Trip Highlights

We got lucky with the weather, since there was rain on either side of the Thursday of the trip.   Nine members joined in to find a total of 40 species.   It was a little cool in the morning and warmed up nicely towards the end of the trip.   In addition to the expected birds, we found nine different warbler species and two Common Loons, who appeared to be a pair.   Walking around the reservoir is so pleasant that this trip always lasts longer than the scheduled two hours.   As usual, we had a very pleasant time along the reservoir with good friends who enjoyed each other’s company.

At 60 degrees, under cloudy skies, fifteen participants, including one visitor from Dublin Ireland, gathered on Pondside to revel in the many, recently-arrived spring migrants.  There were Yellow, Black-and-White, and Black-throated-green Warblers, Redstart, Yellowthroat, Parula, Ovenbird, and Northern Waterthrush.  We found Gnatchatchers flitting, Wood Thrush, and beautifully colored Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Bluebird, Scarlet Tanager and Baltimore Oriole.  Extra special sightings included Great Egret, Orchard Oriole, and Rusty Blackbird.  In all, 41 species counted and enjoyed.

The trip attracted 10 people and about half were potential new members.  Though it was cloudy, cool, and had a few minutes of light drizzle, we managed to hit 37 species.

It was a perfect warm morning with light winds from the south that had brought many migrants to the valley and a good group out to find them.  An arriving Green Heron and two lingering Green-winged Teal were the first welcome sights.  Great Blue Herons, Wood Ducks, and Spotted Sandpiper followed.  The skies gave us three Broad-winged Hawks and we found all of the five regular woodpecker species.  Flycatchers featured 4 Great Cresteds and two Kingbirds.  In the woods were the usual Brown Creeper and a Hermit Thrush.  Ten species of warbler went on the list, best being three Northern Parula.  An Orchard Oriole made up for missing Baltimore Oriole.  A species count of 53 was both pleasing and impressive.

Eight birders, with Bobby Olsen as leader, walked the various habitats found in the area known as Alton's Way.  Our three-mile walk took us down hedge rows, through open meadows, by white cedar swamps and groves of pine and hard wood.  Highlights were a White-crowned Sparrow, a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers flying by us silently at eye level, two perched Broad-wing Hawks that took off on their northward flight giving their high-pitched call (we later saw another one circling overhead), and one of several Prairie Warblers that sat and belted out a song for several minutes nearly in front of us.  These sightings more than made up for not finding or hearing a Northern Waterthrush in its usual spot.  Total species count was 30.