Very nice bird walk at Forsythe NWR this morning (our second walk of 2021), led by John Rokita and Lester Block. Somewhere around 55–60 species; Lester will probably post a complete list. The list will include at least 30 Wilson's snipe, around 50 Glossy Ibises, Osprey, Red-tailed Hawk, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Thrasher, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Northern Mockingbird, Pine Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Seaside Sparrow, Wood Duck, Bufflehead, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Greater Yellowlegs, Eastern Towhee, Purple Finch, Purple Martin, House Finch, American Goldfinch, Field Sparrow, Tree Swallow, Eastern Bluebird, Caspian Tern, Northern Shoveler, Carolina Wren, House Wren, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Double-Crested Cormorant, and Mute Swan.

Charles, Roz, and I joined Kevin Lippert (walk leader), Pat Taylor, Bill Elrick, Alice Sikora, Brandon Henry, and Shawn at Forsythe NWR for the first Saturday morning Atlantic Audubon bird walk of the season. It was 27 degrees when we started, but winds were light and skies were bright. Walks will continue every Saturday in April and May, beginning at 8 a.m. from the parking lot near the Visitor Center. All are welcome! MASKS REQUIRED, even if you're fully vaccinated.
​
Kevin tallied 54 species today, including Bald Eagle, Osprey, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Wilson's Snipe, Brown Thrasher, Eastern Towhee, Hermit Thrush, Pine Warbler, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Bluebird, Tree Swallow, Purple Martin, Northern Flicker, Downy/Hairy/Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Song/Swamp/Field/White-throated Sparrows, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Wood Duck, Northern Shoveler, Bufflehead, Carolina Wren, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Northern Cardinal, Yellow-rumped Warbler. Not bad for this early in the season and such a cold morning!

A beautiful crisp fall day for the fifth of our nine September-October Saturday morning Atlantic Audubon bird walks at Forsythe NWR. Eighty-one total species; highlights included Ovenbird, Common Gallinule, Blackburnian Warbler, Belted Kingfisher, Marsh Wren, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Clapper Rail, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, Northern Parula, Palm Warbler, Pine Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Golden- and Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Red-eyed Vireo, Brown Thrasher, Eastern Kingbird, Bald Eagle, Osprey, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Merlin, Gadwall, American Coot, Northern Pintail, Pied-billed Grebe, Greater Yellowlegs, Baltimore Oriole, and Caspian Tern. Thanks to Renee Rubin and Michael Stanton for keeping the group's complete bird list.
​
Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Volunteer-led Saturday Morning Bird Walk (22 participants)
Oct 03, 2020....7:44 AM - 1:24 PM (5 hrs 40 minutes).....Traveling 3.14 miles

20 Canada Goose, 21 Mute Swan, 7 Wood Duck, 5 Blue-winged Teal, 3 Gadwall, 11 Mallard, 2 American Black Duck, 1 Northern Pintail, 25 Green-winged Teal, 2 Wild Turkey, 7 Pied-billed Grebe, 5 Mourning Dove, 45 Chimney Swift -- Flocks migrating. After front. Pointed wings, not swallows., 2 Clapper Rail, 1 Common Gallinule, 2 American Coot, 1 Greater Yellowlegs, 6 Laughing Gull, 1 Herring Gull, 4 Caspian Tern, 1 Forster's Tern, 19 Double-crested Cormorant, 6 Great Blue Heron, 2 Great Egret, 1 Snowy Egret, 10 Turkey Vulture, 1 Osprey, 1 Northern Harrier, 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk, 2 Cooper's Hawk, 4 Bald Eagle, 3 Red-tailed Hawk, 3 Red-bellied Woodpecker, 3 Downy Woodpecker, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 2 Northern Flicker, 1 Merlin, 2 Alder/Willow Flycatcher (Traill's Flycatcher) — No sound. Lack of eye ring., 5 Eastern Phoebe, 5 Red-eyed Vireo, 23 Blue Jay, 15 American Crow, 7 Fish Crow, 7 Carolina Chickadee, 8 Tufted Titmouse, 15 Tree Swallow, 3 Golden-crowned Kinglet, 5 Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 1 White-breasted Nuthatch, 2 House Wren, 1 Marsh Wren, 5 Carolina Wren, 56 European Starling, 13 Gray Catbird, 1 Brown Thrasher, 1 Northern Mockingbird, 10 Eastern Bluebird, 1 House Sparrow, 5 House Finch, 12 American Goldfinch, 3 Savannah Sparrow, 3 Song Sparrow, 5 Swamp Sparrow, 1 Baltimore Oriole, 49 Red-winged Blackbird, 2 Brown-headed Cowbird, 1 Ovenbird, 7 Black-and-white Warbler, 8 Common Yellowthroat, 6 American Redstart, 7 Northern Parula, 1 Blackburnian Warbler, 2 Black-throated Blue Warbler, 2 Palm Warbler, 2 Pine Warbler, 5 Yellow-rumped Warbler, 4 Northern Cardinal, 1 Eastern Kingbird, 1 Belted kingfisher, 1 yellow-bellied sapsucker, Number of Taxa: 81

Another beautiful day for a birding field trip. John Rokita and Lester Block led. There were 18 participants. Our groups are limited to 15 because of covid, so we broke into two groups. Social distancing and masks required. We had 44 species and a couple of old friends! Here is our list:

Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Wood Duck, Blue-winged Teal, Mallard, American Black Duck, Pied-billed Grebe, Mourning Dove, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Clapper Rail, Dunlin, Laughing Gull, Herring Gull, Caspian Tern, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Merlin, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Eastern Kingbird, White-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, American Crow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Carolina Wren, Gray Catbird, American Goldfinch, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Yellow Warbler, Pine Warbler, Northern Cardinal

