Field Ornithology: Good Birding Spot 2

Date: 5/28/2021
Start Time: 6:45
End Time: 12:15
Location: Burncoat Pond Wildlife Sanctuary
Weather: 48 degrees, partly cloudy, 8mph wind
Habitat: field/ grassland, wetlands, and mostly deciduous forest

grassland: some patches of shrubs and trees, had 4 foot tall grass, red clover, milkweed, gray birch, oriental bittersweet, guelder-rose, gray dogwood, lady fern, sensitive fern
wetlands: a couple of snags, sensitive fern, cattails, and lots of grass about 3 feet tall
deciduous forest: mostly American beech, red alder, striped maple, red oak, some patches of eastern hayscented fern, mountain laurel, few pines, and hemlocks
I spent the majority of my time today in the woods but each section of woods had different species dominating the area

Today I went to a large plot of conserved land, owned by Audubon. The first habitat I encountered was a huge grassland filled with Bobolinks, Blue-winged Warblers, Song Sparrows, Baltimore Orioles, American Robins, Common Yellowthroats, Red-winged Blackbirds, and Gray Catbirds. I tried spishing with some of the Song Sparrows and they were very interested in the noise. I was able to do this on three separate occasions throughout the trip and all of them poked their heads out of the shrubs to see where the noise was coming from. There were several Bobolinks flying around the grassland with each other. This was the first time I was able to actually see Bobolinks and really hear their amazing song. As I approached the forest, I heard the Red-eyed Vireo, Black-and-white Warbler, Tufted Titmouse, and the Ovenbird. Inside the woods I heard a couple White-breasted Nuthatch, Eastern Wood-Pewees, and Eastern Towhee. The forest seemed much quieter than the grassland, but as I got deeper into the woods I saw a couple Hermit Thrush which were staying quiet. I realized how much I really needed to look around so that I don't miss any species or scare them away before I saw them.
When I had walked that whole trail, I moved on to another trail on the other side of the grassland that had more wetland habitat. As I was walking to that trail, I saw a captive White Peafowl, which was the source of the weird noise I kept hearing every so often. Once I got onto the path, I saw several salamanders. I got distracted for a bit while I thought that one was injured. I started walking again and wasn't hearing many new species. I got to another grassland, tried to find my way to another path and got lost in the woods. I ended up in the wetland and all that was there were Red-winged Blackbirds. I found the path again, which took me to yet another, even larger, grassland with strips of shrubs and trees. That is where I saw several new species. I heard a bunch of Prairie Warblers songs, heard Indigo Bunting, saw a Wild Turkey, a bunch of tree swallows, and a Red-bellied Woodpecker. I was filled with so much joy even with my soaking wet shoes from the wetland. I took my time here and listened to several birds calls and songs. It was such a beautiful place and I'm glad that getting lost led me there. As I approached the woods again I heard some Great Crested Flycatchers.
Once I got back in the woods, I heard a Veery and I saw some Yellowthroats, a male and a female, which I spished to and they were really interested in it. I got back to the first grassland and saw a turkey vulture soaring above my head. The bobolinks were still there and singing like crazy. My trip today was amazing. I'm so glad I got to take this class and learn more about the wildlife in nature. Each course I take on different aspects of nature, strengthens my relationship with nature and creates a deeper appreciation for the organisms that inhabit natural areas.

Julkaistu toukokuu 29, 2021 12:59 AP. käyttäjältä