Field Report: Welkinweir, Nov. 12, 2011

One of the spots where Valley Forge Audubon holds regular walks is Welkinweir, a 197-acre preserve in northern Chester County that features wetlands, woods, and meadows, as well as a historic estate. Regular walks are held on Saturday mornings in the spring and fall. On November 12, Rick Keyser lead a walk and found 32 species of birds — and evidence of beavers. Here's his list, as submitted to eBird:

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  4   
Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus)  1   
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)  2   
Accipiter sp. (Accipiter sp.)  1    Brief view in flight of a slate-backed, long-tailed raptor
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)  1   
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)  2    
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia)  1
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)  15
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)  1   
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)  2   
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius)  1
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)  1    
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) (Colaptes auratus [auratus Group])  1
Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)  1    
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)  10   
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)  7   
Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis)  8    
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)  3   
White-breasted Nuthatch (Eastern) (Sitta carolinensis carolinensis)  2 
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)  3
Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)  4
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  100
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)  1
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)  20
Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla)  1
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  3  
Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana)  1
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)  5   
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) (Junco hyemalis hyemalis/carolinensis)  7   
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  3
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)  120 
House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus)  1
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)  3

John Heinz NWR is holding a winter bird count for kids!

PA YOUNG BIRDERS AT HEINZ REFUGE invite kids ages 8-16 to join in the 2012 WINTER BIRD COUNT FOR KIDS, Saturday, January 7, 2012, 8:30 am to 1:00 pm. All are welcome, from advanced youth birders to kids who just like to get outside and see wildlife.

Inspired by long-running, international Christmas Bird Counts, experienced leaders from PA Young Birders will guide children through discovery, observation and recording of wintering bird species at Heinz Refuge. The program begins with a presentation about the bird we hope to find, followed by getting out into the field with binoculars, recording sightings on checklists, and a tally rally with hot pizza, provided by the Friends of Heinz Refuge.

Last year, kids had a great time amid falling snow and chilly temperatures. They found 42 bird species and enjoyed good looks of a gorgeous Red-shouldered Hawk, nuthatches, kinglets, sparrows, woodpeckers, wild turkeys, blackbirds, mergansers and more!

Meet at the Heinz Refuge Visitors Center. Dress very warmly, and bring binoculars if yo have them (optics will be available to borrow). Reservations are strongly encouraged for school groups, birding clubs or scout groups - contact Debbie Beer, payoungbirders@gmail.com for more details. This event is free.

Field Report: John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove, Dec. 11, 2011

On Sunday, December 11, Rob Evans lead a group of five birders who braved the cold weather to see which winter birds were present at John James Audubon's first home in the U.S. 26 species were spotted on a two mile walk, including plenty of juncos, white-throated sparrows, and blue jays. The highlights were a flock of buffleheads and a showy golden-crowned kinglet. The complete list, as submitted to eBird follows:

Canada Goose  28
Mallard  7
Bufflehead  7
Great Blue Heron  1
Red-tailed Hawk  1
Ring-billed Gull  7
Mourning Dove  8
Red-bellied Woodpecker  3
Downy Woodpecker  1
Blue Jay  10
American Crow  3
Carolina Chickadee  8
Tufted Titmouse  2
White-breasted Nuthatch  1
Carolina Wren  2
Golden-crowned Kinglet  1
Eastern Bluebird  5
American Robin  25
Northern Mockingbird  1
European Starling  4
Song Sparrow  2
White-throated Sparrow  11
Dark-eyed Junco  17
Northern Cardinal  6
House Finch  17
American Goldfinch  3

Field Report: Black Rock Sanctuary, Dec. 10, 2011

On Saturday, December 10, Vince Smith lead a group on a three mile walk at Black Rock Sanctuary in Phoenixville. 28 species of birds were seen, the list, as submitted to eBird follows:

Canada Goose  62
Wood Duck  5
Mallard  12
Great Blue Heron  1
Black Vulture  4
Turkey Vulture  7
Red-tailed Hawk  1
Ring-billed Gull  1
Rock Pigeon  23
Red-bellied Woodpecker  4
Downy Woodpecker  4
Northern Flicker  2
Blue Jay  8
American Crow  5
Carolina Chickadee  6
Tufted Titmouse  2
White-breasted Nuthatch  2
Carolina Wren  3
Eastern Bluebird  2
American Robin  3
Northern Mockingbird  2
European Starling  13
Song Sparrow  4
White-throated Sparrow  25
Dark-eyed Junco  8
Northern Cardinal  10
Common Grackle  1
American Goldfinch  11