparrow
And there were more than just birds: a Monarch Butterfly, Gopher Tortoise, and a Six-striped Racerunner. All in all a pretty fun morning.

Hal Scott Preserve
Gopher Tortoise
Hal Scott Preserve
Six-lined Racerunner
Hal Scott Preserve
Monarch Butterfly

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