On Sunday morning, I had one of the better early-April birding outings I’ve ever had in Sapsucker Woods. Here are some highlights, which I enjoyed with various others.
* AMERICAN WOODCOCK, found by Wee Hao Ng south of the Lab at 9:20 AM. The bird was foraging along the first wooded stretch of the Wilson Trail, south of the feeder garden area, north of the Podell Boardwalk, between the trail and the road. We and a few passersby had very fine views of this bird within about 20 feet from the trail and especially from the road. It was still there when we left at around 10:20 AM. * At least three EASTERN MEADOWLARKS seen and heard (both fluting song and long sparky rattling sequences, as well as electric buzzes) around the knoll with nest boxes, and also in the airport zone east of the far parking lot. * NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD atop a tree north of building near pond. * Three FOX SPARROWS together under brush at north edge of woods, where trail connects utility corridor and Hoyt-Pileated Trail * Two FIELD SPARROWS together along the side of the road, with Song Sparrows. * Male and female EASTERN BLUEBIRDS and 2+ TREE SWALLOWS on and around the nest boxes on the knoll. * COMMON RAVEN perched on a utility pole, before heading north. * GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS throughout, especially along first stretch of Wilson Trail North. * PURPLE FINCHES singing north of Sherwood Platform; one immature confirmed by sight. * Six RING-NECKED DUCKS and a female HOODED MERGANSER on main pond. * A pair of WOOD DUCKS perched in a tree near Podell Boardwalk, plus at least one flying over. Full eBird checklist, including some photos to be posted later, is here: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S54667204. Mark Chao -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
