[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Landsford Canal SP, 7/15




A trip to Landsford Canal State Park in northeastern Chester county today
yielded Molly Bonnell and I some excellent looks at birds that can be found
typically breeding in the Piedmont. We found no real suprises but had a busy
day for July.  And best of all, the "Spring/Summer of the Warbler Fledge"
ends on a real high note.  Details are below.

Prothonotary Warbler - by far, the most numerous bird today, outnumbering
even chickadees and titmice, and most usually found in small family groups.
The first family of Prothonotaries we found came into a honeysuckle tangle
as we stood quietly by the tangle, sorting out a few birds higher in the
trees.  We could almost reach out and pet the two fledges in this family.

Louisiana Waterthrush - despite six years of observations of the Louisiana
Watethrush in the creekbottom, I had never seen a Louisiana Waterthrush
fledge. I usually hear only a very rare "cheenk" from the Waterthrush after
June in the creekbottom.  Today, not only were the Waterthrush fledges
popping out and sitting on bare limbs ahead of us, one fledge decided to
practice singing as we walked slowly by.  If this is the last of my views of
this year's warbler fledges, what a way to close it out! 

Yellow-billed Cuckoo - walking along quietly, Molly and I came upon the
Cuckoo feeding on the ground and then, upon seeing us, fairly quickly
working his way up through the understory, hop-flapping from one branch to
another.

Other birds found included Red-winged Blackbirds in the low islands of grass
in the Catawba river, Broad-winged Hawk (along Hwy. #21), Eastern Meadowlark
(also along Hwy. #21), one Great Egret and one Great Blue Heron standing on
the rocks in the middle of the Catawba.

Landsford Canal is a pretty park and is yet another place that goes on the
list of places to visit during migration. 
Donna Bailey
Winnsboro, SC
e-mail: dsbailey@conterra.com
URL: http://www.conterra.com/dsbailey
     "Where are the Birds?  Migration across South Carolina"