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DVOC Field Trip Report
by Art McMorris
Saturday May 19, 2007 - RIDLEY CREEK STATE PARK
| 5 members and 3 non-members joined leader Art McMorris for a field trip to the bridle trail area in the northern portion of Ridley Creek State Park near Newtown Square in Delaware County, PA. We had a gorgeous day for our trip. The predicted rain failed to materialize, and instead we had a blue sky with scattered clouds and a slight breeze, and temperatures that started out at 45 degrees at the start of the trip at 6:30 AM and rose to about 55 degrees by the time we finished at 11. The bridle trail is in a beautiful area of mixed broadleaf forest, with many very large old American beech and tulip trees. It roughly follows Ridley Creek and several small tributaries and also goes through more upland forested areas, and areas of scrub-shrub. At this time of year we typically find a good variety of breeders as well as late migrants. Our main targets were Kentucky and Hooded Warblers. In all we had a very good variety of birds, with
48 species being seen or heard. We found Hooded Warbler in the same spot
where they breed each year on the steep slope below the old family cemetery
in the woods. Other highlights included Yellow-billed Cuckoo, 5 species
of woodpeckers including Pileated, Acadian Flycatcher, abundant Wood Thrushes
and Veeries, 3 species of Vireos including Yellow-throated, 12 species
of warblers, Scarlet Tanager, Baltimore Oriole, and Indigo Bunting in
perfect light. However, the Kentucky Warblers chose not to make themselves
seen or heard, even though they had been seen recently in their customary
breeding territory. We also missed Louisiana Waterthrush, which breeds
early and has usually gone silent by this time of year. Instead we found
a migrant Northern Waterthrush. |
Birds seen and heard (48 species): Canada Goose |