Another Beautiful Bird Walk at Sweet Run State Park

Birders on a trail at Sweet Run State Park

Photo by Scott Harris

Nineteen people showed up on a beautiful summer morning on July 22 for the monthly bird walk at Sweet Run State Park, led by John Denice and Jane Yocom. After a welcome from Park Ranger Meg Doppee, we got underway the Piney Branch Spur and the Farmstead Loop trails. The highlights of the morning, in addition to the lovely weather, were singing Yellow-throated Vireos (seen by only a few), multiple Acadian Flycatchers vocalizing along the trail and great looks at a male American Redstart. As we gathered to tally at the end, we were able to add a number of additional species to our list including a very cooperative female Orchard Oriole, Brown Thrashers and both Turkey and Black Vultures.

See below for the complete species list or view on eBird at: https://ebird.org/checklist/S145327400.

Species List:
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 20
Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) 1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) 2
Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) 2
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) 5
new world vulture sp. (Cathartidae sp.) 1
Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 5
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) 8
Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) 3
Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens) 8
Acadian Flycatcher (Empidonax virescens) 19
Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus) 2
White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus) 2
Yellow-throated Vireo (Vireo flavifrons) 2
Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) 12
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 1
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 5
Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis) 6
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) 10
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) 2
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) 7
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) 12
House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) 1
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) 8
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) 1
Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) 3
Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) 6
Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) 3
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 2
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) 2
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) 2
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 11
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) 3
Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla) 6
Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) 4
Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens) 1
Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius) 1
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) 1
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) 1
Louisiana Waterthrush (Parkesia motacilla) 2
Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) 7
American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) 1
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) 2
Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea) 1
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 11
Blue Grosbeak (Passerina caerulea) 1
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) 10
passerine sp. (Passeriformes sp.) 5