Yellow Warbler
April
23rd
We started our morning at Sandhill Crane
Wetlands searching in vain for an American Pipit which has become something of
a nemesis bird. We didn’t find anything too
exciting there, so we decided to jump on the turnpike and go to Pipe Creek
Wildlife Area in Sandusky. American
Avocets were seen there yesterday, but it turns out they were gone today.
We started walking on the wooded trail
to the marsh and saw many Palm Warblers and a few Ruby-crowned Kinglets and
Yellow-rumped Warblers. We also saw a
Yellow Warbler which was a new bird for the year. Once we got to the marsh, I saw a Chimney
Swift flying overhead. They have slender
bodies and very long, narrow curved wings and are sometimes called “the flying
cigar”. The Chimney Swift flies rapidly
with nearly constant stiff wingbeats. They often give a high, chattering call
while they fly . At one time they used to
nest in hollow trees, but today they nearly always nest in chimneys or other
structures.
As we wandered around the marsh, we
saw pelicans flying and a good variety of ducks. We also heard Marsh Wrens and several Sora calling. As we headed back, we heard a Virginia Rail making
its grunt call. This bird was deep in
the reeds, so we were unable to see it.
(3 new species, total 169)
Chimney Swift
Virginia Rail
Yellow Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Gorgeous day yesterday, until it got a little too hot.
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