Beautiful weather and a congenial group of 14 people gathered for the Bowman’s Hill area trip. While gathering at the lower picnic pavilion of the wildflower preserve, first bird of the day appeared – a stunning male Magnolia Warbler! We would see or hear numerous other birds including Yellow-throated Vireo, Yellow-rumped Warbler and Chimney Swift, even before entering the preserve.

Once inside we lingered at the bridge listening to the morning bird chorus and watching birds. Species including Gray Catbird and Red-eyed Vireo came to this creek area to forage. Walking wooded trails got us sightings including Scarlet Tanager, Eastern Phoebe, and a Ruby-throated Hummingbird zipping through. Wood Thrush and Ovenbird seemed to sing from all directions. Veery Thrush scooted along in the trailside leaf litter keeping just ahead of us and giving good views. At a trailside pond we saw Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Eastern Wood-Pewee and numerous Blackburnians Warblers. As the sun warmed up the day, our warbler sightings increased. Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, Northern Parula, and Yellow-rumped appeared in the cedars. Near the creek we heard Louisiana Waterthrush and Acadian Flycatcher. Though a Wood Duck seen earlier in the week did not show itself, a walk along another wooded trail rewarded us with a Swainson’s Thrush sighting. Outside the gate in the lower field again, highlights were the nesting Eastern Bluebirds, Tree and Barn Swallows, Common Yellowthroat, Field Sparrows, Indigo Bunting and Chipping Sparrow.

We proceeded across the road to the riverside at the Thompson Neely House. Here the high treetops were busy with birds. Lingering around the trail and picnic pavilions there got us multiple looks at Chestnut-sided, Canada, and Bay-breasted Warbler, the latter a special target for some on the trip. We made our way next up to Bowman’s Tower. Though reforestation progress has resulted in higher treetops here, some species often requiring “warbler neck” to view, seem lower down due the higher elevation. A Scarlet Tanager at eye level in the parking lot demonstrated this point as we arrived. We walked the parking area and access road here a bit, though winds were up, and the area was on the quiet side. Our final sighting of the trip was a male and female Rose-Breasted Grosbeak, seeming paired up. We got great looks at both birds at close range as they foraged together, perhaps energizing themselves for the nesting season ahead.

Our list for approximately 4 hours of birding was 70 species, as listed:

CORMORANTS
Double-crested Cormorant
HERONS, EGRETS AND
BITTERNS
Great Blue Heron
DUCKS, GEESE AND
SWANS
Canada Goose
NEW WORLD VULTURES
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
HAWKS, EAGLES AND
KITES
Red-tailed Hawk
PIGEONS AND DOVES
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
SWIFTS
Chimney Swift
HUMMINGBIRDS
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
WOODPECKERS
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
TYRANT FLYCATCHERS
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Acadian Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
SWALLOWS
Tree Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Barn Swallow
WAXWINGS
Cedar Waxwing
WRENS
Carolina Wren
MOCKINGBIRDS AND
THRASHERS
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
THRUSHES
Eastern Bluebird
Veery
Swainson's Thrush
Wood Thrush
American Robin
GNATCATCHERS
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
CHICKADEES AND
TITS
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
NUTHATCHES
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
CROWS AND JAYS
Blue Jay
American Crow
STARLINGS
European Starling
OLD WORLD SPARROWS
House Sparrow
VIREOS AND ALLIES
Yellow-throated Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo

FINCHES, SISKINS,
CROSSBILLS
American Goldfinch
WOOD WARBLERS
Northern Parula
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
American Redstart
Ovenbird
Louisiana Waterthrush
Common Yellowthroat
Canada Warbler
TANAGERS AND
ALLIES
Scarlet Tanager
SPARROWS, TOWHEES,
JUNCOS
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Song Sparrow
SALTATORS, CARDINALS
AND ALLIES
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES,
GRACKLES, ETC.
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Baltimore Oriole