Brown Thrasher.
Photo by Chris Boner
Twelve people attended the monthly Banshee Reeks walk on September 13 along with four leaders. It was a nice day with lots of sun. The parking area was not as good as usual, but after we turned off the gravel road things picked up. We had a nice look at all three mimics in one bush. Multiple mockingbirds, catbirds, and Brown Thrashers were all hopping around giving us nice views, followed by not one, but two, visible White-eyed Vireos with more heard. We had several warbler species including multiple American Redstarts, Magnolias, a Common Yellowthroat and a Black-and-white. We had a nice female Rose-breasted Grosbeak and saw a beautiful Eastern Towhee. We also had good looks at a few Warbling Vireos, four Ravens, and two each of Great Crested Flycatchers and Yellow-billed Cuckoos.
When we went down to the Goose Creek we saw the eagle’s nest, which was mostly obscured. We did not have any actual Bald Eagles, but we did have a nice look at a Hairy Woodpecker and both species of vultures.
The complete list of 40 species can be found on eBird at: https://ebird.org/checklist/S273139338.