Jack Levin 5/8/25`

[jle...@gmail.com]

I joined a group with Peggy showing our new friends from Honduras, Oliver Komar, PRESIDENT OF AVES HONDURAS and his wife Lorena, Margaret Steinbugler and Robin Simmen.  Jack Levin didn't disappoint!  We started with the South Tower (new).  We had WHITE-EYED VIREO calling, CATBIRDS and CARDINALS.  Of course RED-WINGED, galore! CAGOs and GREAT EGRET and GREEN HERON from the tower.  The OSPREY returned and first order of business, rebuilding the nest, both birds were at the nest pole.  Last time I was there, no birds from the tower. We walked along the trail, hearing BLUE-WINGED WARBLER, REDSTART, YELLOW and COMMON YELLOWTHROAT and local birds. At the big vernal ponds along Chapel Lane we saw WOOD DUCKS and CAGOs.  Oliver heard a BLACK-THROATED GREEN and we stood there along a male was visible and another singing behind us. I decided to walk up to the entrance on Chapel Lane and we hit the mother load!  I was hoping to hear or see waterthrush..... We had BLACKPOLL, PARULA, YELLOW RUMPS, BLACK AND WHITE and finally heard a NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH!  it was hard to see but some folks got a fleeting glimpse.  I didn't.  We then slowly walked to the North Tower, picking up local species, picking up an OVENBIRD, TITMOUSE and CHICKADEE.  At the tower, we heard and saw SWAMP SPARROWS, more OSPREY and EASTERN KINGBIRD and a few swallows species rounded out the 56 species we had there.  A nice welcome for new friends!  It was such a lovely day and nice to share it with others.