Buttonwood Nature Center

2 days ago

Congratulations to Waynesboro Middle School teacher and Buttonwood Board member, Catherine Myers! ❤️ Catherine received an Outstanding Teacher Award from her alma mater, Shippensburg University. We are proud to have her on our team! ... See MoreSee Less

Buttonwood Nature Center

3 days ago

NOTE: the next SOAR walk is this weekend—Sat. November 16—everyone welcome!

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, November 2 to Conococheague Institute.

Twice-monthly walks, usually led by Larry and Sharon Williams, run on the first and third Saturdays all year long. 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)

For some unknown reason, our feathered friends were not out and about as usual, although walkers did manage to count almost two dozen species. An Eastern Phoebe made sure that all the walkers got a good look. The photo here was not taken at the park but shows an Eastern Phoebe.

The next SOAR walk is Saturday, November 16, again at the Conococheague Institute. All are welcome!

Larry’s Report:

A bright, crisp morning greeted us as we arrived at the Conococheague Institute for our November 2 bird walk. As usual, Matthew Wedd [executive director] greeted us to provide an update on the species he had seen recently, so it was with high hopes that Sharon and I, along with Lisa, Jeff (the archaeologist as opposed to Jeff the rocket scientist), and newcomer Deborah set off.

The first thing we noticed was a flock of at least 100 rock pigeons gathered on a nearby silo. Next were the house sparrows that, to Matthew’s consternation, go into the woodpecker holes in the visitor center building. He did allow that at least the sparrows were less bothersome than the squirrels, which also attempt entry.
Leaving the parking area we soon spotted a red-bellied woodpecker, blue jays, several robins and mourning doves.

Passing the colonial garden on the way to the observation deck, we got a good look at a northern harrier, exhibiting its characteristic flow flight pattern and unmistakable white patch on the upper tail. That was one that Matthew didn’t mention!

From the observation deck, we spotted white-throated sparrows and goldfinches that briefly appeared, only to vanish in the lowland weeds. There were likely other species there as well, but they stayed well out of sight. Somewhat disappointed, we headed for the pond, which due to the dry weather was about 10 percent of its usual size. The herons that Matthew had mentioned were nowhere to be seen. There was an eastern phoebe perched on a single upright stick protruding from the water. In typical flycatcher fashion, it went briefly airborne a couple of times, only to quickly return to its perch, so everyone got a good look.

As we left the pond area and came into the opening by the cabin, there were several bluebirds and a small group of cedar waxwings. Above the cabin were the remains of an oriole nest that we had seen under construction in the spring.

We were relatively satisfied with the variety of species we had seen to that point as we headed towards the bridge and the woods. Little did we know, but the woods were becoming strangely quiet. We pressed ahead, but nothing changed. There were no birds in the field near the cemetery and none along the path. We were not sure why but we were not seeing or hearing much. Finally we spotted a downy woodpecker, and just before leaving the woods and entering the field Jeff spotted a hairy woodpecker.

For the last half of our walk we had added exactly two species, while not even seeing any of the species previously observed. Lisa and I even walked the path to the colonial farmhouse while others checked out the visitor center. Our results were the same—no birds. We were not sure why. It wasn’t the weather. Possibly it was the harrier that was responsible.

Our next walk will be Saturday, November 16, again at the Conococheague Institute.
Following that is an excursion to Antrim Township Community Park near Greencastle on December 7.
—Larry

List of species spotted:
American Goldfinch
American Robin
Blue Jay
Canada Goose
Carolina Wren
Carolina/BC Chickadee
Cedar Waxwing
Downy Woodpecker
Eastern Bluebird
Eastern Phoebe
European Starling
Hairy Woodpecker
House Finch
House Sparrow
Mourning Dove
Northern Cardinal
Northern Flicker
Northern Harrier
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Rock Pigeon
Turkey Vulture
White-throated Sparrow ... See MoreSee Less

Buttonwood Nature Center

3 days ago

We are building a trail! 🥾Visit our website to see all the progress and read about our vision ... buttonwoodnaturecenter.org/creating-a-trail/ ... See MoreSee Less