Fellow Birders:

I led a bird walk at the Mears Farm Area this AM, 0800-1130.  We
observed 51 species (14.6 species/hour).  Few migrants, but a
good variety of open grassland birds.  No adverse weather
conditions (69 -> 78F, calm -> 4-7 mph wind, 50% -> 25% cloudy)

Highlights were:

Olive-sided Flycatcher- seen well, dark vest, pale yellow breast
& belly, white rump patch (silent)
Cedar Waxwing- just 2 seen/heard
Prairie Warbler- 4-5 singing constantly
Yellow-breasted Chat- 2-3, 1 doing flight "song & dance"
Blue Grosbeak male singing
Bobolink- 3 females

Participants included Steve Schwemmer (PVSP volunteer
naturalist), Scott Michaud, Marcy Stutzman, Karen Irons, and Lee
Pendleton.
Surprising misses were: Brown Thrasher (possible glimpse by
Scott, never heard); Common Yellowthroat, Orchard Oriole.

Corrections/clarifications of my previous message:
There is no fee to enter Mears Farm; and people on foot or
bicycles pay no fee to enter any part of PVSP.  Parking to walk
into Mears Farm is best at the Park & Ride on South Rolling Road.
The Chat fledgling last year was seen on July 10, not in May
(silly me)!

Balance of birds seen or heard (stop here if you bore easily)
were:

Canada Goose- skein of about 10 in V formation
Great Blue Heron
Green Heron- pair flying together
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Red-shouldered Hawk- juvenile & loud adult
Mourning Dove
Yellow-billed Cuckoo- 2, silent, quick fly-bys
Chimney Swift
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker-silent
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Eastern Kingbird
Red-eyed Vireo- "sings incessantly"? - not today
Blue Jay
American Crow
Fish Crow- called, of course
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
House Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Eastern Bluebird-pair, nesting in woodpecker hole
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Black-and-white Warbler- 2
Ovenbird- 2-3
Scarlet Tanager- 1 singing
Eastern Towhee- 2 calling & singing but hiding
Field Sparrow- just 1 or 2
Song Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Indigo Bunting
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow- 2 males fighting near a bluebird box

Bill Ellis
PVSP volunteer naturalist