On April 24th, Norman Levey and Michele Grzenda led an LLCT birding walk in the fields behind Lindentree Farm. Some of the highlights were a nesting Great Blue Heron, a Belted Kingfisher, and lots of Red-winged Blackbirds!
On May 1st, Gwyn Loud and Ron McAdow led birders through Browning’s Field, Pigeon Hill, and Chapman Pasture. Patti Cable gave an overview of the LLCT’s nest box monitoring program while the group was at Chapman Pasture. Some highlights from the walk were: Red-bellied woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe, Tree Swallow, Black-capped Chickadee, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Eastern Bluebird, Gray Catbird (heard), Chipping Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow (heard), White-throated Sparrow (heard), Red-winged Blackbird, and American Goldfinch. The group also heard Spring Peepers and Leopard Frogs and saw a garter snake. The highbush and lowbush blueberries were blooming in the woods.
Nine hardy, enthusiastic souls braved the heat and joined Nancy Hammond and Nancy Soulette to look for birds at the Baker Bridge Fields on May 22, 2022. Because the trees were all leafed out, most of the walk had to be birding by ear. However, we decided to play with Cornell’s sound ID app “Merlin,” and it proved to be extremely helpful and fun. Special thanks to Patrick for finding us an Alder Flycatcher—a likely migrant, rarely seen (or in our case heard) in Lincoln. Early in the walk, near the Food Project greenhouses, we discovered a swarm of honeybees on a high branch (see picture), a phenomenon most of us had never seen before. Another trip highlight was the discovery of a Baltimore Oriole nest by Kathleen, high in a locust tree (see picture). The song of a wood thrush was a special treat in the wetland of Baker Bridge North. Most birds were heard not seen, and some by only one or two people not the whole group. Thanks so much to Grant for the photos.
Among the birds seen and heard were: Chimney Swift, Killdeer, Red-tailed Hawk, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Alder Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, White-breasted Nuthatch, American Crow, Carolina Wren, Wood Thrush, American Goldfinch, Chipping Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Baltimore Oriole, Ovenbird (heard), Common Yellowthroat (heard), Yellow Warbler, Northern Cardinal, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak (heard).
