Stony Brook Wetlands, Ludlow

Eleven birders, including leaders, enjoyed our visit to this wetland area.  As soon as we exited our vehicles, we were hearing the first of many Blue-winged Warblers.  During the walk to the second entrance gate, birds seemed to be teed up everywhere - Field Sparrows, Song Sparrows, Baltimore Orioles, Catbirds, and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers belted out their songs.  Perhaps the best sighting here, though, was a resting Common Nighthawk.  It perched on a nearby sycamore limb completely oblivious to the onlookers.  As we walked the trail down to the water and the loop by the marshes, everyone became very familiar with the sight and song of the Ovenbird, Woodthrush, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak.  Several warblers - Black-and-white, Common Yellowthroat, Redstarts, and Yellow - added brief bits of color to our walk.  Some in the group were able to hear the calls of a distant Black-billed Cuckoo and see a first of year/life Swainson's Thrush.  We ended our morning with a count of 48 species.