Today was the first walk of the fall 2020 season. The weather was excellent, 65 degrees to start with a light breeze to keep the bugs down, 80 degrees to end. Twenty-one birders (including myself) started the day so we spread out into two groups. Sixty-two species was the final count. They are as follows:

​Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Carolina Wren, Carolina Chickadee, Blue Jay, Great Crested Flycatcher, Northern (Yellow-shafted) Flicker, Black-and-white Warbler, Osprey, Laughing Gull, Northern Harrier, Great Blue Heron, American Goldfinch, Double-crested Cormorant, Herring Gull, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Marsh Wren, Clapper Rail, Little Blue Heron (immature), House Finch, Great Egret, Downy Woodpecker, Grey Catbird, Solitary Sandpiper, Barn Swallow, White-eyed Vireo, Eastern Bluebird, Bobolink, Blue Grosbeak, Mourning Dove, Prairie Warbler, Eastern Towhee, Common Yellowthroat, Northern Parula, Red-eyed Vireo, Red-winged Blackbird, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Glossy Ibis, Blue-winged Teal, American Crow, Mute Swan, Lesser Yellowlegs, Mallard, Wood Duck, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Canada Goose, Pied-billed Grebe, Pectoral Sandpiper, Least Bittern, Purple Martin, Turkey Vulture, Eastern Kingbird, Tufted Titmouse, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, House Wren, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Black Vulture, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Field Sparrow, and American Redstart.

​(From Charles H.) Another successful Atlantic Audubon bird walk at Forsythe NWR yesterday morning, despite a temperature of 45 degrees at the outset. Walk leader was Michael Stanton which included immature Bald Eagle, 2 Belted Kingfishers, 2 American Bitterns, a Wilson's Snipe, 2 American Wigeons, Northern Pintail, Northern Harriers, Hooded Merganser, lots of Wood Ducks, a Blue Grosbeak, Marsh Wren, Brown Thrasher, Boat-tailed Grackle, Eastern Phoebe, Swamp Sparrows, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Pied-billed Grebes, Great Blue Herons, Black- and Yellow-crowned Night-Herons, Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets, Greater Yellowlegs, Cooper's Hawk, Green- and Blue-winged Teal. 

Bird list from Saturday, September 21 bird walk at Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge. Seventeen people attended. Weather was great…few bugs. John Rokita and Lester Block led. You can view the eBird checklist here.
​
Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Wood Duck, Mallard, Hooded Merganser, Pied-billed Grebe, Mourning Dove, Chimney Swift, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Clapper Rail, Virginia Rail, Common Gallinule, Greater Yellowlegs, Laughing Gull, Herring Gull, Double-crested Cormorant, American Bittern, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret
Little Blue Heron, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Red-headed Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Eastern Phoebe, White-eyed Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, American Crow, Fish Crow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Tree Swallow, White-breasted Nuthatch, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Marsh Wren, Carolina Wren, European Starling, Gray Catbird, American Robin, American Goldfinch, Chipping Sparrow, Seaside Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Bobolink, Orchard Oriole, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Northern Waterthrush, Black-and-white Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Northern Parula, Yellow Warbler, Palm Warbler, Pine Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, Northern Cardinal.

The trip was led by John Rokita and Lester Block. The weather was perfect and we had a good turnout...17 people. Here is the bird list:  

​Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Wood Duck, Mallard, Hooded Merganser (Comments: continuing at Gull Pond),  Pied-billed Grebe, Mourning Dove, Chimney Swift, Clapper Rail, Greater Yellowlegs. Laughing Gull, Herring Gull. Caspian Tern, Common Tern, Forster's Tern, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Green Heron, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Glossy Ibis, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Northern Harrier. Bald Eagle, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Merlin, Eastern Kingbird, Blue Jay, American Crow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Carolina Wren, European Starling, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, American Robin, House Finch, American Goldfinch, Chipping Sparrow, Seaside Sparrow, Eastern Towhee. Red-winged Blackbird, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Pine Warbler, Northern Cardinal, Chimney Swift.
Additional species seen by Marian Jordan: Wild Turkey
Additional Species seen by Lester Block: Chestnut-sided Warbler​

Roz and I (Charles H.) went on the first three hours of this morning's Atlantic Audubon bird walk at Forsythe, led by Kevin Lippert. Beautiful weather, nice breeze, no bugs. Good looks at Clapper Rail, Marsh Wren, adult male Blue Grosbeak, Pied-Billed Grebe, Cedar Waxwing, adult Little Blue Heron, Glossy Ibis, Bobolink, immature Bald Eagle, Osprey, Peregrine Falcon, Red-tailed Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, male Hooded Merganser, Northern Parula, Wood Duck, Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Also saw White- and Red-eyed Vireo, Pine Warbler, Goldfinch, Downy Woodpecker, Forster's Tern, juvenile Black-crowned Night-Heron, immature Little Blue Heron, Snowy Egret, Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, Mute Swan, Greater Yellowlegs, Least Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Mourning Dove, Common (American) Crow, Fish Crow. And of course Mallard, Canada Goose, Red-winged Blackbird. Kevin will probably post a complete list. Others on the walk included John Rokita, Lester Block, Jan Beauvais, Marian Jordan, Alice Sikora, Glenn Englehardt, Kris Arcuri, Lisa Ryan, Mary Roche, Mary Ellen Rogers, Linda Mancuso, Jim Lehmann, Deb, Jason, Bill, Charley, and a few more.

​Join us for next Saturday's walk! Meet in the parking lot at 8:00 a.m. These walks are FREE and open to all. And we have a Special Use Permit from the Fish & Wildlife Service, permitting us to go into some areas that are closed to the public. The eBird checklist can be viewed here.