Field Report: John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove, Nov. 16, 2013

On Saturday, November 16, the people attending our Winter Bird ID Course were given the chance to test their new skills on a bird walk on the grounds of the John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove. 25 species were spotted, including such winter birds as Brown Creeper, Fox Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, and Dark-eyed Junco. Walk leader Vince Smith's complete list, as submitted to eBird, follows:

Canada Goose 10
Mallard 5
Great Blue Heron 1
Belted Kingfisher 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 1
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 8
Carolina Chickadee 4
Tufted Titmouse 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
Brown Creeper 1
Carolina Wren 3
Eastern Bluebird 4
American Robin 35
European Starling 8
Cedar Waxwing 12
Fox Sparrow (Red) 1
Song Sparrow 2
White-throated Sparrow 25
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 9
Northern Cardinal 3
House Finch 1
American Goldfinch 6

Field Report: Black Rock Sanctuary, Nov. 9, 2013

On Saturday, November 9, Vince Smith led a group of birders on a walk at Black Rock Sanctuary in Phoenixville that saw 31 species. Among the highlights were a number of winter visitors, including Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Yellow-rumped Warbler, White-throated Sparrow, and Fox Sparrow. The complete list, as submitted to eBird, follows:

Canada Goose 65
Mallard 1
Great Blue Heron 2
Black Vulture 2
Turkey Vulture 3
Mourning Dove 6
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 3
Downy Woodpecker 3
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 3
Blue Jay 10
American Crow 8
Carolina Chickadee 5
Tufted Titmouse 4
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Carolina Wren 6
Golden-crowned Kinglet 3
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
American Robin 23
Gray Catbird 1
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 2
Cedar Waxwing 3
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 3
Eastern Towhee 1
Fox Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 13
White-throated Sparrow 25
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 2
Northern Cardinal 8
American Goldfinch 5

Field Report: Welkinweir, November 9, 2013

On Saturday, November 9, Rick Keyser lead a group on a bird walk at Welkinweir in Pottstown, PA. 37 species were seen, highlights being American Black Duck, Bald Eagle, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Golden-crowned Kinglet, and Fox Sparrow. Rick's complete list, as submitted to eBird, follows:

Wood Duck  8    Mixed gender flock fly over
American Black Duck  5    Swimming on Rodebaugh pond
Mallard  5    Swimming on Rodebaugh pond
Black Vulture  1    Soaring
Turkey Vulture  2    Soaring
Sharp-shinned Hawk  1    Immature spooking many of the AMROs and CEDWs, saw well while perched and while soaring
Bald Eagle  1    Adult fly by just over the canopy !
Red-tailed Hawk  1    Adult soaring
Mourning Dove  10    Conservative estimate
Red-bellied Woodpecker  5    Vocal
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  1    Heard, but did not see
Downy Woodpecker  4    Heard whinny
Hairy Woodpecker  1    Saw female, 'PEEK!'
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)  2    Vocal
Blue Jay  6    Conservative estimate - vocal
American Crow  3    Conservative estimate - vocal
Carolina Chickadee  6    Conservative estimate - calling
Tufted Titmouse  3    Calling
White-breasted Nuthatch  3    Heard calling
Brown Creeper  1    Heard calling
Carolina Wren  8
Golden-crowned Kinglet  12    Conservative estimate - calling seemingly in every direction, sometimes more than four seen at one time
Eastern Bluebird  4    Calling
American Robin  10    Conservative estimate - calling
European Starling  24
Cedar Waxwing  30    Conservative estimate - vocal
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)  5
Eastern Towhee  1    Heard calling, possibly two birds counter-calling
Field Sparrow  3
Fox Sparrow  1
Song Sparrow  9    Calling; began to sing as day warmed!
White-throated Sparrow  40    Conservative estimate - singing, calling
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored)  20    Conservative estimate - calling, some singing !
Northern Cardinal  3    Calling
Red-winged Blackbird  30    Conservative estimate - fly over flock calling, saw red wings
Common Grackle  150    Conservative estimate - fly over flock calling with long tails
American Goldfinch  1    Heard calling

Other wildlife sightings included Clouded Sulphur and Eastern Chipmunk and evidence of Beaver activity at Rodebaugh Pond.