Despite a rather slow beginning, my survey today (19 April) turned out to be
rather productive. Ovenbirds have arrived; there were 11 today, mostly in the
Pond Trail area. I observed 4 Palm warblers in the North Marsh (the trail to
the left off the Hike-Bike Trail and just above the Pond Trail). I found 4
Brown Trashers and 4 Field Sparrows in the Main Meadow with a possible breeding
pair of both species. I ran into Andy Resnik and David Boltz who reported a
thrasher with nesting material. Also, Field Sparrows have failed to breed at
Huntley for several years, so today's pair makes me cautiously hopeful.
Rusty Blackbirds are still pushing through. I counted 230 in the Main Meadow.
I had a nice assortment of sparrows today besides the Field, consiting of
Eastern Towhee, Chipping, Savannah, Song, Swamp, and White-throated. I
encountered almost a dozen Ruby-crowned Kinglets, all singing. Finally, a
White-eyed Vireo was vocalizing to the right of the platform at the end of the
Hike-Bike Trail.
Larry Cartwright
prowarbler@xxxxxxxxxxx
