Patterson Park Friday Bird Walk

A beautiful day for a bird walk in the park with friends.  Lots of Chimney Swifts greeted us by zooming overhead, always a nice sight.  It was a zero-warbler day, but there was plenty more to see with a total of 30 species. 



Eastern Kingbirds made a good show.

A Least Sandpiper was a surprise - stopping by for some nourishment before it continues its journey north.

A Green Heron on the island.  Oh why is it called a GREEN Heron?

The Mallard on the left is missing some pigment.  The male on the right looks a bit washed out as well.

Some Spiderwort blooming in the expanding wetland garden.

Our friendly and fun group of birders at the Boat Lake.

Here is the bird list:

Mallard  45
Double-crested Cormorant  8
Green Heron  1
Black-crowned Night-Heron  1
Osprey  1
Least Sandpiper  1
Ring-billed Gull  1
Mourning Dove  4
Chimney Swift  14
Red-bellied Woodpecker  1
Eastern Kingbird  2
Blue Jay  4
American Crow  1
Fish Crow  1
Tree Swallow  1
Barn Swallow  6
House Wren  1
Carolina Wren  1
American Robin  25
Gray Catbird  4
Brown Thrasher  1
Northern Mockingbird  1
European Starling  36
Chipping Sparrow  1
Red-winged Blackbird  12
Common Grackle  6
Orchard Oriole  4
House Finch  7
American Goldfinch  2
House Sparrow  6


One birder - Chris - came earlier and may have heard Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and a Baltimore Oriole.

The next bird walk at the park will be Saturday, May 30th, and will be led by Audubon staff.
No registration is required, but let Patterson Park Audubon know if you need to borrow binoculars
by emailing ppaudubon@gmail.com.  

Patapsco Wildflower Walk

A small group of 8 folks walked about two miles over rough trails in
Patapsco Valley State Park in search of wildflowers.  We found two
uncommon species of native orchids in bloom: yellow ladies slippers and
showy orchis.  Birds were few and far between but we enjoyed hearing an
ovenbird and saw a turkey vulture low in deep woods and heavy brush -
kinda odd.

Bryan MacKay