May Evening Bird Walk Report

Date: Wednesday, May 17, 2023
Location: Little Met Wetlands, Rocky River Reservation
Leaders:  Al Rand, Bill Deininger, and Nancy Howell
Results: 11 Birders, 53 species and 1 taxa
Report by: Nancy Howell

The first of our 2023 Evening Bird Walks had a nice group with several new people who had seen the listing online. The evening’s weather was cool but clear and the 11 participants were eager to see what we could find. Bill Deininger, who knows the area well, hoped for a couple of species that were sighted earlier … and we were able to locate them! Spring is always good for migrants, but we also were treated to birds constructing nests or caring for young that had already hatched. 

Being near a golf course and wetlands brought out Canada Geese, also sighted were Mallards and Wood Duck hens with ducklings in tow. In one wetland area, at least 4 female Red-winged Blackbirds had nests, almost like a loose colony. Interesting. The wetlands were also an attraction to Great Blue Heron and Green Heron. A single Great Blue Heron nest (usually they nest in colonies) had a bird sitting on the nest. Northern Rough-winged, Tree and Barn Swallows flew over the wetlands, river, and open golf course areas. Common Yellowthroat and Yellow Warbler, both species that like wetland areas, were noted and later a Northern Waterthrush was found. Nice. The dead trees in and around the wetlands were home to Downy, Red-bellied, and Red-headed Woodpeckers. House Wren and Black-capped Chickadees also use the cavities that woodpeckers create. 

The wooded valley held a number of species. Turkey Vultures glided overhead, as did a Red-tailed Hawk. A single Barred Owl called from the woods too.. Pileated Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Warbling Vireo, Blue Jay, American Crow and three thrush species, Veery, Swainson’s, and Wood were located either by sight or sound. Brushy and edge habitats held White-breasted Nuthatch, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, European Starling, Gray Catbird, American Robin, House Finch, American Goldfinch, Chipping, White-throated, and Song Sparrows. Several Baltimore Orioles were singing or chasing one another and a newly made nest was found in a Sycamore tree. We admired its construction. Common Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird, and Northern Cardinal also made the list. 

​It was the footpath along the river that some of the more unusual species were found, an Olive-sided Flycatcher was seen by everyone as it flew across the river and perched for a long while on a branch. It was first noted by its call, “pep-pep-pep”, given a couple of times. An Eastern Kingbird also hawked for insects over the river. Three additional warblers were found, Mourning (seen or heard by a few), Palm, and Wilson’s. A good variety of birds for the evening walk. 

Bird List 
#          Species                                 - Count
1. Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) - 17
2. Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)  - 30
3. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  - 4
4. Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)  - 4
5. Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica) - 7
6. Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) - 3
7. Great Blue Heron (Aredea herodius) - 3
8. Green Heron (Butorides virescens) - 4
9. Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) - 3
10. Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) - 1
11. Barred Owl (Stryx varia) - 1
12. Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) - 4
13. Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) - 3
14. Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) - 2
15. Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus) - 2
16. Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) - 1
17. Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) - 1
18. Olive-sided Flycatcher (Contopus cooperi) - 1
19. Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens)  - 1
Empidonax sp.  - 1
20. Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) - 3
21. Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus) - 3
22. Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) - 3
23. American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) - 1
24. Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) - 3
25. Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) - 1
26. Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis) - 8
27. Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) - 8
28. Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) - 4
29. White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) - 1
30. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) - 2
31. House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) - 1
32. European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) - 6
33. Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) - 3
34. Veery (Catharus fuscescens) - 1
35. Swainson’s Thrush (Catharus ustulatus) - 3
36. Wood Thrush (Hylocicla mustelina) - 1
37.  American Robin (Turdus migratorius) - 10
38. House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) - 3
39. House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) - 5
40. American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) - 5
41. Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) - 1
42. White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) - 1
43. Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) - 3
44. Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) - 9
45. Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) 17
46. Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) - 7
47. Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) - 8
48. Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis) - 1
49. Mourning Warbler (Geothlypus philadelphia) - 1
50. Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypus trichas) - 1
51. Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum) - 1
52. Wilson’s Warbler (Cardellina pusilla) - 2
53. Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) - 3