April 15, 1995
Hazy, 50°F
Kevin suggested this expedition to take advantage of spring migration. He has become quite interested in birding and hiking with me since our trip to Florida, and this was one of the first specifically “birding” trips we went on together. We had a lovely morning, hiking trails One and Two (Two is terrific, by Lake Worster). We also followed a few deer trails, covering a total of about 6 miles, and there were many life species for both of us.
We saw red-capped Swamp Sparrow in the reeds and grass along Lake Worster, and a Beaver lodge near the lake, although, sadly, we didn’t spot any of the animals themselves. I saw and heard lots of Song Sparrow throughout the park, always a favorite, because it was one of the first songs I learned.
Tiny Ruby-crowned Kinglet would have stumped me, except for the red crown, and I was finally able to identify Golden-crowned Kinglet for myself – an attractive male in breeding plumage – after having seen one on an Audubon trip. I also had my first decent look at Winter Wren, after having only glimpses in the past (they sure move around a lot)!
We stopped the car on the bridge to look out over Lake Worster, where we spotted several Bufflehead in a flock of Greater Scaup and Red-breasted Mergansers, and a lone male Hooded Merganser.
One of the more exciting moments of the day was when Kevin spotted a Broad-winged Hawk through the trees, as we hiked one of the wooded trails. The bird took flight, revealing the distinctive tail bands which gave us the ID. A great sighting of an exciting bird!
It was a wonderful day of birding, and in addition to birds, we also saw White-tailed Deer, squirrels, Eastern Chipmunk, and Woodchuck.
Species List
American Robin (Turdus migratorius), Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana), American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos brachyrhynchos), Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus phoeniceus), Canada Goose (Branta canadensis maxima), Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor), Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors), Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis cardinalis), Yellow-shafted Flicker (Colaptes auratus luteus), Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla), Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater), Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola), Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis), European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris), Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura carolinensis), Common Loon (Gavia immer), Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis sialis), Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata bromia), Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula calendula), Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa satrapa), Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias herodias), Brown Creeper (Certhia americana americana), Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura septentrionalis), Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia), Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor), Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens), Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus erythrophthalmus), White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus), American Beaver (Castor canadensis), Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum), Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis hiemalis), Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus platypterus), Veery (Catharus fuscescens fuscescens), Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus vociferus), Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea caerulea), Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe), Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca), American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis tristis), Slate-colored Junco (Junco hyemalis hyemalis), Woodchuck (Marmota monax), White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis), House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus frontalis), Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula), Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus), White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis carolinensis), Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator), Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus), American Coot (Fulica americana americana), Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus)
Let me know what you think!