I missed the bird walk to go hiking. We saw splendid wildflowers in th valley
below Gray's Arch. I heard my first hooded warblers of the season, setting up
their breeding territories on the rhododendron slopes. We also heard a scarlet
tanager on Rush Ridge, where we ate lunch.
Sadly, my ears aren't able to pick up most of the woodland warblers. I THINK I
heard an ovenbird just as we started out, but it didn't sing again within my
hearing.
We saw FOS pennyroyal, showy orchis, blue phlox, purple cress, wild geranium,
foamflower, jack-in-the-pulpit, wild ginger. At their peak were white
trillium, red (nodding) trillium, 5 kinds of violets( including bird's-foot),
dwarf iris, star chickweed, false rue anemone, and bluets. Pink lady's
slippers were sending up their flower heads, still small and green and tucked
toward the earth. Fiddleheads were unfurling EVERYwhere. We saw foliage for
Clintonia (blue-bead lily), rattlesnake plantain, and Liparis lilifolia
(twayblade), but the flower stalks weren't up yet. One careful observer found
me a late-lingering trailing arbutus flower (in a shady corner); these are very
early bloomers and mostly done.
We saw a good-sized black rat snake, enjoying the unseasonably warm
temperatures. It was quite toasty by early afternoon, as the leaves aren't out
far enough yet to provide much shade.
I am hoping to get out to Raven Run before the flowers are gone. Blue-eyed
Marys, Miami Mist, wild hyacinth, larkspur: we don't see these species at the
Gorge!
Regarding the debate between birding and other hobbies: for me, hiking seems to
be winning out. It is frustrating not to be able to hear a lot of the birds,
especially when others in your group assume that you can. (Leaders, keep this
in mind! Be prepared to describe the location of birds for those who can't
hear them.
And it's more about PITCH than loudness. If my hearing no longer registers
some of those higher pitches, increasing the volume won't help. I DO wear
hearing aids, and they help a lot, but those higher frequencies are pretty much
gone from my repertoire.)
Good birds (and flowers, too!) to you all. --Terri K.
Sent from my iPhone
On Apr 19, 2015, at 11:34 AM, "David Lang"
<de_lang@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:de_lang@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
Had a great turnout for Saturday's Walk at Lexington Cemetery, 31 people. Great
seeing everyone! It was a beautiful day and we saw some great birds, including
good looks at a Red-headed Woodpecker, Purple Finches, Yellow-throated Vireo,
Pine Warbler Blue-winged Warbler and Black-throated Green Warbler. Also had a
flyover Broad-winged Hawk and Double-crested Cormorant.
For photos see our Facebook page.
David Lang
Scott County
Complete list is here:
Lexington Cemetery, Fayette, US-KY
Apr 18, 2015 7:50 AM - 10:55 AM...
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
Comments: David Lang, Sydney Penner, Ronan O'Carra, Spencer Reinhard, Antonio
Xeria, David Moldoff, Ron Cicerello, Mike Norman, Ben Hardy, Joe Hardy, Chris
Hardy, Connie Morris, Ron Kristwald, Kristen Krestwald, Charles Tremoulet,
Gretchen Tremoulet, Judy Lundquist, George Weems, Tony Brusate, Tereasa Noel,
Nancy Brown, Raica Brown, Barbra Velios, Chuck Velios, Lisa Combs, Steve Pavey,
Jim Hodge, Marie Sutton, Betty Maxson, Dave Svetich, Ben Albren
47 species
Canada Goose 11
Mallard 3
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Great Blue Heron 1
Cooper's Hawk 3
Broad-winged Hawk 1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 3
Mourning Dove 6
Chimney Swift 4
Red-headed Woodpecker 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 3
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 2
Downy Woodpecker 4
Northern Flicker 1
Eastern Phoebe 2
Yellow-throated Vireo 4
Red-eyed Vireo 1
Blue Jay 7
American Crow 4
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 1
Tree Swallow 1
Barn Swallow 2
Carolina Chickadee 3
Tufted Titmouse 2
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Carolina Wren 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 4
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 4
Hermit Thrush 1
American Robin 55
Brown Thrasher 1
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 2
Blue-winged Warbler 3
Pine Warbler 6
Yellow-rumped Warbler 2
Black-throated Green Warbler 3
Eastern Towhee 1
Chipping Sparrow 15
White-throated Sparrow 25
Dark-eyed Junco 2 All Slate-colored
Northern Cardinal 14
Common Grackle 9
Brown-headed Cowbird 11
Purple Finch 7
American Goldfinch 6
House Sparrow 1
View this checklist online at
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S22927004<http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Febird.org%2Febird%2Fview%2Fchecklist%3FsubID%3DS22927004&h=fAQGsRvQj&enc=AZP8FXKwyXzdS5szN7NoWFktSCq653UEGhORYy7ES9m974dF_oNbs5PGE89zAmOk0KiDbNqM9jLJKEL1Vy57yn1ply_FNYWJtnXVIt9FxFF_5qiAJhIO_juY2f2jsRLunbFx3bSUrDvlqCngz4ZUTDgFwcdXnEPtw7gi6lVSZuc6dukUBrnkJ6KdFA3LIzrDPHD_IhduRf9rRkiAcc0Vty_V&s=1>
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3
(http://ebird.org<http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Febird.org%2F&h=VAQH-p4e4&enc=AZNaNX2g_VUz_06cDS25jEnvZ9lums9Coka4A8o2dtrehrATuwYElK1zy21G9NN2lYFz9j4c5WlkSEdQc7UWklTrze9UMul78_e99Vj1h8lLK5-otsCtR0mSI9_T0MOGPfzPaGvrctKwIDmw0sea6ZCZ-NcRLQ4I1sj8ZIp_tUHI1LU-Txv4a416h2XC9_-K_ATU2QyRNgWOpjUYMAs6hrSe&s=1>)