Barred Owl.
Photo by Scott Harris
After several days of rain and a morning that began with a fog so dense it felt like drizzle, 11 people gathered on June 24 for the regular monthly bird walk at Sweet Run State Park (formerly the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship). The birds were active and vocal even before we left the parking lot and remained so for the entire walk. As a result, we took our time in the woods and fields, finding 51 species.
Photo by Michael Sciortino
While we were still at the parking lot, not only did six Great Blue Heron fly over in formation towards Harpers Ferry, but both a Yellow-breasted Chat and a White-eyed Vireo were vocalizing. Other highlights on the walk included a Barred Owl (seen by everyone on the walk), five warbler species (including three Ovenbirds, two Kentucky Warblers, six American Redstarts and three Northern Parulas), and three or four Yellow-breasted Chats (noisily interacting with each other close to the end of the walk), three Scarlet Tanagers, and two Common Ravens. Blue-gray Gnatcatchers (16), Eastern Wood-peewees (10), and Acadian Flycatchers (15) were abundant in the park’s rich forest. Indigo Buntings (10) were in both the forest and on the edges of the meadows.
On the backside of the Farmwell Loop, the group paused for a moment to admire the craftmanship and intricacy of what we think was a Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher nest. The nest apparently fell from a tree above, and after our examination, we moved it off to the side of the path.
The walk was led by Joe Coleman and Mike Sciortino assisted by Mike Scott, John Denice, Kevin Denice and Scott Harris. For a complete list of the birds observed, see the list below or view on eBird at: https://ebird.org/checklist/S142549339.
Photo by Michael Sciortino
Species List:
Mourning Dove 3
Chimney Swift 4
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2
Great Blue Heron 9
Green Heron 1
Black Vulture 2
Turkey Vulture 2
Red-shouldered Hawk 3
Barred Owl 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 5
Downy Woodpecker 4
Hairy Woodpecker 3
Pileated Woodpecker 2
Eastern Wood-Pewee 10
Acadian Flycatcher 15
Eastern Phoebe 3
White-eyed Vireo 2
Yellow-throated Vireo 2
Red-eyed Vireo 20
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 6
Fish Crow 2
Common Raven 2
Carolina Chickadee 10
Tufted Titmouse 6
Tree Swallow 12
White-breasted Nuthatch 6
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 16
House Wren 2
Carolina Wren 12
Gray Catbird 2
Northern Mockingbird 1
Eastern Bluebird 8
Wood Thrush 5
American Robin 2
Cedar Waxwing 1
American Goldfinch 4
Chipping Sparrow 5
Field Sparrow 3
Eastern Towhee 3
Yellow-breasted Chat 3
Red-winged Blackbird 1
Brown-headed Cowbird 2
Ovenbird 3
Kentucky Warbler 2
Common Yellowthroat 5
American Redstart 6
Northern Parula 3
Scarlet Tanager 3
Northern Cardinal 12
Indigo Bunting 10