Birders,
Sixteen intrepid birders converged on the Visitor Center at Sky Meadows
State Park on Saturday morning for the NVBC walk led by Steve Williams and
Linda Millington. Although chilly and a bit windy, it really wasn't even a
long underwear morning with the brilliant sun and deep blue sky. We began at
the walnut grove just below the Visitor Center and were treated to many
Red-headed Woodpeckers flying back and forth, posing from lofty perches, and
inspecting holes. They were indeed stunning against bare gray tree trunks
and bright blue sky. Several Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers made an appearance as
well as Ruby-crowned Kinglets that were in full view on bare branches. We
were also thrilled by views of immature Bald Eagles of various ages and
Red-tailed Hawks overhead. In the underbrush were sparrows including a
Clay-colored spotted by Kurt Gaskill and an immature White-crowned spotted
by Scott Baron. We then moved to the Bridle Trail where a group of 4
American Pipits flew into the field as we arrived, a Northern Harrier was
seen gliding over the field, and a Rough-legged Hawk flew just above the
tree line on a distant ridge. We trekked through the brambles of the field
behind the barn in search of sparrows and came up with Song, White-throated,
Swamp, and Field. The list follows:
Great Blue Heron 2
Black Vulture 13Common Raven 2
TV 10
C. Goose 2
Mallard 6
Bald Eagle 5
No. Harrier 2
Red-tailed Hawk 8
Rough-legged Hawk 1
Rock Dove 6
Belted Kingfisher 2
Red-headed Woodpecker 10
Red-bellied Woodpecker 5
YB Sapsucker 5
Downy Woodpecker 2
Hairy Woodpecker 1
No Flicker 1
Blue Jay 8
Am Crow 10
Tufted Titmouse 2White-crowned Sparrow 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
Brown Creeper 1
C. Wren 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 3
E. Bluebird 6
Am Robin 120
No Mockingbird 1
Starling 12
Pipit 7
Yellow-rumped Warbler 7
Chipping Sparrow 10
Clay-colored Sparrow 1
Field Sparrow 4
Song Sparrow 12
Swamp Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 12
Junco 4
No Cardinal 3
E. Meadowlark 1
Common Grackle 2
Am Goldfinch 6
