Hi,
My weekend continued at Sky Meadows State Park where I had made reservations to
camp on Sat. night. Arriving much later than I wanted to, I saw and heard
various wildlife after attending the fun astronomy program at the park. I
heard two E. Screech-Owls calling while I walked to the campground. Canada
Geese often called from a nearby farm pond and I heard what I believe were
flying squirrels and foxes. Deer were present, too. It's fun to hike at
night.
Approx. 1/2 hour before sunrise today I again heard one of the screech-owls. I
think I also heard a distant Great Horned.
The next morning and early afternoon I birded the Gap Run Tr., Snowden Tr.,
Boston Mill Rd. as well as the Visitor Center and part of the Walnut Grove.
The park was packed on this beautiful fall weekend.
Most of the late Oct. migrants were present - kinglets, creepers, Winter Wren,
my first Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers of the season, Hermit Thrush, Yellow-rumped
Warblers and a nice variety of sparrows as well as a Phoebe. I saw 8 sparrow
species, including 2 imm. White-crowned Sparrows and a Lincoln's near where the
stream crosses Boston Mill Rd. Two more Lincoln's popped up in the part of the
Walnut Grove that lies above the first bend in the road past the contact
station. The most numerous sparrow today was Chipping.
All 7 woodpeckers, incl. 2 Red-headeds in the lower Walnut Grove and my first
Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers of the season (2 birds). One Red-headed was caching
nuts.
Kurt Gaskill mentioned that he hadn't heard Purple Finch at the park this fall
- I may have heard the "vireo call" of the Purple today or it could have been a
Blue-headed Vireo singing briefly.
Numerous Turkey Vultures soared over nearby fields and ridges while the
butterflies nectared on thistle and fluttered over the fields.
Happy birding,
Scott Baron
Vienna, Va.
