Trip Highlights

There were plenty of migrants and lingering species to see on this day for nine people.  We started with Wood Ducks, Common Mergansers and a Green Heron in the wetland, where a Red-tailed Hawk was perched on a branch protruding from the surface.  A Bald Eagle flew over as well as a falcon, too briefly and far away to identify.  We enjoyed looks at two Phoebes, a Catbird, some Mockingbirds and six Flickers.  A Black-and-white Warbler was added to the usual Yellow-rumped and Palm Warblers, while Savannah Sparrows lurked in the grasses and brush.

The morning started out foggy, but cleared quickly with a slow warming and light winds for ten of us who stopped along Pondside Road and walked into the Bark Haul area.  We counted an amazing 30 Great Egrets in one pool beside the road.  More spread out were 24 Wood Duck, 15 Great Blue Heron and 2 Green Heron.  A Kingfisher was working one pond and a Peregrine Falcon flashed past.  Other highlights were Phoebes, Redstarts, and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks as well as a single Red-breasted Nuthatch, a Red-eyed Vireo and 2 Magnolia Warblers.  A small flock of Purple Finches also showed up, all part of 38 different species.

The hawkwatch and picnic on Blueberry Hill had 25 people, but only 32 migrants counted, thanks to the south winds and heavy air.  The best migrants were a Merlin and a Harrier, but we did note a dozen high Broadwings and as many close Kestrels.  There were only 2 Ospreys and 3 Sharpshins moving.  Local raptors included a few Redtails, two Bald Eagles, and one Cooper’s Hawk.  The wine and goodies improved our mood, but surprisingly not the flight.  The handful of non-raptors included a Raven, a Pileated, 30 Cedar Waxwings, 2 Hummingbirds, and a Philadelphia Vireo.

Eleven people met at Fannie Stebbins to walk a portion of the Bark Haul Trail and along Pondside to see what the fall migration had brought.  Before starting out, we heard the long absent song of a Warbling Vireo, and then another further down the trail.  Red-eyed Vireos also made their presence known.  Warblers did not show up in any large numbers, but we had good looks at Common Yellowthroat, Redstarts, a Magnolia, and a Northern Parula.  Perhaps the biggest treat was seeing 2 Northern Waterthrush feeding among the muddy leaves in a dried-up pond near the railroad tracks.  Pondside proved more productive, as we found Least Sandpipers in the mudflats near the culvert, and an Osprey and a calling Red-shouldered Hawk overhead.  Everyone enjoyed the continuing extravaganza of the many Great Egrets (27) and Great Blue Herons (15) congregating in the shallow ponds.  Green-wing Teal and Wood Ducks were in the northernmost pond, and a Green Heron also lurked in the buttonbush there, trying hard to keep out of our sight.

Up in time to reach Blueberry Hill at 7:30, but met only one birder there.  We had nice walk, getting only Redstart and Yellowrump.  It started to rain just as we got back to the cars.  I returned at 11:30 and watched for 2 hours, with three migrants, Osprey and 2 Sharpshins.  There was also one Bald Eagle.