Weekly Report - 2017-11-10 - Lots of Noteworthy Birds!

It was a very busy week on the trail!!!! Between the nature trail cleanup, my weekly walk, and the Trailblazers Nature Exploration, there was a lot of birding going on the nature trail this week. In fact, I was able to submit four eBird checklists for the trail this week!

Now that daylight savings has passed, the mornings offer up more lighting for photography! With a total of 33 species recorded this week, there were quite a few notable birds.

The most noteworthy highlight for the week was one Common Raven heard over the outdoor classroom area during the nature trail cleanup! We were unfortunately unable to see the bird as it was high above the treetops, but we heard its unmistakable croaking as it sounded like it was being mobbed by a flock of American Crows. This observation represents the second record of this species ever on the trail and a first for the fall season.

Red-shouldered Hawk was observed twice this week with individuals on 11/4 and 11/7. These two observations represent the 15th and 16th record of this species on the trail, but these are the first records of this species on the trail in the month of November.

At the Trailblazers Nature Trail Exploration for Grades 1-2 on 11/9, we observed roughly 2000 Common Grackles as they passed over the recess yard! This flock was so low and close that we could hear the "whoosh" of their wingbeats when they came over us. We were able to get multiple looks at the flock as they moved along the treetops of the main trail.

Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets continue to dominate the scrub shrub habitat along the main trail. Check out the area at the base of the Basswood Tree, which is on the other side of the trail from the meadow.

33 Species for the Week:

Canada Goose

Turkey Vulture

Red-shouldered Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

Mourning Dove

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Blue Jay

American Crow

Common Raven

Carolina Chickadee

Tufted Titmouse

White-breasted Nuthatch

Carolina Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Eastern Bluebird

American Robin

Northern Mockingbird

European Starling

Cedar Waxwing

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Dark-eyed Junco

White-throated Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Eastern Towhee

Northern Cardinal

Red-winged Blackbird

Common Grackle

House Finch

American Goldfinch