28 May Martin Burns WMA – Byfield – 5/25/14 AKA: The Black-billed Cuckoo Show
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Prairie Warbler by Jeremiah Trimble |
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Black-billed Cuckoo by Tim Spahr |
We heard Black-billed Cuckoos as we parked at the garages. I thought of a story told to me a few years back that cuckoos have a tendency to call more frequently before rain. I’ve heard sage birders say that both Black-billed and Yellow-billed Cuckoos have been referred to as “Rain Crows”. I was hoping our walk would be a dry one… We had the best looks ever at this secretive species. The cuckoos stole the show this morning!
Canada Goose – pair with 3 goslings
Wood Duck
Mallard
Common Loon - 2 migrant flyovers
Great Blue Heron - at nesting area
Great Egret - 4
Cooper's Hawk
Buteo - 1 most probably a Broad-winged Hawk seen in flight while on a short faray
Turkey Vulture
Mourning Dove
Wood Thrush
Blue-gray GnatcatcherBlack-billed Cuckoo - 8, we saw a pair in the open for a prolonged time
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - heard
Downy Woodpecker - 1
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 3
Eastern Wood-Pewee- 3, 1 perched in on a snag for great views while vocal
Great Crested Flycatcher - 3
Eastern Kingbird
Eastern Phoebe
Olive-sided Flycatcher - 1, seen well near beaver swamp
Red-eyed Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher - 1
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing - several, gathering nest material
Indigo Bunting - 5, males singingCommon Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Blue-winged Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Canada Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Eastern Towhee
Song Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Scarlet Tanager
Northern Cardinal
Tufted Titmouse
Black-capped ChickadeeRose-breasted Grosbeak
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Baltimore Oriole
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Good birding,
Sue