Five of us showed up for the annual spring paddle at Merchants Mill State Park on Sunday (so we were a bit late....). It was ideal paddling weather - warm and sunny with a good breeze. Water levels were lower than usual and the duckweed by the boat slip was appalling; however once out, the paddling was superb. Highlights were close views of prothonotary and parula warblers, lots of turtles (so did Bob and Art finally decide on the colour of turtle underpants?), and a bobcat! Unfortunately the poor creature was found run over on the road close to the park entrance; it was brought in later by the park ranger, so we had an up-close look. Julie K - we missed you!!

Bird tally as follows:

 Location:     Merchants Millpond State Park
Observation date:     6/24/07
Number of species:     36

Wood Duck     1
Mallard     1
Great Blue Heron     3
Green Heron     1
Turkey Vulture     5
Red-shouldered Hawk     1
Rock Pigeon     1
Mourning Dove     1
Yellow-billed Cuckoo     1
Chimney Swift     2
Red-bellied Woodpecker     3
Downy Woodpecker     1
Hairy Woodpecker     1
Pileated Woodpecker     1
Acadian Flycatcher     1
Great Crested Flycatcher     1
Eastern Kingbird     2
White-eyed Vireo     1
Red-eyed Vireo     1
Blue Jay     1
American Crow     1
Fish Crow     2
Tufted Titmouse     5
White-breasted Nuthatch     1
Carolina Wren     1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher     4
Eastern Bluebird     1
Gray Catbird     1
Northern Parula     5
Yellow Warbler     2
Pine Warbler     1
Prothonotary Warbler     10
Eastern Towhee     1
Chipping Sparrow     1
Northern Cardinal     1
Common Grackle     4

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)