The Stroud Preserve, 7 January 2013

This was a banner day for woodpeckers! I start off most days by ticking off Downy and Red-bellied as soon as I start walking. Today was no different, as I noted them standing in the parking lot as I checked the start time and temperature. I took the “Red Trail” into the woods that go along the south boarder of the preserve. As soon as I entered the woods I heard the rattling call of a Pileated Woodpecker! In short order I found a male in the top of a yellow poplar tree. I have been surprised at how uncommon this species is in our area (this is only my 4th observation for the preserve). I almost never see them anywhere else in Chester County. When I first decided to make the preserve my regular birding spot I predicted I would see them in the wooded areas along the Brandywine and on the west end of the preserve as the stands of trees there seemed like appropriate habitat. In fact, I did see Pileated there on my first visit in March and again in April and none since.

As I was looking at the Pileated, I thought “well what are the chances I will see the remaining three species of woodpeckers?” These three species being Northern Flicker, Hairy Woodpecker and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. None of these three are a “given” on any given day. I see flickers on about 60% of my visits, Hairy on about 48% of my visits and sapsuckers are down right rare at about 14%. I figured the chances that I would see one of these as pretty good, but all three would be highly unlikely.

I did my usual look around the preserve with out seeing anything other than Downy and Red-bellied. By the time I rounded the curve and had the parking lot in view I had pretty much dismissed the notion that I would get another woodpecker. I paused to spish for a swamp sparrow at their usual spot when I hear a woodpecker tapping in the trees beyond. Shortly there after, I heard the familiar call of a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker! With the sapsucker still tapping away, I noticed a bird perched in the top of a tree to my right. A quick look confirmed it to be a Northern Flicker!

Alright. Now I’m on a mission to find a Hairy Woodpecker. Fortunately I didn’t have to work at this to hard. As I approached the bridge to the parking lot I heard a Hairy calling from the big box elder that towers over the bridge and river!

Oddly enough, this is the second time that I have had a six woodpecker day at the preserve. The last one was on 6 April 2012, which was the last record that I have for a Pileated and the first that I have for a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.

Stat time: 8:50
End time: 11:40
Temp: 37-41
Wind: light to gusty from the west
Skies: Overcast
Species Total: 32
 

• Great Blue Heron – 3

• Black Vulture – approximately 20

• Turkey Vulture – approximately 30

• Canada Goose – approximately 700, all congregated in the Brandywine on the north end of the preserve.

• Mallard – 17

• Northern Harrier – 2, males. To the best of my memory, these were the first harriers that I have observed that were actively hunting in the preserve. All others that I have seen were migrants flying high overhead. They were working the No Hang Glider Hill where the preserve manager says that he sees them most often. This was only my 6^th observation in the preserve.

• Red-tailed Hawk – 5, 3 adults and 2 immatures

• Mourning Dove – approximately 25

• Red-bellied Woodpecker – approximately 10

• Yellow-bellied Sapsucker – 1, heard only

• Downy Woodpecker – approximately 25!

• Hairy Woodpecker – 1

• Northern Flicker – 1

• Pileated Woodpecker – 1, Bird of the Day!

• Blue Jay – approximately 20

• American Crow – approximately 400. Many birds spread through the preserve today.

• Carolina Chickadee – approximately 40

• Tufted Titmouse – approximately 20

• White-breasted Nuthatch – approximately 10

• Carolina Wren – approximately 10

• Golden-crowned Kinglet – 1

• Eastern Bluebird – approximately 25

• American Robin – 5

• Northern Mockingbird – 3

• European Starling – approximately 40

• Song Sparrow – approximately 150

• Swamp Sparrow – 1

• White-throated Sparrow – approximately 150

• Dark-eyed Junco – approximately 75

• Northern Cardinal – approximately 30

• House Finch – 2

• American Goldfinch – approximately 20