Sixteen participants joined trip leader Dhananjaya Katju on a near-perfect spring morning at the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. As the group strolled along the water lily ponds, Red-eared Slider turtles soaked in the sunshine, while Barn and Tree swallows hawked insects. Resident Canada Geese were in reproductive mode. Brooding females were visible along dykes separating the ponds. One goose nest-site was rather creative….on the exposed root system of a fallen tree (see photo; goose is visible at roughly 3 o'clock).

The day clearly belonged to raptors, warblers and sparrows. Seven different kinds of birds of prey were sighted, including a Northern Harrier. Ospreys were abundant and the group had more than one observation of individual birds sailing by with fish gripped in its talons. A few participants who stuck it out till the very end of the trip were treated to the sighting of an American Kestrel perched over the open meadows of Kenilworth park.

The first half of the walk was deficient in warblers. The only species to be observed was the Common Yellowthroat. However, in the final minutes of the trip, the group chanced upon a singing Ovenbird, as well as a vocalizing Yellow Warbler and Northern Parula.  

Of the five sparrow species observed, the most noteworthy was a Savannah Sparrow that a few participants were lucky enough to sight in the open meadows of Kenilworth Park. Its attempts to get away from the pesky humans intent on getting a satisfying look at it were rather rodent-like as it made short crouching runs through the grass that were interspersed with periods of frozen immobility.

Species that were notable by virtue of their not being recorded were Great Egret, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Red-eyed Vireo, and Eastern Towhee.

Canada Goose

Mallard

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Osprey

Bald Eagle

Northern Harrier

Cooper’s Hawk

Red-shouldered Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

American Kestrel

Greater Yellowlegs

Solitary Sandpiper

Ring-billed Gull

Rock Pigeon

Mourning Dove

Chimney Swift

Belted Kingfisher

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Eastern Phoebe

Eastern Kingbird

Blue Jay

American Crow

Fish Crow

Tree Swallow

Barn Swallow

Carolina Chickadee

Tufted Titmouse

Carolina Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Eastern Bluebird

Hermit Thrush

American Robin

Northern Mockingbird

Brown Thrasher

European Starling

Northern Parula

Yellow Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Palm Warbler

Ovenbird

Field Sparrow

Savannah Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Swamp Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow

Northern Cardinal

Red-winged Blackbird

Rusty Blackbird

Common Grackle

Brown-headed Cowbird

American Goldfinch