8am. Weather: bright, sunny, warming up from a chill morning.
The last day of a fantastic holiday & my first organised walk with a local conservation group, the Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust (DNRT) in the hope of seeing some of the migrants coming through the area. There was a good crowd for the walk on a chilly morning & we all set off with a couple of experts at the lead, both called Mike. One Mike was able to mimic a screech owl to amazing affect as it attracted scolding birds from nearby, allowing some fantastic views.
Carpark:
Starling - on overhead wires.
Ruby-Throated Hummingbird - another couple of tiny, buzzing birds seen for a second or two before buzzing away. Later another couple (or the same ones?) were duelling over a field passed by the path. It will be nice to eventually get my binoculars on some!
Chipping Sparrow - in pines near to carpark, easily pointed out by our guides.
Meadow:
Northern Mockingbird - a couple flying around, perching on fenceposts & treetops.
Song Sparrow, Tree Swallow.
Savannah Sparrow - streaky chest & notched tail, seen in sunlight to confirm my identification earlier in the week from Smith Neck Road.
Great Blue Heron, American Goldfinch.
Woodland:
White-Breasted Nuthatch - one of the first of the large group attracted by the screech owl calling from Mike. It approached very close above our heads before moving away.
Black-Capped Chickadee & Tufted Titmouse - also in the attracted group above our heads.
Eastern Towhee - attracted to the lower level shrub, but it remained fairly discreet throughout. It was identified first by its voice & then its impressive plumage which seemed almost out of place in the gloomy understorey.
Carolina Wren (heard), Downy Woodpecker, Bluejay.
Black-Throated Green Warbler - the main point of the screech owl impression was to lure any late summer migrants & we were rewarded when the first warbler was picked up. Another with bright plumage it flitted about the canopy, more wary than the more common birds but still close enough for a good sighting, my first warbler.
Black & White Warbler - another fantastic warbler within the group of mixed woodland birds, like the black-throated this elegant individual was not as prominent but was no less striking for it & it didn't hang around long either.
Glade:
Eastern Peewee - a few fly-catching from posts & branches in the woodland clearing.
Common Yellowthroat - by the waterside, skulking in the undergrowth. I caught a brief glimpse of its distinctive plumage, well camouflaged in the foliage.
Leaving:
Cooper's Hawk - a hawk rattled past, glimpsed through the trees, but it was enough for one of the Mikes to call out as a Cooper's, my first confirmed sighting, but I hope to see one for longer than a few seconds as it rushes by.
Cedar Waxwing - heard by another member of the group.
Turkey Vulture - drifted over nearby fields.
A great walk, very educational & helpful for my American birding skills especially for the troublesome sparrow species. I was also delighted to see my first couple of new world warblers & hope to see many more.
23 species, 6 new species!
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