This morning started a bit cool but by the end it had warmed slightly with a light wind. But the birds were terrific. Ten people showed up at Bill Sylvester’s home for the Stanton bird walk and I think it is very fair to say all had an excellent time. Indeed it is hard to pick the best bird, perhaps the Blackburnian Warbler, or the Indigo Bunting who sang and sang, or the Baltimore Oriole we ended up walking away from, or maybe the Northern Waterthrush at the Benjamin’s. Nearly all were seen by nearly all the people.
A special thank you to both Bill Sylvester, and Marilyn especially for scrumptious Blueberry muffins, and to Col. and Mrs. Benjamin for allowing us to walk their lovely property.
Here is the list of 43 birds seen, or heard only (H).
Red-shoulder Hawk – flew over us but quickly
Mourning Dove
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Down Woodpecker
Northern Flicker (H)
Least Flycatcher (at Benjamin’s)
Eastern Phoebe
Great Crested Flycatcher (H)
Blue-headed Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo (H)
Blue Jay
American Crow
Tree Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse (H)
White-breasted Nuthatch (H)
Veery
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
European Starling
Northern Parula (H) often
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut -sided Warbler (H) multiple
Black-throated Green Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler (at Sylvenster’s)
Pine Warbler (H)
Prairie Warbler (H) multiple at Benjamin’s
Black-and-white Warbler
Ovenbird (seen at Benjamin’s)
Northern Waterthrush (seen by all at Benjamin’s)
Common Yellowthroat
Wilson’s Warbler (2 or more at Benjamin’s)
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (pair, male seen well at Sylvester’s)
Indigo Bunting (at Sylvester’s, perhaps 2 males)
Bobolink (multiple at Benjamin’s)
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Baltimore Oriole (at both Sylvester’s and Benjamin’s seen very well)
American Goldfinch