May 26, 2007 [LINK / comment]
Birding around Elliott Knob
I took a nice, invigorating 5-mile hike along the loop trail that extends about half-way up Elliott Knob this morning, and had fairly good luck spotting birds. I definitely needed the exercise, and resting by the cool waterfalls and moss-covered rocks was an especially nice way to soothe the weary soul. (Enough of politics, already! 
) The air was warm and humid, but not too bad, and the insects were tolerable. Next month conditions will get much harsher. Today's avian highlights included two first-of-season birds:
- Kestrel (on Rt. 254)
- Blue-gray gnatcatchers
- Phoebe
- Indigo buntings (F, M)
- Red-eyed vireos
- Hooded warblers (M)
- Acadian flycatcher (FOS)
- Pileated woodpecker
- Louisiana waterthrushes
- Scarlet tanager
- Black and white warblers (M, F)
- Blue-headed vireo
- Towhee
- Ovenbird
- Black-capped chickadees
- Downy woodpecker
- Hummingbird
- Yellow-billed cuckoo (FOS)
The cuckoo showed up after I imitated its "cowp-cowp-cowp" call. I also heard but did not see Worm-eating warblers, Black-throated green warblers, and a Canada warbler close by.