Exceptional Bird Activity and Threat of Rain at Banshee Reeks

Twelve individuals joined Michael Sciortino and Dori Rhodes for the monthly bird walk at Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve on Saturday, May 14. The preserve was exceptionally active with bird activity and the group recorded 63 species over a three and a half hour walk. The skies threatened rain all morning, but the weather held off long enough for us to complete the walk without a soaking.

It took a while for the group to make its way out of the Visitor Center and parking lot area because the bird activity was in full force and demanded our attention. We heard numerous Indigo Buntings and Prairie Warblers calling from the adjacent fields. and these species continued to grow in numbers as the walk progressed. The parking area also afforded us excellent looks at numerous Orchard Orioles. We took an easterly route on this day and traveled along the Greenway trail deep into the heart of the preserve. Tree Swallows kept close watch over their nest boxes as we passed on the trail. We got good looks and photos of more Prairie Warblers.

We turned right onto the Corner Pond trail and marveled at its wonderful canopy. At the junction of the Corner Pond and the Red Tail trail, we began to hear a Scarlet Tanager calling from the forest, high in the canopy. Most of the birders got to see this beautiful bird even if it was for a fleeting moment. We all did hear it’s rich, burry song, however. Red-eye Vireos continued calling from the forest edge as did an Acadian Flycatcher and a lone Red-headed Woodpecker. We found that the Red Tail trail was obstructed by a common snapping turtle that seemed to be resting comfortably. We carefully passed by without disturbing it. We noticed that amphibians and reptiles we plentiful along the trails as we made our way towards the Beaver Pond.

At the Beaver Pond, we watched a Great Crested Flycatcher as it perched and called, and we  listened to an American Redstart vocalizing from the edge of the pond. Many attendees on the walk had not visited the pond before so this was a first for a good portion of the group. The group continued along the Old Field Loop trail, and as we progressed, we were watched closely by a perched Turkey Vulture. We did get quick views of an Overbird in the underbrush and began to hear Wood Thrushes calling from the forest. We turned left on the Goose Creek trail to head toward the creek area and spotted a Wood Thrush perched on the forest edge singing its flute-like song. The Goose Creek overlook area was  teeming with Eastern Bluebirds, Red-eyed Vireos, Cedar Waxwings and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers.

Our final leg of the journey was along the Arrowhead Ridge trail to the Spring House Pond for a quick peek at it before ending back at the Visitor Center. There, we were treated to a male Baltimore Oriole’s rich whistling sound at the top of a black locust tree. As we tallied our results for the day, we watched a Red-bellied Woodpecker, a few American Goldfinches, House Finches and Chipping Sparrows take turns at the feeders.

For a complete list of our bird sightings, see below or view on eBird at https://ebird.org/checklist/S110031603.

Species List
Canada Goose 2
Mallard 1
Wild Turkey 1
Mourning Dove 4
Chimney Swift 2
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Great Blue Heron 1
Black Vulture 1
Turkey Vulture 7
Cooper’s Hawk 1
Bald Eagle 2
Red-shouldered Hawk 2
Red-tailed Hawk 2
Red-headed Woodpecker 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 6
Downy Woodpecker 2
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee 5
Acadian Flycatcher 2
Great Crested Flycatcher 4
Eastern Kingbird 1
White-eyed Vireo 5
Yellow-throated Vireo 1
Red-eyed Vireo 5
Blue Jay 12
American Crow 4
Fish Crow 2
Common Raven 2
Carolina Chickadee 6
Tufted Titmouse 3
Tree Swallow 8
Barn Swallow 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 6
Carolina Wren 6
Gray Catbird 7
Northern Mockingbird 4
Eastern Bluebird 8
Wood Thrush 5
American Robin 6
Cedar Waxwing 6
House Finch 3
American Goldfinch 6
Chipping Sparrow 2
Field Sparrow 10
Eastern Towhee 6
Yellow-breasted Chat 2
Orchard Oriole 7
Baltimore Oriole 1
Red-winged Blackbird 1
Brown-headed Cowbird 3
Common Grackle 2
Ovenbird 1
Common Yellowthroat 7
American Redstart 2
Northern Parula 2
Prairie Warbler 12
Scarlet Tanager 3
Northern Cardinal 8
Blue Grosbeak 1
Indigo Bunting 12