Eastern Wood-Pewee.
Photo by John Denice
June 22 was a pretty good day for birds at Sweet Run State Park, especially considering the heat. Led by Scott Harris, John Denice and Peter Lyttle, the group got a good start in the parking lot with Tree Swallows, Gray Catbirds and Chipping Sparrows. We decided to avoid the sun in the meadow and just walk along the edge where we got good looks at Eastern Bluebirds, Blue-gray gnatcatchers, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Indigo Bunting, more Chipping Sparrows and Tree Swallows. We then followed the Farmstead Loop trail down to the bridge and took that up to Arnold Lane. On the way we had a Kentucky Warbler, Acadian Flycatchers, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, and good looks at Red-eyed and Yellow-throated Vireos.
At Arnold lane we got to see an American Kestrel, and we had a Redstart, a Worm-eating warbler, Eastern Wood-Pewees, Eastern Phoebes and more bluebirds. Going down Arnold Lane into the woods we got another Kentucky Warbler, a Cerulean and a Wood Thrush. We came back down Arnold Lane to the Farmstead Loop again and finished the loop. That gave us Scarlet Tanagers, an Ovenbird, more Red-eyed and Yellow-throated Vireos and a baby Barred Owl. When we got back to the cars to tally it was much hotter, but we still saw a Red-tailed Hawk over the fields. Our total for the day was 49 species. We were glad we braved the heat.
The complete list of birds can be viewed on eBird at: https://ebird.org/checklist/S183063773.
Photo by Scott Harris