Buttonwood Nature Center

1 day ago

Buttonwood Nature Center friend and SOAR (Studying Ornithology Around the Region) bird walk leader, Larry Williams submitted the following narrative from the group’s outing on Saturday, April 20 at Pine Hill Recreation Area.

Twice-monthly walks, usually led by Larry and Sharon Williams, run on the first and third Saturdays throughout the winter, spring, summer and fall. They run from 8 a.m. to around 10 a.m.

SOAR bird walk locations vary throughout the season. Check our website calendar for locations on specific dates. (www.buttonwoodnaturecenter.org) and tab down under Programs or Events)

The group encountered a bevy of warblers, including a couple dozen Yellow-rumped Warblers and a Blackburnian Warbler, and the elusive Pine Warbler. These warblers were not photographed in the park but are great examples of the lovely species spotted there.

The next SOAR walk is this Saturday, May 4 at Conococheague Institute. All are welcome!

Larry’s report:

The fog was beginning to lift as 11 intrepid birders arrived at Pine Hill Recreation Area. As we exited the vehicles, a lone Canada goose flew directly overhead. At first we just heard it, and it was almost surreal as it drifted into and out of the haze, at times disappearing completely.

Larry and Sharon were joined by Lisa, Lee and Becky, Jeff and Sue, John and Sue, Sandy and Carol, and before we headed into the woods, we scanned the baseball field area for meadowlarks. That was unsuccessful, but we did spot bluebirds, starlings, chipping and white-throated sparrows, along with a lone phoebe.

Once we reached the path, the sun was beginning to show through and visibility was excellent. We soon heard the call of a nearby raven—and a first for this spring, a blue-grey gnatcatcher. Next came what we thought was a warbler, but turned out to be a ruby-crowned kinglet.

The warblers would soon appear, however, beginning with a pair of yellow-rumps. That was a scene that would be repeated throughout the walk, as numerous yellow-rumped warblers were present. We estimated at least 25. In the same vicinity we heard and then saw a black-and-white warbler, followed by a black-throated green and then a Swainson’s thrush, a blackburnian warbler and an eastern towhee.

Becky called our attention to a nearby snag, where a male pileated woodpecker was busy preparing a nesting site. It repeatedly entered into a large hole, with only its tail and wing tips protruding, only to emerge seconds later with a wood chip in its beak, which it soon discarded. It seemed unconcerned that it was being observed from close range by a large group. This process continued until we finally tired of watching and moved on.

Heard but not seen as we walked further along the path were an ovenbird and a belted kingfisher. Pine Hill finally lived up to its reputation as a place to see pine warblers, as some were heard and seen on the far side of the park. As we made our way back toward the parking lot as the breeze freshened, overhead in quick succession we spotted a black vulture, an osprey and then a sharp-shinned hawk. From the parking area looking back toward the woods, we spotted a great-crested flycatcher, which brought our total number of species for the day to a respectable 39.

Our next walk will be on May 4 at the Conococheague Institute.

Larry’s List:
American Goldfinch
American Robin
Belted Kingfisher
Black Vulture
Black-and-white Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Blue Jay
Blue-grey Gnatcatcher
Brown-headed Cowbird
C/BC Chickadee
Canada Goose
Carolina Wren
Chipping Sparrow
Common Grackle
Common Raven
Downy Woodpecker
Eastern Bluebird
Eastern Phoebe
Eastern Towhee
European Starling
Great-crested Flycatcher
Mourning Dove
Northern Cardinal
Northern Flicker
Northern Mockingbird
Osprey
Ovenbird
Pileated Woodpecker
Pine Warbler
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Swainson’s Thrush
Tufted Titmouse
Turkey Vulture
White-breasted Nuthatch
White-throated Sparrow
Yellow-rumped Warbler ... See MoreSee Less