Date: 6/4/25 5:04 pm From: David M via groups.io <davidpmassa...> Subject: [hmbirds] Garnsey Park Tuesday 6/3
Yesterday’s late morning walk at Garnsey Park, from roughly 10:00 AM to noon, took place under clear, blue skies and warm early June sun. The timing aligned well with a period of active breeding behavior, and nearly every species observed showed signs of territoriality or nesting.
Just beyond the main entrance, the first Bluebird box held a highly active pair of Tree Swallows. They were delivering food to the nest and flying tight defensive patterns around the area, even making a few low passes toward me as I walked by. This was consistent with nearly every other nest box in the park — most of the Bluebird boxes appear to have been overtaken by breeding Tree Swallows, which were highly vocal and strongly territorial throughout.
Deeper into the trail system, an Eastern Towhee appeared visibly alert and agitated — almost certainly defending a nest nearby. A Red-eyed Vireo was similarly startled as I passed, sticking close to a specific perch and calling intermittently. Another bird, which I couldn’t confidently identify, displayed the same kind of nest-guarding behavior.
A surprise moment came when a Common Nighthawk flew overhead — fast and silent. I happened to glance up at just the right moment to catch it as it moved across the sky in a northwesterly direction, seemingly crossing over Route 146. The white patches near the wingtips and pale underside of the tail made the ID clear.
Eastern Bluebirds were seen in small numbers, and Red-eyed Vireos were consistently vocal throughout the canopy. Warbler activity was limited; Merlin and I noted only Common Yellowthroat, Yellow Warbler, and an Ovenbird calling from dense ground cover — none of which were seen. With the heavy leaf cover, most detections were auditory rather than visual.
At the back edge of the park near the working farm, a male Scarlet Tanager was visible high in the treetops along the field line — a standout species for the day. On the return route, back near the parking lot and just to the right of the entrance, a pair of Red-tailed Hawks were being heavily mobbed by Red-winged Blackbirds. Three to four blackbirds at a time repeatedly dive-bombed the hawks in an intense display of nest defense within the tall pines.
Aside from a short waterlogged stretch on the Blue Trail — approximately 15–20 yards — trail conditions were dry and in good shape. Overall, it was a productive and behaviorally rich late morning, offering a clear window into early summer nesting activity at the park.
