Twenty-one people showed up for Saturday’s bird walk at Sweet Run State Park on a particularly nice January morning. Due to the numbers, we split into two groups and headed to separate areas of the Park. Michael Sciortino, John Denice, Scott Harris and 10 others stayed on the north side from the visitor’s center and birded that area while Carol Sottili and Joe Coleman took a group down to the south side (Sawmill Road).

Golden-crowned Kinglet.
Photo by Michael Sciortino

The early morning fog lifted to reveal beautiful blue skies by mid-morning. Temperatures were in the high 40s and rose into the 50s while we birded. We started to shed layers of clothing as the morning went on, and there was little to no wind.

Having had our first 80 degree day in January the day before, the birds seemed particularly active, as if spring might be near. One group saw over 40 American Goldfinches and dozens of Eastern Bluebirds, some of whom seemed eager to get into their bluebird boxes and get started making families. This is quite a bit earlier than normal.

Other highlights from the group that stayed near the visitor’s center were a nice collection of woodpeckers, half a dozen Hermit Thrushes down by Piney Run, and over 100 Canada Geese that flew noisily by (is there any other way for Canada Geese?) in various flocks. We also had excellent looks at a couple of batches of Golden-crowned Kinglets with some flashing beautiful colors.

As soon as Joe and Carol’s group parked at the end of Sawmill Road they were greeted by a number of birds including a Hairy Woodpecker as well as multiple Eastern Towhees, one of which was perched high in the scrub loudly complaining about our presence.

And, while it was a beautiful winter morning for a walk, it wasn’t that birdy. A couple of Red-tailed Hawks and a Red-shouldered Hawk flew past. A Hermit Thrush and interacting Pileated Woodpeckers were seen in the brush near Sweet Run along Butterfly Alley.

For a complete list of the birds observed on this January 27 walk see the lists below or view on eBird at https://ebird.org/va/checklist/S159908595 and https://ebird.org/checklist/S159928911.

Photo by Michael Sciortino