Cromwell Meadows (5/14)

When I woke up early on Sunday morning it was overcast but it wasn't raining. So, I decided to go over to Cromwell Meadows a state owned property only a mile or so from my home. It's been about a year since I hiked this area and it certainly has been improved. The main trail has been filled in with crushed rock. This is a really nice update since the property is mostly marsh and the trail flooded often. For those of you who perfer a more natural path, there are still several side trails thru the bushes.
I got to the property around 7 o'clock. Unlike Saturday, the woods was filled with birdsong. I could pick out a few warblers (Black and White, Yellow, Common Yellowthroat) but I definitely missed more than I identified. While exploring a side trail I even found a Magnolia Warbler (photo by Amy Lavy). I was surprised to be able to ID it since I think that this was the first time I'd found one. While I was admiring the bird, a Beaver scared me half to death with a load slap of his tail on the water.
Other than warblers, the woods were packed with Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Orioles, and Catbirds. I also heard at least one Virginia Rail and found a Northern Flicker tending to her nest.
The woods were also filled with spring flowers. Some of them I knew (Common Buttercup and Wild Geranium). The others I had to photograph and search the internet to learn their names. My favorite of these was Purple Dead Nettle. What a great name.
When I got to the end of the path, I discovered a pair of Blue-headed Vireos (male and female) searching the tree limbs for some food. The male would find a medium size caterpillar, smack it 4 or 5 times on the limb, and then swallow it whole. He must have done this six times while I watched. It was like he was at a buffet.
As I turned around to head home, it started to rain harder. I got pretty wet but it was worth it.
Birds: Northern Flicker, Downy Woodpecker, Red Bellied Woodpecker, Red Tailed Hawk, American Crow, Gray Catbird, American Robin, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Mouring Dove, Mallard, Wood Duck, Titmouse, Virginia Rail, Eastern Kingbird, Red-winged Blackbird, Baltimore Oriole, Northern Parula, Black and White Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Magnolia Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat(?), Great Crested Flycatcher, Song Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Blue-headed Vireo, Blue Jay, Eastern Towhee, Common Grackle, Northern Cardinal, American Goldfinch
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