North Fork

I rarely bird the North Fork so this morning's visit to Laurel Lake (where I have never been) and the North Fork Preserve (where I have been once or twice before) was a nice break from routine. The day was cool and north-windy and the bird activity was far less than what we have been seeing at Hunter's Garden and Maple Swamp but with a few special birds. The first of these, sitting on a bare tree branch as we stepped out of the car in the parking lot at Laurel Lake, was a Yellow-billed Cuckoo -- not only the first of the year but the first of either species of cuckoo that I have seen in a while. And the last birds that we saw on our way out -- literally at eye level through the open car window -- were a pair of Warbling Vireos, well seen visually (I could actually see the hooked vireo bill) but also easily identified by the male's husky, repeated song.

North Fork Preserve had a number of warblers, resident and migrant, including Blue-winged, Black-and-white, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Northern Parula, Magnolia, Yellow, and Blackpoll -- eight species in all. Good looks at Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Red-eyed Vireo which were also singing and which both undoubtedly breed here. Ditto the White-eyed Vireo which I heard twice but did not see. Many Baltimore Orioles and at least one first-year male Orchard Oriole. Several Turkey Vultures and a Red-tailed Hawk were overhead and another highlight of the day was the huge Great Horned Owl chick sitting on the nest (apparently an old Red-tailed Hawk nest). Eileen Schwinn's photos of some of these birds, all taken today at the North Fork Preserve (and including a Green Heron in a tree) are attached.

Eric Salzman