It was supposed to be sunny all day, but I awoke to heavy cloud cover. When I got to the trail at 8:50, it was starting to clear, but the trail seemed quiet. In less than 10 minutes, I had crossed under the route 151 bridge, started on the downstream trail, the sun came out, and the birds got active. I had 11 species by the time I got to the picnic table, and 6 more by the end of the downstream trail. As soon as I turned onto Glenthorne Loop I added 2 more species, and another 3 near Yellow Bird Thicket. I now had 22 species in less than 30 minutes.
I crossed the first wooden bridge and hiked on the east side of Reids Creek, adding 2 vireos, a Carolina Wren, and a Worm-eating Warbler. I then crossed the second wooden bridge, came back along the west side of Reids Creek and added a Turkey Vulture and a Willow Flycatcher on the downstream trail return. A total of 28 species in a little more than 1-1/2 hours was a pretty good morning on the trail.
This morning's list:
Indigo Bunting American Crow Field Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Song Sparrow American Goldfinch Eastern Wood-Pewee Eastern Kingbird Willow Flycatcher Cedar Waxwing Catbird Rock Pigeon Turkey Vulture White-eyed Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Green Heron small (Downy?) Woodpecker Pileated Woodpecker Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher Worm-eating Warbler Tufted Titmouse Carolina Wren Red-shouldered Hawk Ruby-throated Hummingbird |
White-eyed Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Worm-eating Warbler
Red-shouldered Hawk
Pileated Woodpecker
Green Heron
Willow Flycatcher