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

Sweet Air Bird Walk

Cold temperatures and overcast skies held down the bird activity a bit but none the less a good trip with some nice birds. Most activity was in the field edges and hedgerows. The forest was very quiet. The surprise of the trips was several flocks of very high migrating Common Loons. Also great scope looks at singing Eastern Towhees. 

Eastern Towhee

Gunpowder Falls SP--Sweet Air, Harford, US-MD
Apr 25, 2015 8:00 AM - 10:15 AM
Comments:     40 degrees and overcast. Calm winds.  

 27 species

Canada Goose  3
Common Loon  11
Turkey Vulture  10
Cooper's Hawk  2
Mourning Dove  3
Red-bellied Woodpecker  4
Downy Woodpecker  2
Hairy Woodpecker  2
Pileated Woodpecker  1
White-eyed Vireo  1
Blue Jay  15
American Crow  1
Carolina Chickadee  X
Tufted Titmouse  X
House Wren  2
Carolina Wren  3
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher  2
American Robin  X
Brown Thrasher  1
Northern Mockingbird  2
Pine Warbler  2
Eastern Towhee  3
Chipping Sparrow  X
White-throated Sparrow  15
Northern Cardinal  X
Brown-headed Cowbird  1
American Goldfinch  5

 

Hugh Simmons

Photographing Nature at Cromwell Valley

Led by Fred Brundick and John Landers - April 11

Red-tailed Hawk
photo by Victoria

Photo by Victoria

Eastern Bluebird
photo by Victoria

 

More photos are available on our Meetup site:  http://www.meetup.com/Chesapeake-Audubon-Society/events/221112085/

Wildflower Walk at Susquehanna State Park

I had a small (but elite and companionable) turnout for my CAS wildflower
hike in Susquehanna SP this morning.  Six of us enjoyed early spring
wildflowers on the alluvial flood plain.  Peak bloom is about a week to 10
days away, late this year.  Thanks for coming Tom, DJ, Mary Lynn, Alex and
friend!

Bryan

Bluebells

Trout Lily

Red Trillium

Dutchman's Breeches

Friday Walk at Patterson Park

Despite the drizzles, we encountered lots of newly arrived migrants.  Beginning from the fountain, we spotted Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Pine Warbler, Juncos, and many Brown Creepers.  I'm always glad to see creepers north of the city - that means they have dodged the glass and buildings on their way to their breeding grounds.  Numerous Brown Thrashers were seen throughout the park.

Can you see the female Eastern Towhee?  She was searching for a meal in the leaves and mulch
near the community gardens.   Hint - she's on the board.

What a nice welcome at the Boat Lake - three Black-crowned Night Herons!

Notice the difference between the bills in the male and female Mallards.  Did you know only the females "quack"?

A Double-crested Cormorant glided quite close to us.

Yes, it's a terrible picture - but you can see the ruby on the Ruby-crowned Kinglet!

Merlin on the left - Kestrel on the right.  Thank you!

Red Maples flowering

It was a fun morning at the park.  The next walk is Saturday, April 24th, led by Patterson Park Audubon staff.

Species list: 29 species

Mallard  30
Double-crested Cormorant  1
Black-crowned Night-Heron  3
Ring-billed Gull  X
Herring Gull  X
Mourning Dove  2
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  1
Northern Flicker  2
American Kestrel  1
Merlin  1
Eastern Phoebe  2
American Crow  1
Fish Crow  3
Brown Creeper  5
Carolina Wren  2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  2
Hermit Thrush  1
American Robin  35
Brown Thrasher  10
Northern Mockingbird  1
European Starling  10
Palm Warbler  1
Pine Warbler  1
Eastern Towhee  3
Song Sparrow  2
Swamp Sparrow  1
Dark-eyed Junco  6
Red-winged Blackbird  9
House Sparrow  1

North Point State Park - Bird Walk for Beginners

We knew it was going to be an exciting day of birding -  23 species were counted just from the parking lot!   A majority of the participants had just started birding - a few others had only been birding for a few years.  North Point is a perfect place for birders of any level - there are woods, wetlands, fields, and the Chesapeake Bay shoreline.  It's very easy walking, and from Memorial Day to Labor Day, a visitors center is open.


Along the marsh trail we added Gadwall, Mallard, Canada Goose, Green-winged and Blue-winged Teal, Hooded and Common Mergansers, and a Little Blue Heron was tucked in the corner.

Blue--winged Teal 
photo by Marisa Galitz



We got great looks at two Eastern Phoebes - they put on a good "tail pumping" show. 

Osprey
photo by Marisa Galitz
We also saw migrating Northern Harriers - including the "gray ghost" (male)!

Black Vulture
photo by Marisa Galitz



Doris remarked how beautiful this area was -- blue sky, pale tall trees, and green evergreens

. 

Scat from ?

 

The Chesapeake Bay!  Buffleheads and Double--crested Cormorants were spotted from here.  Unfortunately my recently repaired spotting scope is stuck in a California port so we couldn't see what other ducks were floating in the distance.

The refurbished jetty is beautiful.  Wind gusts were so powerful Doris thought we should link arms so we wouldn't be carried off.  A Red-breasted Merganser flew by us here, and Great-blacked Gulls were close by.

 

Thanks all for a fun morning of birding.  Here is our bird list - 44 species:

 

Canada Goose  6

Wood Duck  2
Gadwall  4
Mallard  4
Green-winged Teal  6
Blue-winged Teal 3
Bufflehead  12
Hooded Merganser  4
Common Merganser  2
Red-breasted Merganser  1
Double-crested Cormorant  6
Great Blue Heron  1
Little Blue Heron  1
Black Vulture  1
Turkey Vulture  8
Osprey  4
Northern Harrier  3
Bald Eagle  5
Red-shouldered Hawk  1
Red-tailed Hawk  1
Ring-billed Gull  X
Herring Gull  X
Great Black-backed Gull  3
Belted Kingfisher  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker  2
Downy Woodpecker  4
Northern Flicker  2
Pileated Woodpecker  2
Eastern Phoebe  2
Blue Jay  2
American Crow  5
Tree Swallow  15
Carolina Chickadee  2
Tufted Titmouse  1
Carolina Wren  2
American Robin  8
Brown Thrasher  1
European Starling  7
Eastern Towhee  1
Song Sparrow  1
White-throated Sparrow  3
Dark-eyed Junco  5
Northern Cardinal  6
Red-winged Blackbird  9

Also - lots of Wood Frogs and Spring Peepers calling

Mourning Cloak Butterfly

? Snake