Trip Highlights

See species list below.

Six members enjoyed at 2.3 mile walk through Fort River refuge getting a total of 31 species.  See complete list below.

Trip canceled - rain.

It was a perfect spring day to start the first of the Allen Bird Club's series of Wednesday morning walks.  Bird song filled the air.  Before reaching the T on the Bark Haul Trail, we had spotted Yellow-rumped Warblers and seen and heard several Ruby-crowned Kinglets, many with their ruby crowns showing.  A highlight along the trail was finding a trio of Palm Warblers on the ground - like little yellow jewels sparkling in the fresh green grass.  Mallards, Wood Ducks, and a Green-winged Teal were found in the beaver ponds along the way where a single Chimney Swift and a Belted Kingfisher flew over us.  On the Natti Trail we found a Hermit Thrush and heard towhees call back and forth to each other.  White-throated Sparrows sang and scratched about in the undergrowth nearby.  Near the brook, two more migrants, Blue-headed Vireo and Black-and-white Warbler, made an appearance.  A House Wren chattered off the trail as did Blue-gray Gnatcatchers.  Other highlights were two Rusty Blackbirds near the railroad tracks, still lingering here before heading further north, and just below them on the ground was another new arrival - a Northern Waterthrush.  As we neared the parking area on our return, the sweet song of a Rose-breasted Grosbeak, another new arrival, ended our walk on a bright note.  There were 12 participants and a total of 42 species.

Six members of the ABC attended the first-ever field trip to Five Bridge Road/Grand Trunk Trail in Brimfield.  As we were practically surrounded by marsh, the sounds of Red-winged Blackbirds and Swamp Sparrows were constantly present.  The majority of our observations were mostly of permanent residents, species we were all familiar with.  Early spring migrants (and they seem to be getting earlier each spring!) included Eastern Phoebe, Tree Swallow, and Chipping Sparrow.  Singing Purple Finches were heard at two spots, and a Red-shouldered Hawk was seen carrying nesting material.  Blue-gray Gnatcatchers flitted high in the treetops, their buzzy song attracting our attention, as did the ethereal, high-pitched song of the Brown Creeper.  But probably the highlight of the trip were the warblers:  Black-and-white Warblers crawling along tree branches, Yellow-rumped Warblers all along our walk, Palm Warblers flying and landing, wagging their tails, and Pine Warblers singing high in the trees, staying out of sight until finally we saw one to our satisfaction.  The entire species list for the trip is below.