Chinsegut Festival Field Trip 2011

Our trip to Chinsegut began with members and visitors joining our group as we met around the welcome center and had a few moments to check out the feeders before our morning walk.  At the feeders were Chipping Sparrows, House Finches, Chickadees, Cardinals and Titmouse with Towhees and Pine Warblers calling nearby.    

As we headed down the trail we stopped at the bird banding station set up by two banders who had mist nets nearby with bags already filled with Cardinals and Pine Warblers.  One of the banders removed the Cardinal for a close up of what they look at and record regarding the species, gender, age, and feathering including the brood pouch if any.  He placed the numbered bands on each bird as he explained how they are attached loosely yet securely so it would not catch on anything nor would it hinder the flight or movement of the birds.

We continued on our morning walk and the promise of Red-headed Woodpeckers came to fruition as along with Downy, Red-bellied and Pileated Woodpeckers, they were very cooperative.  We enjoyed not only seeing them perched but also flying from tree to nests.  We could hear them as well increasing the pleasure of the birding experience.  This was a new bird for many birders in our group.

 Other highlights along the trail were calling Northern Bobwhite Quail, Great Crested Flycatchers, White-eyed Vireos, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Northern Parulas, Black-throated Blue, Black and white, Pine and Palm Warblers, Eastern Towhees and a beautiful pair of Summer Tanagers.  Toward the end of our trail, we were pleasantly surprised by a female Ruby-throated hummingbird that silently moved in a circle from tree to tree around and above us before she finally settled back into her tiny nest on the outer branch of one of the trees overhead.

After visiting the display booths and having lunch, we headed off to see the Burrowing Owls on the USDA property.  Immediately we were greeted by a very low flying Swallow-tailed Kite swooping through the area where we were walking to see the Burrowing Owls.  We saw the owls only a few times flying across the field but while we waited were serenaded by Meadowlarks.  Not surprisingly, an Eastern Kingbird, Loggerhead Shrike and Mockingbird also flitted by likely In search of numerous dragonflies, predominantly Carolina Saddlebags, perched on row after row of wire fencing.

Our countdown back at the picnic tables at Chinsegut came up with a tally of 48 species for the day which reminded us that we had seen seven different raptors (Osprey, Swallow-tailed Kite, Turkey Vulture, Black Vulture, Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk and an American Kestrel.) 

Thank you to everyone who attended and shared their stories, expertise, and experiences with all of us and to Joel Jackson, Gary Krotz and Nancy Murrah who contributed some of the attached photos.

Jo Anne Hartzler