To get a snapshot of the birds at Sweet Run State Park on April 26, three groups (24 people total) surveyed three different parts of the park simultaneously for Loudoun Wildlife’s Celebrate Birds. One group visited the southern portion of the park along Sawmill Road, a second group visited Arnold Road and Trail and walked back to Gordon Pond, while the third group began at the Visitor Center and walked the Farmstead Loop and Piney Run Spur. The leaders of the three groups were Larry Meade, Michael Sciortino, John Denice, Kevin Denice, Joe Coleman, Mary Ann Good and Gerry Hawkins.

Kentucky Warbler.
Photo by Michael Sciortino

While it was humid all morning and drizzled on and off for the first hour or so, the birds were abundant with a total of 68 species observed including several first-of-season species for most of us. Yellow-breasted Chats were both very visible and vocal as were a few Kentucky Warblers, one of which posed for the Gordon Pond groups.  A Scarlet Tanager, more often heard than seen, also posed for the Gordon Pond group.

Other species were incredibly abundant with the three groups finding a total of 20 Common Yellowthroats and 29 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers.  Eleven warbler species were observed with the highlights being the Kentucky Warblers and a Yellow-throated Warbler. And two of the teams got to hear a Barred Owl calling “who cooks for you.”

The complete list of birds recorded by each group can be viewed on eBird at: https://ebird.org/checklist/S229622867, https://ebird.org/checklist/S229740727 and https://ebird.org/checklist/S229593199.

Photo by Michael Sciortino

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