Fort River Refuge Walk

There were eight adult members and one junior birder (5-yr old) that gathered to enjoy a sunny and warm morning at Fort River Refuge. While waiting for everyone to meet, we began our bird list from the parking lot, spotting Tree, Rough-winged, Bank and Barn Swallows, Red-winged Blackbirds, Mourning Dove, Grackles, Starlings, Blue Jays, Robins, Cedar Waxwings and Bobolinks. The highlight bird here was the Purple Martin!

As we walked along the 1-mile path we saw Northern Flicker, Red-bellied, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, Orchard oriole, Eastern Bluebird, Willow Flycatcher, Brown Thrasher, Black-capped Chickadees and Tufted Titmouse.  

The birds seen along our walk on Moody Bridge Road near the pond and fields were Common Yellowthroat, Catbird, Wood Thrush, Goldfinch, House Wren, Phoebe, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Cardinals, Song and Field Sparrow, Carolina Wren, Veery, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Great Crested Flycatcher; Red-eyed Vireo, Eastern Kingbird, Belted Kingfisher, more Bobolinks and an American Kestrel. In the pond were female Wood Duck with ducklings, and Mallards.

We all had a great morning, despite the thousands of mosquitoes from all the rain the day before.  We managed to identify a total of 47 species!