NASWC Bird Walk

Six of us participated in the NASWC bird walk this morning and it was one for the record books! We birded the hike-and-bike trail from the playing fields at the end of Meadowheath to the new parking lot. The weather was beautiful, the temperature was perfect, and we found lots of migrating birds including 8 species of warbler. Here are the highlights:

• We found 2 juvenile and still fluffy Great Horned Owls and watched the parent get chased away by a Red-shouldered Hawk. I got this picture of one of the sibling owls.
• Male Common Yellowthroats were actually common, something that only happens a few days a year in this neighborhood. It was a treat to get so many looks at this neat and usually secretive warbler.
  
• The other warblers we saw were Nashville Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, American Redstart, Northern Waterthrush, and Wilson's Warbler. Most of the group got good looks at all of these birds.
  
• Everyone got good looks at male and female Rose-breasted Grosbeaks. Here is one of the males.
• Although hard to see, there were several Baltimore Orioles and Orchard Orioles moving about. We finally got good looks at a male Orchard Oriole and I got this picture of one.

At times it was hard to keep up with all the birds being seen and heard. It really was a remarkable morning of spring migration. A special mention goes to Kim McKnight who joined us with her husband and 2-month-old daughter in-tow. Kim was spotting warblers high up in the tree canopy while her daughter slept in a baby sling. What a dedicated birder!