The trails at Raven Run on Saturday and Berea Woods on Sunday were very dry for
mid April. Not sure we had a cloud in the sky either day, need rain.
Only expected birds at Raven Run, migrants Warblers included Parula, several
Lousiana Waterthrush, a Prairie, and a Black-and-white heard over the ripple of
Raven Run. And gnatcatchers. Plenty of Tiger Swallow tails, and the flowers
were great. Blue-eyed Mary dominated the scene with a half mile on the back
side of the main loop just covered with them.
Berea had no surprises either. Added warblers included several Pine singing
continuously, Ovenbird, Worm-eating, Yellow-throated, and Yellow-rump. No other
migrants added except easily two ounces worth of gnatcatcher, and we included
ourselves in the ever growing 2016 Broad-winged Hawk club. From the east
pinnacle we watched turkey dust bathing, Vultures soaring/drafting right in
front of us, and Red-winged Blackbirds urging cattails to grow. We could see an
impressive beaver dam on the back end of a lake across the valley. Plenty of
butterflies with Zebra Swallowtail being the favorite. Lots of Large-flowered
Bellwort, and a couple of impressive drifts of Crested Iris.
Beautiful mornings
Scott Marsh
Lexington
Fayette Co.
