Bird Before Dinner - Friday, June 17th, 2016

One of the highlights of the trip was a Roseate Tern mixed in with the Common and Forster's terns along the west path. Signs of the breeding season were abundant. The Osprey pair was on the nest, although no chicks are visible yet; a female Mallard was shepherding seven ducklings through the marsh; young Canada Geese were present; and the American Oystercatchers were on nests.  Two late Semipalmated Sandpipers were seen as well as a Willet, a Lesser Yellowlegs, and many Killdeer. Nature notes included a Red Slider, many young rabbits, several muskrats, including one young one, and a Snapping Turtle. Leaders: Bert Hixon, Warren Cairo, and Barb Bassett.
44 species (+1 other taxa)

Canada Goose  50
Mute Swan  3
Gadwall  2     Pair
Mallard  20     Including 7 ducklings with female
Double-crested Cormorant  1
Great Blue Heron  1
Great Egret  1
Snowy Egret  3
Green Heron  1
Glossy Ibis  2
Osprey  2     On nest, no chicks visible
American Oystercatcher  6
Killdeer  5
Willet (Eastern)  1
Lesser Yellowlegs  1
Semipalmated Sandpiper  2
Laughing Gull  30
Herring Gull  2
Great Black-backed Gull  20
Least Tern  2
Roseate Tern  1
Common Tern  6
Forster's Tern  20
Black Skimmer  5
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  4
Mourning Dove  3
Chimney Swift  5
Eastern Kingbird  1
Fish Crow  2
crow sp.  2
Purple Martin  6
Barn Swallow  3
Carolina Wren  1
Gray Catbird  1
Northern Mockingbird  2
European Starling  20
Cedar Waxwing  2
Common Yellowthroat  8
Song Sparrow  2
Northern Cardinal  2
Red-winged Blackbird  30
Common Grackle  4
Brown-headed Cowbird  1
Orchard Oriole  1
American Goldfinch  4

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)