Burbine Forest Revisited and Wren Update

Veery

 So, I talked myself into it. We went back to the Thomas H. Burbine Memorial Forest this morning, Ralph to read on his phone and me to walk the trails and stalk the birds.

This trip was even better than the previous one. As soon as I left the parking lot I heard my first of the year Winter Wren singing, and before the day was up I heard two more and saw one. If you have never heard one give this a listen. This song is my favorite of all the bird songs I have actually heard. It isn't quite a Musician Wren, but close enough for Upstate NY. (Do give both a listen; you will be glad you did.)

Here is a link to the trip checklist with two recordings I made of the Winter Wrens today.

After enjoying the wren, a nice flock of Red-breasted Nuthatches and some Blackburnian Warblers, I walked on and found some of the trails I missed last time.

They are much more extensive, enough so that I didn't dare walk them all for fear that Ralph might get bored and leave me to walk home. JK, he wouldn't do that but I was afraid he would worry.

Two different deer burst out behind me barking and coughing and snorting their terror and outrage at finding an intruder in their woods. 

There is a gazebo, a pond, and a nice little deck with chairs near the pond. I ended my walk with 34 species, many of them unique to tall, open woodland like this. 

There is a Northern Flicker nest with babies in a snag there. Hermit Thrushes singing everywhere. Veerys ditto.

It is a really nice place and I highly recommend it. Can't wait to go back.

Update on the wren situation I mentioned yesterday. Today there has been a tame little Northern House Wren singing on the sitting porch and checking out the nestbox all day. Could be a stranger but I have a feeling it's  Mr. C&LB. We'll see how tame he is.....

Ragged Robin