JAS Tour of Ella Sharp Park

Eleven JAS members came out for a first-ever tour of the the Ella Sharp Park.  While we have been using the Ella Sharp Museum for our programs for decades, we've never done a JAS bird walk at the surrounding park.  Luckily for us, Don and Robyn Henise have birded there-many times.

(Steve Jerant)

Don led us into the woods north of the soccer fields.  This is a series of bike trails so they do get a bit winding.  While a bit overgrown, it was birdy as Don predicted.  We walked the snow covered trails though woodland, swamp, and a little bit of a wet meadow.  Following along the swamp to the east we came across a flock of American Robin.  Even with all those robins about we were able to get a few good looks at a Hermit Thrush.  Luckily the thrush was doing more thrushing and a bit less hermitting.

Also spotted in the same area was a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and Pileated Woodpecker.  Over the entire walk we observed 26 species.  Highlights included two flyovers of a Coppers Hawk, Golden-crowned Kinglet, and multiple Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and Hermit Thrush.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius)(BWineman)

The trip eBird list available at https://ebird.org/checklist/S299425678