Species

Great Blue Heron, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Canada Goose, Mallard, Ring-necked Duck, Hooded Merganser, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Wild Turkey, Belted Kingfisher, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Blue Jay, American Crow, Common Raven, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Red-breasted Nuthatch, White-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Eastern Bluebird, Hermit Thrush, American Robin, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Eastern Towhee, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, American Goldfinch

Bill Sefton reports:

A really lovely day to kick off the 2023 FUNA birding season. Plenty of sunshine and mild breezes made this a “light jacket” sort of day for the 10 birders attending this first Saturday of the month walk. We found some pretty good birds among the 39 species seen including at least a dozen Red-breasted Nuthatches working the pinecones near the parking area, a similar number of Golden-crowned Kinglets, and no less than 7 Common Ravens. We also had an adult Bald Eagle perched at the top of the power line tower right in front to the parking area – stayed there for at least 10 minutes!

We had the usual small army of White-throated Sparrows escorting us along the path to the river, and got nice views of Hermit Thrush, Swamp Sparrow, and some Eastern Bluebirds glowing in the sunlight as well. I’d have to give the Bird of the Day honors to the Red-breasted Nuthatches. It was so nice to see and hear that many of them all in the same place!

After we finished birding FUNA, we went over to the National Patuxent Research Refuge Visitor Center to finish the morning since our normal Horse pen ending location is still closed for construction.

White-breasted Nuthatch