FreeLists / bristol-birds / [Bristol-Birds] Creeper Trail

["Todd Perkins" <bigun_75@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Area Birders,

I just got back from biking the Creeper Trail from Whitetop station to 
Damascus.  Our scout troop went this weekend.  I really enjoyed the weekend. 
  I got to ride the trail twice.  The first time I was kind of rushed, so I 
didn't really get to see much.  But on the second trip down, I got some 
great birding in.


(first trip down)

At Whitetop Stn. I noticed a marsh that I had never seen before.  So before 
I hit the trail, I gave the wetland a lookover.  I only got 4 blue winged 
teals, one swamp sparrow, and a brown thrasher.  There were also many 
grackles and red winged blackbirds.

About 200 yds. down the trail, I noticed a large bird soaring low.  I 
noticed the underwings and new that it wasn't a turkey vulter.  After a 
about a minute of studying it I made a +id of and Osprey.  I thought it 
strange to see one that high up.  But I guess he was there because of the 
nearby marsh.

Later on the trail, I got good looks at a white eyed vireo and three blue 
headed vireos.  They weren't skiddish at all they sat still the whole time 
my father and I watched them.

All along the trail, I heard Chesnut sided and Black throated green 
warblers.  They were out in large numbers yesterday.  I only got to look at 
two black throated greens.  I didnt get to see any chesnut sided's.  I heard 
approx. 20-25 chesnut sided's and close to 50 black throated greens.

I also got three ravens. The first of which was pretty strange.  It had 
white patches on its wings.  I've read that this is pretty uncommon but not 
extremely rare.


(second trip down)


I didn't get as many birds this time.  But I was able to take my time and 
actually enjoy the trail.  I noticed as the exception to this, more black 
throated greens.  I didn't get any chesnut sideds.

Nothing much of note this time down.

Here's a list of the species that I saw or heard.  :


Black Throated green Warbler
Chesnut sided warbler
blue headed vireo
white eyed vireo
swamp sparrow
field sparrow
white throated sparrow
song sparrow
common grackle
tufted titmouse
carolina chickadee
red winged blackbird
brown thrasher
american robin
turkey vulture
osprey
sharpshinned hawk
american goldfinch
northern cardinal
eastern phoebe
blue winged teal
mallard
great blue heron
ruffed grouse
blue jay
brown creeper
common raven
crow
dark eyed junco
canada goose
eastern towhee
downy woodpecker








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