This is a brief report on the Bird Walk Dave Merker led last Saturday at the Hayes Farm Park in Etna. But first a message from our sponsors …
I will be leading a PHOTO WALK at the Hayes Farm Park in Etna Thursday May 30 from 3:00 PM until whenever. I will try to answer photography questions and perhaps give a few tips. We will walk leisurely through the area, including the King Bird Sanctuary. Even birders are welcome. Carrying a camera is suggested but certainly not required.
I took the above photo at this site May 7, 2012. The crabapples bloomed much earlier that year. I hope and believe they will be gloriously blooming next Wednesday, this cold and wet year. An acrylic print of this Chestnut-sided Warbler is hanging in the offices of the Hanover Conservancy. It was used as the May photo in the 2018 Vermont Fish & Wildlife Calendar, but unfortunately credited to another photographer.
After meeting at the Etna Library parking lot, Dave led us into the crabapple area. There we immediately had good looks at no other than a Chestnut-sided Warbler.
Up in the King Bird Sanctuary we found an Empidonax Flycatcher. It did not vocalize so we could not tell which of the five it was. My money is on the Least Flycatcher because I have heard “CHEbek” there before.
A Gray Catbird was also in the area.
I photographed the group while they viewed a Broad-winged Hawk.
Tree Swallows were up top; an easy subject to photograph and also very colorful.
We looped around the King Bird Sanctuary.
Then Dave took us down for a brief look at the Trescott Ridge Wetlands Area.
There I was able to photograph a Hermit Thrush that Dave spotted.
Back up at the King Bird Sanctuary, I couldn’t resist taking a photo of this purple trillium.
It was an easy and very enjoyable walk. Please join me at the same location Thursday May 30, and join Len Reitsma for a program and bird walk there Saturday May 25, starting at 9:30.
If you would like to see more photos from the King Bird Sanctuary, please CLICK HERE.