Just getting around to posting this now...Sunday at the Hawkeye Wildlife Area, in the Sandy Point Drive across from Swan Lake,we came upon a group of palm warblers pecking in the gravel on the roadway. We shut off the car and observed these unique little birds for a long time. A few obligingly walked directly below the car window. Back in the woods toward the creek we found six Baltimore orioles feeding in the leafed-out treetops--also nearby more palm warblers, yellow-rumps, r.c. kinglets, a Nashville warbler and a black and white..a male r.b. grosbeak too.
Later at the Amana Nature Trail, our first time in a great timber with a fabulous floral carpet! We spotted pairs of wood thrushes and blue-gray gnatcatchers. And, at long last, we were able to catch a glimpse of a pileated woodpecker! It was all too brief, but at least now we can identify its distinctive, low, resonant drumming. On our way out we spotted a scarlet tanager roaming the treetops with the late afternoon sun lighting up his brilliant plummage. Nice end to the afternoon.JH,IC --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: [email protected]
