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Birdwatching Hike of the Conewago, June 1, 2002
On June 1, 2002, TCCCA sponsored a morning birdwatching hike of the
Conewago. This hike was led by experienced birder Tom McKinne. Merv
Wranger, a butterfly expert, was also present to help identify
butterflies.
Twenty-six people attended the hike, which took place on the Lebanon
Valley Rails-to-Trail in Colebrook. The group met at the Rail-Trail
parking lot in Colebrook and headed south on the trail, then continued
west on the Horse-Shoe Trial. The Rail-Trail traverses an area of mature
deciduous woods with thick underbrush. Much of the underbrush is dominated
by multi-flora rose, which was in bloom. Locust trees are prevalent. The
forest also contains occasional breaks that provide good opportunities for
viewing birds. Shortly after turning west onto Horse-Shoe Trail, which
intersects the Rail-Trail, the Conewago Creek crosses the trail, flowing
through the forest edge. There is good riparian vegetation on both sides
of the stream in this area, with more brushy vegetation on the west side
and more mature forest on the east. After crossing the stream, the trail
opens up into a large wetland meadow of several acres. This wetland area
is a prime location for birding. It borders Route 241 south of Colebrook
on the west.
Total Bird Species: 46
|
Great Egret |
Blue Jay |
Ovenbird |
|
Little Blue Heron |
American Crow |
Common
Yellowthroat |
|
Canada Goose |
Fish Crow |
Northern Cardinal |
|
Black Vulture |
Carolina
Chickadee |
Indigo Bunting |
|
Turkey Vulture |
Tufted Titmouse |
Rufous-Sided
Towhee |
|
American Kestrel |
Carolina Wren |
Chipping Sparrow |
|
Killdeer |
House Wren |
Song Sparrow |
|
American Woodcock |
Eastern Bluebird |
Red-Winged
Blackbird |
|
Mourning Dove |
Veery |
Common Grackle |
|
Chimney Swift |
Wood Thrush |
Brown-Headed
Cowbird |
|
Ruby-Throated
Hummingbird |
American Robin |
Northern Oriole |
|
Red-Bellied
Woodpecker |
Gray Catbird |
House Finch |
|
Eastern
Wood-Pewee |
Cedar Waxwing |
American
Goldfinch |
|
Willow Flycatcher |
White-Eyed Vireo |
House Sparrow |
|
Eastern Phoebe |
Red-Eyed Vireo |
|
|
Tree Swallow |
American Redstart |
|
|
|
|
|
Total Butterfly Species: 11
|
Little Wood Satyr |
Tiger Swallowtail |
Dreamy Dustywing |
|
Summer Azure |
Hobomok |
Wild Indigo
Dustywing |
|
Question Mark |
Spicebush
Swallowtail |
Silver Spotted
Skipper |
|
Least Skipper |
Cabbage Butterfly |
|
Other flora and fauna observed: Box turtle; Jewelweed; Muliflora Rose;
Rattlesnake Weed; Wild Columbine; Wild Geranium; Buttercup; Tansy; Oxeye
Daisy; Four O’Clock; Viper Blugloss; Common Mullein; Flea Bane;
Philadelphia Flea Bane
The birdwatching hike was well received and an enjoyable morning for all
who participated. TCCCA hopes to have Tom and Merv back next year to make
this an annual event.
[PHOTOS AVAILABLE]
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