Orange County State Parks 5/10/15

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~This crazy looking Eastern Towhee was one of many seen and heard at Goosepond Mountain State Park, 5/10/15.~

QUICK POST: I hit two state parks that are close to home this morning, Sterling Forest State Park and Goosepond Mountain State Park.

GOOSEPOND MOUNTAIN: I  got here very early this morning and had the place to myself, which was very enjoyable. I walked the trails there for probably 4 miles or so and saw or heard 38 species.  Highlights included: Ovenbird, Common Yellowthroat, Blue-winged Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Eastern Towhee, Scarlet Tanager, Spotted Sandpiper, and hearing a Black-billed Cuckoo. I tried to wait out that bird, I heard it call 3 times, but never close by and I never got a look at the bird.

STERLING FOREST STATE PARK: It was not the optimum time of day to go here after walking Goosepond for a while, but I figured I would give it a shot. I walked the power cut at the end of Ironwood Drive; I had a total of 20 species. Here’s a list of the more noteworthy birds: Prairie Warbler, Blue-winged Warbler, American Redstart, Yellow Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush, and Yellow-throated Vireo. I also had one unidentified warbler that sounded vaguely like the squeaky wheel of a Black-and-white Warbler to me, but when I caught a glimpse of the bird and I thought I saw a flash of yellow.

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~Probably the bird of the day for me – Louisiana Waterthrush at Sterling Forest State Park, 5/10/15.~
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~An acrobatic Baltimore Oriole at Goosepond Mountain State Park, 5/10/15.~
~Wood Thrush in a web at Goosepond Mountain State Park, 5/10/15.~
~Wood Thrush in a web at Goosepond Mountain State Park, 5/10/15.~
Blue-winged Warbler at Goosepond Mountain State Park, 5/10/15. I was on the lookout for Brewster's Warblers (hybrid Blue-winged x Golden-winged) since I had them out there last year, but I did not see any today.~
~Blue-winged Warbler at Goosepond Mountain State Park, 5/10/15. I was on the lookout for Brewster’s Warblers (hybrid Blue-winged x Golden-winged) since I had them out there last year, but I did not see any today.~

6 thoughts on “Orange County State Parks 5/10/15”

  1. Two such magical places to spend the day! I especially like the photo of the Wood Thrush with the spiderweb.

    1. And a great time of year with perfect weather – hard to beat! Good to hear from you Kathy. Matt

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