Trip Highlights

Nine participants saw or heard 42 species.  We had a rain-free day and the sun broke through to warm us.  The Natti trail was serene and pleasant.  We tallied 9 species of warblers, including good looks at Canada, Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, Magnolia and Northern Parula.  The ubiquitous Yellow Warblers and Catbirds entertained us with their songs and chatter as did the Wood Thrushes and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks.  One keen-eyed birded spotted a Yellow Warbler nest, which an Indigo Bunting got too close to and was discharged by the mighty Yellow!  Good birding, good company and good (rain free) weather.

Nine participants met on a cool and windy morning with rain threatening.  Walking a total of two miles, we found 35 species.   Highlights included several raptors, an Osprey, a Bald Eagle, a Red-shouldered Hawk, and two Peregrine Falcon.  Also interesting were a Great Crested Flycatcher, 3 Raven, a Winter Wren, 8 Wood Thrush, 8 Catbirds, 9 Towhees, 6 Baltimore Orioles, warblers, 2 Ovenbird, 3 Worm-eating, a Black-and-white, a Cape May, a Magnolia, a Yellow, a Chestnut-sided, a BT Blue, 3 Yellow-rumped and a BT Green, and four each of Scarlet Tanager and Rose-breasted Grosbeak.

Fourteen participants met to enjoy an evening walk of 1.5 miles on the Rail Trail.  We garnered 28 bird species, but highlights included a mink and, later, a beaver nearly at our feet.  One of the best sightings was a Common Nighthawk that flew directly across the water low over our heads at dusk, with white wing bars clearly visible.  The entire group got great looks at that one.  

Other highlights included 3 Woodcock, 2 Solitary Sandpiper, a Great Blue Heron, a Cooper’s Hawk, a Great Crest Flycatcher, numerous Tree Swallows and Barn Swallows, 2 Wood Thrush, 3 Catbirds, 2 Swamp Sparrows, a Baltimore Oriole, and warblers, 2 Ovenbird, a Black-and-white, a Yellowthroat, a Parula, a Blackburnian, 4 Yellow-rumped and a Black-throated Green.  Last on the list were two Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, always beautiful to behold!

There were 14 birders on a day that quickly turned warm and sunny.  The area was still very muddy, so many of the trails continued to be off limits.  We did see 47 species in all, the highlights being the warblers:  Northern Waterthrush, Black-and-white, Parula, Redstart, Yellow and a Magnolia, which we all had great looks at.  There were also good birds in the meadows on West Rd, including both yellowlegs and a least sandpiper.

Showers threatened as our group of 23 began the walk into the trail system at Stanley Park.  What was advertised as a two-hour walk turned into a five-hour adventure for some birders, who lingered when they hit a warbler wave on the way back to the parking area.  In all, the trip reported 53 species with highlights including five raptor species, Osprey, Sharp-shin, Broadwing, Red-tail and a Barred Owl calling.  

Among the usual woodpecker species, we identified two Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers.  There was a Great Crested Flycather “wheeping,” the “che-bek” of a Least Flycatcher, five Blue-headed Vireos, three Ruby-crowned Kinglets, a Veery and a couple of Wood Thrushes.  Catbirds were abundant, as were Blue Jays, Black-and-white Warblers, Yellows and Yellow-rumps.  Other warbler species were three Ovenbirds, two each of Louisiana and Northern Waterthrushes, a Blackburnian, a Chestnut-sided, two Pine, two Black-throated Greens and an American Redstart.  All-in-all a great day with very little rain, and well worth the effort!