Trip Report

Green River Game Land
February 9, 2020
Guide: Clifton Avery

We were welcomed by a beautiful wintry scene as we drove down into the Green River Gorge to begin our tour. A layer of snow covered the ground and stuck to the trees but it soon melted away as the sun rose, skies completely cleared, and temperatures warmed. One of the first birds we got a good look at was an overwintering Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. A pair of Downy Woodpeckers also delighted us as we watched them performing courtship rituals. We arrived at the Walcott Tract and began making our way back towards the fields that are known for high sparrow abundance and diversity. As we walked along the river we saw a male Common Merganser for a few seconds before it disappeared floating downstream. Winter and Carolina Wrens called as we walked through the forest and a House Wren appeared briefly on top of a debris pile. As we entered the fields, we welcomed the suns warmth and it seemed the birds did too! Activity picked up and hordes of Song Sparrows foraged among the undergrowth. We managed to pick out a red Fox Sparrow and handful of other sparrow species. A singing Pine Warbler reminded us that spring was not far away. Good numbers of overwintering Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglets also made their argument that winter was definitely not over! As we began to make our way back to our vehicles an adult Red-tailed Hawk soared overhead.

 
 

Green River Game Land
February 9, 2020

Species encountered: 48 species

Canada Goose
Common Merganser
Mallard
Bufflehead
Great Blue Heron
Pied-billed Grebe
Turkey Vulture
Cooper's Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Great Horned Owl
Belted Kingfisher
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker

    Pileated Woodpecker
    Northern Flicker
    Eastern Phoebe
    Blue Jay
    American Crow
    Fish Crow
    Common Raven
    Carolina Chickadee
    Tufted Titmouse
    White-breasted Nuthatch
    Brown-headed Nuthatch
    Golden-crowned Kinglet
    Ruby-crowned Kinglet
    House Wren
    Winter Wren
    Carolina Wren

    Northern Mockingbird
    Hermit Thrush
    Eastern Bluebird
    European Starling
    American Goldfinch
    House Finch
    Pine Warbler
    Yellow-rumped Warbler
    Field Sparrow
    Fox Sparrow
    Dark-eyed Junco
    White-throated Sparrow
    Song Sparrow
    Swamp Sparrow
    Eastern Towhee
    Northern Cardinal