Hello All, Becky Hansen and I led the CBC weekly Friday May walk at the Cornell Arboretum this morning. We had two regular attendees show up on time, but a bit later a woman and her young daughter and then even later a couple with three children arrived. As always, interested children are the most amazing spotters, listeners and learners.
When I first arrived I spotted the resident Brown Thrasher just doing some sharp chip notes. He flew off before others arrived but his song accompanied us for most of the rest of the walk without him again revealing himself. Several Warbling Vireos, Yellow Warblers singing in many places, a small kettle of 6 Broad Wings overhead, two Red-Tailed Hawks perched across 366, a fly-over and then return Osprey who I am guessing is the Game Farm to campus one that is being seen. We had many, many robins, a flock of Barn Swallows congregating in mid-air, couple of Tree Swallows. Cardinals were singing everywhere, we had good views of a couple of White-throated Sparrows as we heard them singing in many spots. Goldfinches cheerily singing, Song Sparrows, several male and female Cowbirds, Black-capped Chickadees foraging in a leafing out (needling out?) larch, Yellow-rumped Warblers and Kinglets in a large willow by the ponds. And at least one Pine Warbler (although I suspect more). This again is the one I heard the other day that switches songs from a regular slow trill to a fast trill, and then revises his fast trill to add a slow musical (although still one tone) at the end. And of course, Red-wing Blackbirds galore ,both males and females in easy sight. Becky and I then went over to Monkey Run south briefly where we saw a Grey Catbird which is my FOS, although I did see one in the winter being unhappy at East Hill Rec Way. It was a fine day to be out. Thanks to all who came. Linda Orkin Ithaca, NY -- If you permit this evil, what is the good of the good of your life? -Stanley Kunitz... -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
