The Rookery

Went out to the rookery park in Geauga county today to do some late day birdwatching with my dad. He brought along his camera and snapped photos as we went birding.

Our first few birds were spotted at the nest boxes in the middle of the field, and Eastern Bluebirds and Tree Swallows rested on top of their houses. Once we started the trail I saw American Robins, Song Sparrows, and a Warbling Viero calling from the top of a tree. Further down the path my dad spotted a Green Heron flying into the swamp along the path. In the swamp calling were multiple Red-winged Blackbird and Red-bellied Woodpecker.

At the covered bridge, I was able to psh in to Great-crested Flycatchers (Lifer), a Eastern Kingbird, a Common Yellowthroat, and a Yellow Warbler. A Grey Catbird was calling from a bush along the side of the creek, while two Tufted Titmouses were fluttering around in the bushes.

Closer to the rookery, I was able to see the Great Blue Herons flying to and from their nests, I was also able to hear the squawking of the Blue Herons as they got close to their nests. While pshing the Carolina Wren stuck its head out of its nest and then began to call. A Downy Woodpecker flew to its nest high in a dead tree. In the distance I watched a Wood Duck fly further away while Canadian Geese squawked from the other side of the swamp hidden from view. I watched a Baltimore Oriole fly to the top of a tree on the opposite side of the swamp, while a Blue Jay flew to the other side of the swamp.

We walked further down the path towards Folwers Mill Golf Course, here I could hear a Wood Thrush calling from deeper in the woods, while trying to psh it in, I was able to get a Red-eyed Viero and a Black-capped Chickadee. Further down the path I was able to spot a Veery along the path. Once we reached the end we turned around and started back the same way we had come.

Back at the main swamp I head the familiar calling of the Red-headed Woodpecker (Lifer), the bird was beautiful. It was then joined by a second one and they flew away together. My dad spotted two Cedar Waxwings perched in a dead tree. While pshing I found a male Baltimore Oriole above us giving us great looks at its under side. We walked a little farther down the trail and I spotted a Scarlet Tanager in a tree, the sun lit up its red body giving us great looks. Further down the trail on our way back, we were able to find two Blue-grey Gnatcatchers perched in the trees. Along the side of the path my dad was able to spot a Northern Water Snake and then I spotted a Gardner Snake.

Overall we had 40 species of birds and 2 species of reptiles.