Was It a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher at Sweet Run?
Eastern Ratsnake.
Photo by Joe Coleman
Because 24 people showed up for the May 24 bird walk at Sweet Run State Park on a beautiful spring day, we decided to split into two groups: one led by Michael Sciortino and John Denice and the other by Joe Coleman and Kevin Denice.
Both groups traveled basically the same route, but one took the Farmstead Loop clockwise while the other went counter-clockwise. The two groups together found 59 species with the highlights being a rather late Hermit Thrush, seen by the group led by Michael and John, nine different warbler species, including Cerulean, Kentucky and Hooded Warblers, and a snake. The snake, a young Eastern Ratsnake, was seen by one of the groups as it crawled down a tree right next to the trail and only a couple of feet from us.
Mystery flycatcher.
Photo by Vani Rupela
Flycatchers were also abundant and led to a search for an uncommon Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, which was heard by the Merlin app but not heard or found by any of us. Flycatchers in the genus Empidonax are difficult to tell apart unless they vocalize, and while quite a few Acadian Flycatchers did, the flycatcher in question did not.
Right before the walk began Meg Doppee, the Park Interpreter, thanked Joe Coleman and Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy and presented an award for outstanding customer service for coordinating and leading bird walks at the park.
For the lists of birds recorded during the walk, see below or view on eBird at: https://ebird.org/checklist/S241984478 and https://ebird.org/checklist/S241979588.
Species List for Michael and John’s Group
Canada Goose 2
Mourning Dove 2
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1
Chimney Swift 1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 3
Green Heron 1
Black Vulture 1
Turkey Vulture 2
Red-shouldered Hawk 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 3
Downy Woodpecker 1
Pileated Woodpecker 2
Eastern Wood-Pewee 6
Acadian Flycatcher 8
Eastern Phoebe 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 6
Eastern Kingbird 1
White-eyed Vireo 1
Yellow-throated Vireo 2
Red-eyed Vireo 12
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 1
Common Raven 1
Carolina Chickadee 4
Tufted Titmouse 6
Tree Swallow 8
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 6
Northern House Wren 2
Carolina Wren 3
Gray Catbird 1
Northern Mockingbird 2
Eastern Bluebird 6
Hermit Thrush 1
Wood Thrush 4
Cedar Waxwing 12
House Finch 1
American Goldfinch 4
Chipping Sparrow 6
Field Sparrow 3
Eastern Towhee 1
Yellow-breasted Chat 1
Orchard Oriole 1
Brown-headed Cowbird 1
Louisiana Waterthrush 3
Kentucky Warbler 3
Common Yellowthroat 5
American Redstart 6
Cerulean Warbler 1
Northern Parula 3
Bay-breasted Warbler 1
Yellow Warbler 1
Scarlet Tanager 1
Northern Cardinal 4
Indigo Bunting 3
Species List for Joe and Kevin’s Group
Canada Goose 2
Mourning Dove 1
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 2
Chimney Swift 1
Green Heron 1
Black Vulture 1
Turkey Vulture 3
Red-shouldered Hawk 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 3
Downy Woodpecker 2
Pileated Woodpecker 2
Eastern Wood-Pewee 7
Acadian Flycatcher 11
Eastern Phoebe 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 4
Eastern Kingbird 1
White-eyed Vireo 3
Yellow-throated Vireo 1
Red-eyed Vireo 13
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 2
Fish Crow 1
Common Raven 2
Carolina Chickadee 6
Tufted Titmouse 3
Tree Swallow 7
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 10
Northern House Wren 1
Carolina Wren 3
Gray Catbird 1
Brown Thrasher 1
Eastern Bluebird 4
Wood Thrush 4
American Robin 2
Cedar Waxwing 12
House Finch 2
American Goldfinch 4
Chipping Sparrow 2
Field Sparrow 2
Eastern Towhee 2
Yellow-breasted Chat 1
Red-winged Blackbird 1
Brown-headed Cowbird 6
Louisiana Waterthrush 3
Kentucky Warbler 5
Common Yellowthroat 5
Hooded Warbler 1
American Redstart 6
Cerulean Warbler 1
Northern Parula 3
Bay-breasted Warbler 2
Scarlet Tanager 3
Northern Cardinal 5
Indigo Bunting 4
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