Yellow-billed Cuckoo.
Photo by Raghavendra Nandyala

The very hot and humid weather on July 13 did not dampen the spirits of the birds nor the birders on the Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve walk.  The group of 14 birders was led by Jane Yocom, Dori Rhodes, Mary Ann Good, Pat Whittle and Joe Coleman.

At the beginning of the walk, in a tree behind the Visitor Center a fuss was being made by Northern Mockingbirds, Brown Thrashers and American Robins.  A huge Eastern Rat Snake was spotted high in the tree coiled around what we think is a juvenile Northern Mockingbird.  It was amazing but also sad to watch.

It was nice to see three American Bald Eagles soaring over head: two immature and one adult.  A Wild Turkey was spotted close to the trail, and we got a great look at a Yellow-billed Cuckoo.

The complete list of 46 bird species seen is listed below and can be viewed on eBird at: https://ebird.org/checklist/S186841807.

Eastern Rat Snake up a tree.
Photo by Raghavendra Nandyala

Species List
1 Wild Turkey
4 Mourning Dove
3 Yellow-billed Cuckoo
2 Ruby-throated Hummingbird
1 Great Blue Heron
2 Turkey Vulture
3 Bald Eagle
1 Red-shouldered Hawk
1 Red-tailed Hawk
2 Red-bellied Woodpecker
1 Downy Woodpecker
1 Northern Flicker
3 Eastern Wood-Pewee
2 Great Crested Flycatcher
1 Eastern Kingbird
2 White-eyed Vireo
1 Warbling Vireo
5 Red-eyed Vireo
3 Blue Jay
4 American Crow
1 Fish Crow
2 Carolina Chickadee
6 Tufted Titmouse
5 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
8 House Wren
4 Carolina Wren
1 European Starling
5 Gray Catbird
5 Brown Thrasher
5 Northern Mockingbird
7 Eastern Bluebird
19 American Robin
2 Cedar Waxwing
1 House Sparrow
1 House Finch
15 American Goldfinch
2 Chipping Sparrow
7 Field Sparrow
5 Eastern Towhee
4 Yellow-breasted Chat
1 Brown-headed Cowbird
6 Common Yellowthroat
1 Prairie Warbler
2 Scarlet Tanager
20 Northern Cardinal
8 Indigo Bunting

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