Camera Icon
Member

Mt. Holyoke – Skinner State Park

Mt. Holyoke - Skinner State Park

May 20, 2018

Janet Orcutt

There were 5 participants at the Skinner State Park walk and we recorded 28 species.  As what seems to be a pattern on this walk, the morning was damp, misty and slow (both walking and birding).  We heard things including a Worm-Eating Warbler and a very vocal Raven, but didn't see much.  It was getting foggier and dark when we met John Green and company near the big S curve, but passed them to reach the Summit House.  It was now 11 a.m., the dense fog cleared and the sun came out.  Then the miracle of birding occurred.

Standing on the deck of the Summit House, a pair of Indigo Buntings, a Scarlet Tanager and a pair of Great Crested Flycatchers cruised back and forth.  The lighting was excellent and we were level or above the birds.  Tim then spotted the Worm-eating Warbler below us and then at eye level.  We left to see if John Green had the Cerulean, only to have the pair of Worm-eating Warblers stop us at the parking area along with a Yellow-throated Vireo.  As we wandered down past the parking area, we were motioned by John's group to hurry.  The female Cerulean was seen just above our heads and the male was calling.  We hung around as the bird continued to sing and it finally came into view.  Gone were all the misgivings about missing the targeted birds.  Guess that's the way birding is, but it sure feels good to have such a finale.