May 7, 1995
Sunny, 70°F

Kevin and I took a leisurely walk through the park, and discovered a good spot to watch warblers: at the top of an embankment overlooking the creek. From the ground, it can get painful very quickly while straining the neck to get a glimpse of these tiny birds in the tops of the trees, but this lovely spot put the birds directly at eye level. 

Here, we spotted a gorgeous Cape May Warbler, and a lone Magnolia Warbler. A possible Black-throated Blue Warbler flitted past quickly, not giving me enough of a look for the ID. Fortunately, the male returned after about 15 minutes, and I was able to make the positive identification. We also had a terrific sighting of a beautiful male American Redstart that came within five feet of us. We had a couple of unidentified sightings today, including a possible Swainson’s Thrush, and an UID sandpiper.

On our way out of the park, we wandered through a Mountainman rendezvous that was set up in the campground. 

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Species List

Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina passerina), Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia), Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus), American Robin (Turdus migratorius), Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe), House Sparrow (Passer domesticus domesticus), Rock Dove (Columba livia domestica), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater), Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis), Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis), Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata bromia), American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos brachyrhynchos), Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum), Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis cardinalis), Myrtle Warbler (Setophaga coronata), Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus), Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon), Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus), Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens), Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula), House Wren (Troglodytes aedon), Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus), White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis), American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis tristis), Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura carolinensis), Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus), Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia), Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens), Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus), Cape May Warbler (Setophaga tigrina), American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla), Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus erythrophthalmus), Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus), Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor), Swainson’s Thrush (Catharus ustulatus appalachiensis), White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis carolinensis), Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum), Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula calendula), Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus phoeniceus), Yellow-shafted Flicker (Colaptes auratus luteus), Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)

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