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Writer's pictureAndrew Dapkins

Children's Lake and Wittlinger Nature Preserve Trip Report

It was a delightful day birding despite the choppy wind! Exploring the Wittlinger Nature Preserve with seven enthusiastic birders was a great experience.

 

Starting off the day with sightings of the Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Chickadees, and White-throated Sparrows is always a good start. It's wonderful that we were able to observe these regular inhabitants of the area.

 

We visited the Eagle Scout Project aimed at removing non-native plant species and showed progress for a commendable effort towards preserving the natural habitat of the preserve. Noticing the introduction of mountain mint is a positive step toward promoting native flora.

 

Encountering a rather large flock of White-throated Sparrows along the race trail, accompanied by a few Hermit Thrushes, was a nice treat. Finally spotting the Winter Wren, which was your target species, was a moment of excitement and fulfillment for everyone involved.

 

With a total count of 25 species, it was a good day of birding. Each sighting and observation, from the regulars to the target species contributed to a rewarding and fulfilling birding experience.

 

Our count and species are below.

 

Wittlinger Nature Preserve, Cumberland, Pennsylvania, US

Nov 18, 2023 9:03 AM - 10:05 AM

Protocol: Traveling

0.59 mile(s)

25 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  X

Mallard (Domestic type) (Anas platyrhynchos (Domestic type))  X

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)  1

Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)  2

Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)  1

Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)  1

Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)  3

Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)  2

Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)  2

Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)  3

American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)  11

Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis)  6

Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)  5

Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula)  3

Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa)  3

White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)  2

Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis)  2

Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)  5

Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus)  3

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)  1

House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus)  2

American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)  4

Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)  13

White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)  40

Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  8

 

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S154682675

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

 

Thank you to everyone that joined me today.

And for those that couldn’t make it we will see you next month.

 

The next gathering is 16 December were we will be inside the South Middleton Municipal Building learning about citizen science projects like the Christmas Bird Count and Feederwatch.

 

Andrew Dapkins

Guide and Owner

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