Registrar: Anne Lazarus
Participants: 8
Weather: Sunny throughout the day, 40 degrees F, winds calm, slight breeze
Bird Species: 44
This trip required sturdy hiking boots and stamina. We walked everywhere, up and down hills, but we had many avian rewards. We want to thank our excellent leader, Paul Keim. Paul is a naturalist as well as a bird expert. I will thank myself as a registrar, but special thanks to my very little scope through which we observed many birds, and also through which Gordon took his wonderful photographs. Our trip began with the Red-shouldered Hawk, sitting in a tree at the west end of the bridge (entrance to the park). It preened and posed. We walked up the landfill on the north side, and our raptor day began. First we saw a Cooper’s Hawk, then three Red-tailed Hawks, more as we proceeded into the park. We eventually saw a Sharp-shinned Hawk. Our goal was the Eastern Screech Owl and what a lovely bird it is. Next step, the Great Horned Owl in the Pine Trees. Paul immediately spotted it. We saw it, also with the help of the American Crows. We deserved a lunch break, but on the way to the lunch break, Gordon spotted a Merlin in the picnic area.
After lunch we went up the land fill and saw more Red-tailed Hawks and the China Praying Mantis egg case. As we descended we saw an American Kestrel and Turkey Vultures, but Paul with his knowledge and keen eyes, noticed that one of the birds had long, flat wings and was flapping. He confirmed his observation with the scope. It was an immature Bald Eagle. We learned to look more carefully and notice details. Not over yet. As we approached the bridge a Common Raven flew by us. We then piled into Gordon’s and Lori’s car (three people had left early) and went to the end of the road at the train station and saw Common Mergansers, far away and Black Ducks. That was the end of the wonderful trip. No need to exercise. This trip was quite aerobic at times.
Species Lists
Birds
Canada Goose
Mallard
American Black Duck
Canvasback
Greater Scaup
Bufflehead
Common Merganser
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Killdeer (h)
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Turkey Vulture
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk
Bald Eagle
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Eastern Screech-Owl
Great Horned Owl
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker (h)
American Kestrel
Merlin
Blue Jay
American Crow
Fish Crow
Common Raven
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren (h)
European Starling
Northern Mockingbird
American Robin
House Sparrow
American Goldfinch
American Tree Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird (h)
Northern Cardinal
