Stebbins Refuge Morning Walk

A very bundled-up group (will we ever be able to shed our down coats and boots?) of 16 birders met on a very cool spring morning to look for early migrants.  Ruby-crowned Kinglets were abundant, as were Yellow-rumped and Palm Warblers.  Some participants got good looks at a newly arrived Yellow Warbler after hearing others at a distance.  It sometimes is an advantage to be at the back of a group.   

A first-of-year bird for everyone was a Rose-breasted Grosbeak.  It perched and sang its lovely song almost directly above us - a special treat.  Other new arrivals were a Green Heron flyover as the group was gathering, a Gray Catbird chattering in the tangles, a couple of Eastern Towhees, and several Chimney Swifts.

A lingering Hermit Thrush popped up along the Natti Trail as did several White-throated Sparrows.

Checking the skies, we had a Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawks, Red-shouldered Hawk, and a Broad-winged Hawk.

In spite of the chill, there was warm sunshine and plenty of birdsong giving us a total of 39 species.