Registrar: Lisa Kroop
Participants: 18
Weather: Cloudy with sun later in the morning, with temperatures ranging from 60 to 70 degrees
Bird Species: 73
Trip Report Written by: Tod Winston and David Spawn
Our May 18 field trip to Sterling Forest State Park included birding in four distinct areas: the powerline cut at the end of Ironwood Drive, the thick woodlands along Ironwood Drive itself, the area surrounding the Sterling Forest State Park Visitor Center, and several swamps along Warwick Brook Road (outside of the state park). In all, we identified 73 bird species by sight or sound during the trip, including 20 warbler species.
Our morning began at 7:30am at the end of Ironwood Drive, our principal stop. Right away we heard the song of the Golden-winged Warbler, a top target for many in the group, as two male Wood Ducks flew overhead and Prairie Warblers, Blue-winged Warblers, and Indigo Buntings sang around us. A good view of the “Golden-wing” eluded most, however. After some fruitless listening and searching, we set off north up the powerline cut in hopes of finding more Golden-wings, fording a stream along the way. Highlights of this up-and-down portion of the trip included even more singing buntings, Prairie Warblers, and Blue-winged Warblers, along with several Field Sparrows. We also got nice views of Great Crested Flycatcher, Scarlet Tanager, and a pair of Yellow-throated Vireos feasting on Tent Caterpillars. We did not hear any more Golden-wings, however.
Determined to find this coveted species, we returned to the parking lot, where we again heard the Golden-wing’s typical four-beat, buzzy song. After much determined searching, all members of the group eventually succeeded in getting a view of the singing male Golden-winged Warbler, along with a cooperative Yellow-billed Cuckoo. Other species seen or heard as we birded along the powerline cut included Great Blue Heron, Green Heron, Wild Turkey, Eastern Kingbird, Baltimore Oriole, Yellow Warbler, American Redstart, Worm-eating Warbler, and Tennessee Warbler.
Perhaps the second-most sought-after species of the trip, the Cerulean Warbler, was heard by the pumphouse just west of the powerline cut, and seen by some—but a slow caravan up Ironwood Drive was needed to find and see several more singing Ceruleans. Here we also heard a calling Red-shouldered Hawk and were granted a quick view of a Pileated Woodpecker in flight.
We stopped at the Sterling Forest State Park Visitor Center to enjoy a rest, lunch, and scones à la David—and also added two more warbler species for the day–singing but skulky Pine and Hooded Warblers. A perched Turkey Vulture and a nesting pair of Barn Swallows were lunchtime bonuses.
The fourth and final leg of our birding journey included two stops overlooking swamps along Warwick Brook Road. In this distinctive and very birdy habitat, we were treated to views of a pair of Eastern Bluebirds, a nesting Northern Flicker, and a Red-tailed Hawk being harassed by a Red-winged Blackbird, while a Warbling Vireo and a Wood Thrush sang in the background.
Species Lists
Birds
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Wild Turkey
Mourning Dove
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Green Heron
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Eastern Phoebe
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
Yellow-throated Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
Common Raven
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
White-breasted Nuthatch
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
House Wren
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
Eastern Bluebird
Veery
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
American Goldfinch
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Song Sparrow
Baltimore Oriole
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Common Grackle
Ovenbird
Worm-eating Warbler
Louisiana Waterthrush
Northern Waterthrush
Golden-winged Warbler
Blue-winged Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Hooded Warbler
American Redstart
Cerulean Warbler
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Pine Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Scarlet Tanager
Northern Cardinal
Indigo Bunting
