It seemed to be a tough morning, mostly because a few of us went to bed very late last night. One of us even got up at 5:30 AM to garden before the birdwalk at 7:30 AM! Participants for this walk were Peter, Cathy, Patty, Con and me. Sleepyheads at first, we woke up quickly in the parking lot. Ivan immediately spotted a Red-eyed Vireo that Jack heard, Patty and Con zeroed in on an Orchard Oriole and Cathy and Peter found a Grackle nesting in a nearby tree. We almost didn't want to leave the parking lot. All of us saw the first of probably fifty or more Yellow Warblers and dozens of both Orchard and Baltimore Orioles. (Jack was very confused by the Orioles.)
Yellow Warblers ruled the day. A beautiful as they were, we soon didn't bother to lift our binoculars to find them. We were really getting spoiled. Walking into the path that cuts in to the woods across the circle from Rodman's Neck somebody spotted a Wilson's Warbler. He was very cooperative and we got some really great looks at this fast moving fellow. In a nearby tree was a Black and White Warbler scooting up and down the trunk of a tree foraging for insects. We also tried searching for a Magnolia Warbler that Jack had seen for two consecutive days, but no such luck. There were many more Yellow Warblers and an Oriole or two as well along the way.
Here was a Willow Flycatcher, Great and Snowy Egrets and some really great looks, thanks to Patty, of a Marsh Wren.
The morning was "flying by," so we decided to see the Barn Swallows nesting by the Split Rock-Pelham Golf course. We were fascinated by their antics and stayed quite a while. From the parking lot we saw the Osprey nest on the NY Central cell tower. At first Mom was missing. Eventually she returned. We were all able to see the Osprey chick's head pop up from the nest every so often.
As we walked back to get our cars at Bartow-Pell, we spotted a Common Yellowthroat, a small flock of Wild Turkeys, a Red-tailed Hawk and some Blue Jays. It was almost noon when we left a bit hungry and tired but satisfied that we had made the most of our morning.
Willow Flycatcher singing for his mate- Fitz-bew, fitz-bew.
(It works for him.)
Species Account
Baltimore Oriole
Orchard Oriole (and nest)
Red-eyed Vireo
Wilson's Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Carolina Wren
Catbird
Black and White Warbler
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Osprey
Mallard
Rd-winged Blackbird
Mourning Dove
Grackle
American Robin
Willow Flycatcher
Marsh Wren
American Goldfinch
Tree Swallow
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Wild Turkey
Blue Jay
Red-tailed Hawk
Barn Swallow
Common Yellowthroat
Where's that darn Oriole again?
Ok, it's not a bird, but a Yellow Swallowtail butterfly.
This noisy Marsh Wren was tough to photograph through the reeds.
This is a Wilson's Warbler.
Con and Ivan search for the Magnolia Warbler.
Of course, the usual birds were also there, Catbirds, a Carolina Wren, American Robins, Grackles, Mourning Doves and and an overhead Osprey. There was an interesting Downy Woodpecker nest, perfectly round, but the nestlings were too far down to see. We did get a good look at an Orchard Oriole nest with Mom coming and going, not far from Turtle Pond. That's when we decided to walk down the path that divides the pond.
Believe it or not, there's an Orchard Oriole and her eggs in this small hanging nest.
