Date: 9/23/25 5:37 pm From: Thomas, Brady Scott <bst5117...> Subject: 9/23 Bird Walk at Millbrook Marsh
This morning, 24 birders gathered at Millbrook Marsh to see what the overcast day had in store for them. The first highlight of the day was the wet ground and other signs of the much-welcomed recent rain.
Doug kicked us off by having us share our spark birds—the birds that got us into birding. As I shared, I was taken back to that fateful day when I took an old camera and pair of binoculars out to try and ID that "big bird I had seen flying around some fields" to later discover that it was a Northern Harrier. I also discovered that this birding thing was pretty fun. It was a joy to hear others share the birds and experiences that got them into birding.
In keeping with the bird 'walk,' we set off on the Millbrook Marsh loop. We had some fleeting glimpses of a Common Yellowthroat by the stream, a look at an adolescent Blue Jay holding an acorn in their mouth, and an American Robin flitting around the trees.
Moving alongside the road, we had a distant raven that so many of us were focused on, that we almost missed the Red-tailed hawk sitting on the telephone pole in front of us. As we stood watching the Red-tail fly around (and some Blue Jays think twice about mobbing them), a Cooper's Hawk flew right past us off into the Marsh!
We had some views, albeit backlit ones, of a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker making their way through some of the trees. This sapsucker was the beginning of our attempt to get the notorious Woodpecker Sweep of the 7 woodpeckers of Pennsylvania! We later added Downy, Hairy, and Red-bellied woodpeckers, getting over halfway to our goal (the Flicker, Pileated, and Red-headed would continue to evade us).
Along the Boardwalk, a Kingfisher kept us company with her rattling and aerial displays as she flew back and forth along the creek, eventually perching in a branch long enough for us to get some good views, before taking off again.
The chickadees and nuthatches were busy in the canopy and watching them lead to us finding a Yellow-rumped Warbler high in the trees. Nearing the end of our walk, we had another Common Yellowthroat (or maybe the same one from earlier?) and a Rose-breasted Grosbeak. After sharing out our highlights from the morning, we had one last surprise—an adult Bald Eagle flew right over us. Halfway to an eagle sweep!
Thanks to Doug for leading us, and to Mandy and Susan at Millbrook Marsh for hosting us!
There are two more Migration Mornings at Shaver's Creek, tomorrow and October 1, both from 7:30am to 9:00am. This Thursday will be the last Morning Bird Walk at the PSU Arboretum from 8:00am to 9:30am. Next Tuesday (the 30th) will be the last of the Millbrook March Bird walks from 8:00am to 9:30am.
Happy Birding!
Brady Thomas
(he/him)
Education Program Coordinator
School Programs and Summer Camp
Shaver's Creek Environmental Center
3400 Discovery Road
Petersburg, PA, 16669
