September 22 Field Trip Report

On the northwest platform of Black Lake Park

What a difference a week makes!  Last Saturday at Hoffmaster and Black Lake Parks the weather was warm and muggy and the mosquitoes were thick.  Today at the same locations we only encountered mosquitoes along the south path of Black Lake Park, but not many.  This morning was cool (cold?) and beautiful as eight of us found 41 bird species.

Our only identifiable warblers were Nashville and Wilson's, though there were several others in the Hoffmaster trees.  Other species included Ruby-crowned Kinglet, White- and Red-breasted Nuthatch, six woodpeckers (Downy, Hairy, Red-bellied, Red-headed, Pileated and Northern Flicker), Ring-necked Duck, Pied-billed Grebe, three hawks (Red-shouldered, Red-tailed, and a migrating Sharp-shinned), four sparrows (Chipping, White-throated, Song and Swamp), Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Red-eyed Vireo and Cedar Waxwing.

Monarch at Black Lake Park

Pied-billed Grebe on Black Lake

Relaxing after walking through the Black Lake woods.