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Date: 11/5/26 10:36 am From: Gyekis, Joseph Peter <jpg186...> Subject: fall field trips
Hi Everyone, I haven't updated on field trips since early Sept, but luckily there are eBird checklists to jog some of my memories. The walks at Penn State's arboretum were weekly on Thursdays through Sept and then first Thurs of the month from Oct to Dec. * Sept 3 we had heavy rain and mostly the few of us who stuck it out hid under the awning and admired the storm https://ebird.org/checklist/S389365111<https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Febird.org%2Fchecklist%2FS389365111&data=05%7C02%<7CSCBIRDCL...>%7C8976040bfd474b5f8e8008df3b6ba924%7C7cf48d453ddb4389a9c1c115526eb52e%7C0%7C0%7C639295005718800070%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=XHFua3RczTgftFJtk%2B17juHgY9CxGxc8cecGFw8ZHjI%3D&reserved=0> * Sept 10 was a glorious day with amazing views of cuckoos, merlin, and some warblers https://ebird.org/atlaspa/checklist/S391545571<https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Febird.org%2Fatlaspa%2Fchecklist%2FS391545571&data=05%7C02%<7CSCBIRDCL...>%7C8976040bfd474b5f8e8008df3b6ba924%7C7cf48d453ddb4389a9c1c115526eb52e%7C0%7C0%7C639295005718821470%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=kKz3EXZUUih0IqK0R18bU5IFRwqyCcID6vaXUYfxx6I%3D&reserved=0> the claim that the cuckoo was carrying food is grinding me, I felt that's what I saw in the moment, but with no additional breeding evidence and it being a bit out of season, we may need to retract that in retrospect�it wasn't the best view and may have been a premature conclusion...regardless, it was a great group of people and very cooperative birds as you can see from Renee's photos * Sept 17 the highlight was seeing a merlin munching on a freshly captured small songbird https://ebird.org/checklist/S393645266<https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Febird.org%2Fchecklist%2FS393645266&data=05%7C02%<7CSCBIRDCL...>%7C8976040bfd474b5f8e8008df3b6ba924%7C7cf48d453ddb4389a9c1c115526eb52e%7C0%7C0%7C639295005718843736%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=bjFAlEEoYcgts0Ncw9067s71vsfTkp%2BaLi1CR1nWsjU%3D&reserved=0> * Sept 24 the birding was extremely good, with diverse warblers, vireos, flycatchers, woodpeckers, raptors, etc.�nonstop action throughout, lots of good looks and photos on this checklist https://ebird.org/checklist/S395789837<https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Febird.org%2Fchecklist%2FS395789837&data=05%7C02%<7CSCBIRDCL...>%7C8976040bfd474b5f8e8008df3b6ba924%7C7cf48d453ddb4389a9c1c115526eb52e%7C0%7C0%7C639295005718875311%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=dERXA0H6g%2BJWWOurglFYMgs5Ct%2BXD6fbxBsHPQKzgAg%3D&reserved=0> * Oct 1 we refound the cuckoos (but no fuzzy babies or dark billed juvies to make the Sept 10 breeding code claim any more solid), good woodpecker and sparrow action, an occasionally cooperative black-throated green warbler https://ebird.org/checklist/S398034545<https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Febird.org%2Fchecklist%2FS398034545&data=05%7C02%<7CSCBIRDCL...>%7C8976040bfd474b5f8e8008df3b6ba924%7C7cf48d453ddb4389a9c1c115526eb52e%7C0%7C0%7C639295005718896178%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=42h7ciUMvpEByMMFiUDwEGbsOcIL2MjOHgoC7z0hU9U%3D&reserved=0> * Nov 5 (today) we had great views of Cooper's Hawk, Yellow-rumped Warblers, and White-throated Sparrows, plus a sneaky kinglet, some speedy waxwings, a rainbow, and a reporter here to interview some of us. https://ebird.org/checklist/S408034295<https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Febird.org%2Fchecklist%2FS408034295&data=05%7C02%<7CSCBIRDCL...>%7C8976040bfd474b5f8e8008df3b6ba924%7C7cf48d453ddb4389a9c1c115526eb52e%7C0%7C0%7C639295005718915366%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=4d21cR1UcErkyZK70A1aSv4R7t4ZfqxEiCKzDCG9MDA%3D&reserved=0> The Sayer's Dam sunset outings (not a walk since we just stand around in the grass and wait for the birds to come to us) have been on the first Wednesdays of each month. The October 1 had a great blackbird flock (grackles and starlings), Bald Eagles, and meadowlarks. https://ebird.org/checklist/S400137418<https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Febird.org%2Fchecklist%2FS400137418&data=05%7C02%<7CSCBIRDCL...>%7C8976040bfd474b5f8e8008df3b6ba924%7C7cf48d453ddb4389a9c1c115526eb52e%7C0%7C0%7C639295005718934494%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=TWgY%2BvHKXEojAAvP7CZHVAHllRr%2FwJM2m5nftEnWE1Q%3D&reserved=0> The Nov 4 outing was similar, with even robin/starling/blackbird activity, a Bald Eagle flying with an American flag in the same view, a coot flock, and even more exciting raptor action with a Merlin repeatedly stirring up the blackbirds. https://ebird.org/checklist/S408034295<https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Febird.org%2Fchecklist%2FS408034295&data=05%7C02%<7CSCBIRDCL...>%7C8976040bfd474b5f8e8008df3b6ba924%7C7cf48d453ddb4389a9c1c115526eb52e%7C0%7C0%7C639295005718954518%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Yqn8d1MCHoXHoE0DQG201O3UIgvcvgpJEMnslYuR23k%3D&reserved=0> The ChicoryLane Farm walk was on Sept 12th, with yet another great opportunity to explore their trails and enjoy the fantastically managed native plant landscape. We had extremely good views of Bald Eagle, Hairy Woodpecker, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak, but most of the birds were fleeting and difficult to see (none more fleeting than the Connecticut Warbler that flew over the group, overlooked until after the fact with only a couple of absentminded flight photos to remember it by). https://ebird.org/atlaspa/checklist/S392252606<https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Febird.org%2Fatlaspa%2Fchecklist%2FS392252606&data=05%7C02%<7CSCBIRDCL...>%7C8976040bfd474b5f8e8008df3b6ba924%7C7cf48d453ddb4389a9c1c115526eb52e%7C0%7C0%7C639295005718973812%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=5cNMszsmnUgO3vWXqWKswPLPhwX4JcWsLm41gz7LlfY%3D&reserved=0> The Bee Wilder Farm walk was on Oct 24th, with idyllic weather and views, constant bird action, and a nice group of people in attendance. Highlights were meadowlark, good sparrow diversity, lots of Yellow-rumped Warblers, Purple Finches, Horned Lark, and some raptors flying around, and a late Tennessee Warbler. The meander around the trails got us closer to nature, so we did indeed become a little wilder, and we saw Field Sparrows and Ruby-crowned Kinglets with their bewildered/surprised expression thanks to their eye ring but no eye stripe, and the big meadow was obviously a great pollinator habitat for the wilder bees. We'll be back for another walk here in prime warbler season next year. https://ebird.org/checklist/S405016495<https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Febird.org%2Fchecklist%2FS405016495&data=05%7C02%<7CSCBIRDCL...>%7C8976040bfd474b5f8e8008df3b6ba924%7C7cf48d453ddb4389a9c1c115526eb52e%7C0%7C0%7C639295005718993256%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=8BbioeF4b6spBlKrshZAvzpcx3qUR9YebH6rbe9%2F7Vo%3D&reserved=0> Joe

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