Field Sparrow.
Photo by John Denice
Thirty-three people gathered on a beautiful spring day on April 8 for the monthly bird walk at Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve and found over 45 species. Because there were so many of us, we split into two groups, one led by Mike Scott (assisted by John Denice) and the other led by Joe Coleman, assisted by several good birders. Mike’s group went west and took the Raspberry and Arrowhead Ridge trails before heading back; the other group went south to the Beaver Pond and Cathedral trails before returning on the Arrowhead Ridge trail.
The highlights of the two walks were a Northern Harrier, White-eyed and Blue-headed Vireos, an American Kestrel and a White-crowned Sparrow. Several first-of-season species (for most of the participants) were seen in addition to the vireos: Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Palm Warblers and three Louisiana Waterthrushes (two of which were singing).
For a complete list of the birds observed on the two walks see the lists below.
Mike’s Group Species List
3 Canada Goose
5 Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)
1 Mourning Dove
7 Black Vulture
4 Turkey Vulture
2 Bald Eagle
1 Red-shouldered Hawk
1 Red-tailed Hawk
2 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
6 Red-bellied Woodpecker
2 Downy Woodpecker
1 Pileated Woodpecker
4 Northern Flicker
1 American Kestrel
1 Northern Harrier
2 Eastern Phoebe
1 White-eyed Vireo
10 Blue Jay
1 American Crow
3 Fish Crow
1 Common Raven
4 Carolina Chickadee
6 Tufted Titmouse
4 Tree Swallow
1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
1 Golden-crowned Kinglet
1 White-breasted Nuthatch
6 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
6 Carolina Wren
2 European Starling
2 Northern Mockingbird
2 Eastern Bluebird
2 American Robin
1 House Finch
16 American Goldfinch
1 Chipping Sparrow
6 Field Sparrow
16 White-throated Sparrow
3 Song Sparrow
5 Eastern Towhee
1 Red-winged Blackbird
2 Brown-headed Cowbird
6 Common Grackle
2 Palm Warbler
16 Northern Cardinal
Joe’s Group Species List
Canada Goose 4
Mourning Dove 1
Great Blue Heron 2
Black Vulture 3
Turkey Vulture 5
Bald Eagle 2
Red-shouldered Hawk 3
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 3
Downy Woodpecker 3
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 2
Eastern Phoebe 1
Blue-headed Vireo 1
Blue Jay 10
American Crow 6
Fish Crow 6
Common Raven 1
Carolina Chickadee 6
Tufted Titmouse 20
Tree Swallow 2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 3
Carolina Wren 9
European Starling 2
Northern Mockingbird 2
Eastern Bluebird 4
American Robin 4
House Finch 4
American Goldfinch 8
Chipping Sparrow 2
Field Sparrow 5
Dark-eyed Junco 2
White-crowned Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 25
Swamp Sparrow 1
Eastern Towhee 4
Brown-headed Cowbird 5
Louisiana Waterthrush 3
Palm Warbler 2
Northern Cardinal 15