While the birding was slower than we had hoped, it was still a beautiful morning to be outside on October 26, especially since the fall foliage was at its peak. With leaves falling all around us, the group of eight birders managed to find 27 species. Although the number of species was disappointing, some of the birds weren’t. We were greeted in the parking lot by a flyover immature Bald Eagle and a very vocal Common Raven.

Flocks of Cedar Waxwings seemed to be everywhere and were constantly moving around to any tree that had ripe berries, making it very difficult to count them.  Almost as soon as we entered the mature forest to the west of the Demory Field, we started hearing and seeing Golden-crowned Kinglets. As we walked along Piney Run we conservatively estimated there were at least 10 of them. We were also pleased to find six of the seven woodpecker species that winter here, missing only the Red-headed Woodpecker.

The walk was lead by Joe Coleman and Anne Ellis with assistance from Michael Sciortino. For a complete list of the birds observed, see the list below or view on eBird at: https://ebird.org/checklist/S200316273. Register for the November bird walk at Sweet Run through the event calendar.

Birding at Sweet Run. Photo by Michael Sciortino

Species List
Mourning Dove 3
Black Vulture 1
Turkey Vulture 4
Bald Eagle 1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 4
Red-bellied Woodpecker 7
Downy Woodpecker 2
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Pileated Woodpecker 3
Northern Flicker 5
Eastern Phoebe 1
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 60
Common Raven 1
Carolina Chickadee 4
Tufted Titmouse 3
Golden-crowned Kinglet 10
White-breasted Nuthatch 5
Carolina Wren 8
Northern Mockingbird 2
Eastern Bluebird 8
Hermit Thrush 2
American Robin 3
Cedar Waxwing 129
American Goldfinch 1
White-throated Sparrow 17
Northern Cardinal 4

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