Stebbins Refuge Morning Walk

Ten people met up at Bark Haul Road for a 3-hour walk on a cool Saturday morning. We started on the left trail headed towards the boardwalk. It was a slow start until the sun started to warm things up. Along the way we sighted many Song Sparrows and a few Red-eyed Vireos and Eastern Phoebes. As we made our way to the Boardwalk the 20 or so Wood Ducks could be heard and seen making their way to the other side of the marsh. We had an Ovenbird seen along the boardwalk. A Kingfisher was also more than willing to pose for pictures.

As we made our way into ‘Warbler Corner’ we were greeted with Warbling Vireo, Northern Parula, Redstarts, (F) Oriole, Solitary Sandpiper, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers. After returning to the parking lot, a few of us decided to go over to the sandbar off West Road. A Merlin was observed Pondside preening in a tree in the middle of the marsh. We were rewarded at the sandbar with scope views of a Black-bellied Plover that had been reported for the past few days. A nice ending to the Saturday morning walk.