The Stroud Preserve, 11 April 2013

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DUTCHMAN'S BREECHES Dicentra cucullaria (L.) Bernh. 26 March 2012, Stroud Preserve, West Chester, Chester County, Pennsylvania. Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE …

DUTCHMAN'S BREECHES Dicentra cucullaria (L.) Bernh. 26 March 2012, Stroud Preserve, West Chester, Chester County, Pennsylvania.

I had not intended visit the preserve today because I had to take my children to the doctor in the morning. However, when I got finished with the kids it was so nice out that I reconsidered. Also, the weather forecast indicated that tomorrow might be the better day for staying at home.

Since I got a late start I didn’t have high expectations for birds. I ended up with 54 species and two new first of the year birds, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher and House Wren. It was a good day for raptors (6) and warblers (3) and I observed a Field Sparrow collecting nesting material. In the non-bird category I saw a northern water snake, red fox, and morning cloak (butterfly). All in all, a pretty good day!

Start time: 11:00

End time: 1:15

Temp: 70-73°

Wind: 8 from the east

Skies: high clouds

Species Total: 54

  • Black Vulture – 2
  • Turkey Vulture – approximately 10
  • Canada Goose – 6
  • Wood Duck – 2
  • Mallard – 1
  • Osprey – 1
  • Bald Eagle – 1, adult
  • Sharp-shinned Hawk – 1, adult
  • Cooper's Hawk – 3, 2 adults, 1 immature. For the second day in a row, I saw an adult and an immature conducting pair bonding behavior.
  • Red-tailed Hawk – 3, 2 adults, 1 immature
  • American Kestrel – 1 male
  • Mourning Dove – 1, heard only
  • Chimney Swift – at least 2, heard only
  • Belted Kingfisher – 1, heard only
  • Red-bellied Woodpecker – approximately 10
  • Downy Woodpecker – approximately 10
  • Hairy Woodpecker – 2
  • Northern Flicker – approximately 10
  • Eastern Phoebe – 3
  • Blue Jay – 6
  • American Crow – approximately 10
  • Fish Crow – 2
  • Tree Swallow – approximately 75
  • Northern Rough-winged Swallow – approximately 20
  • Barn Swallow – approximately 10
  • Carolina Chickadee – approximately 15
  • Tufted Titmouse – approximately 25
  • White-breasted Nuthatch – 3
  • Carolina Wren – 3
  • House Wren – 2, FOY
  • Golden-crowned Kinglet – approximately 8
  • Ruby-crowned Kinglet – approximately 10
  • Blue-gray Gnatcatcher – 1, FOY
  • Eastern Bluebird – approximately 20
  • American Robin – approximately 20
  • Northern Mockingbird – 2
  • Brown Thrasher – 2
  • European Starling – 5
  • Yellow-rumped Warbler – 2
  • Pine Warbler – 3
  • Palm Warbler – approximately 10
  • Eastern Towhee – approximately 8, heard only
  • Chipping Sparrow – 2
  • Field Sparrow – approximately 10
  • Savannah Sparrow – 11
  • Song Sparrow – approximately 40
  • Swamp Sparrow – 6
  • White-throated Sparrow – approximately 15
  • Dark-eyed Junco – 1
  • Northern Cardinal – approximately 12
  • Red-winged Blackbird – approximately 30
  • Common Grackle – 1
  • Brown-headed Cowbird – approximately 10
  • American Goldfinch – 4