McCormick Park Bird Walk — Trip Report (20 June 2026)

47 species • Mechanicsburg, PA 

Checklist submitted by Andrew Dapkins (LammerHawk)

Our June 20th McCormick Park Bird Walk brought together a small but enthusiastic group of four birders for a relaxed early‑summer morning along the Yellow Breeches. With mild temperatures, dry conditions, and steady vocal activity across the creek corridor, the walk delivered excellent listening opportunities and a strong species count for late June.

Birding Highlights

The morning stayed active throughout the 1 hr 5 min walk, with several standout species detected by sound and behavior:

• Yellow‑crowned Night Heron — heard only, not seen, calling from the creek corridor.

• Black‑crowned Night Heron — heard only, not seen, also detected by call.

• Osprey — heard only, not seen, calling overhead along the Yellow Breeches.

• Red‑headed Woodpecker — stayed low and provided a looooong look.

• Louisiana Waterthrush — heard only, not seen, singing from the creek.

• Yellow‑throated Vireo and Warbling Vireo — both vocal and cooperative.

Habitat Notes

McCormick Park continues to shine as a reliable early‑summer hotspot thanks to its blend of:

• Mature riparian woodland

• Open fields and recreational edges

• Shaded creekside paths

• Strong insect activity supporting swallows, flycatchers, and vireos

The Yellow Breeches corridor was especially productive, offering clear soundscapes and consistent vocal activity.

Group Experience

With four birders in attendance, the walk had a relaxed, conversational pace that allowed for:

• Bird ID by sound and behavior

• Learning subtle vocal differences

• Scanning canopy layers and creek edges

• Practicing listening‑based identification

Thank you to everyone who joined The Bird Guy Tours for this free community walk.

Full Species List (47 species)

Direct from the eBird checklist:https://ebird.org/checklist/S360243076

A few notable totals from the morning:

• Turkey Vulture — 11

• American Robin — 11

• Tree Swallow — 10

• Mourning Dove — 6

• Northern Rough‑winged Swallow — 6

• Red‑winged Blackbird — 6

• House Finch — 5

• White‑breasted Nuthatch — 5

• Common Grackle — 5

(Full list available via the link above.)

If you enjoyed today’s walk, please consider leaving a comment or review:https://g.page/r/CYIZdhYAd1upEAE/review

Looking Ahead

Bird Guy Tours will continue offering community bird walks throughout the summer, including additional visits to McCormick Park and other regional hotspots. Check the Events page for upcoming dates and registration.

Andy Dapkins

Guide and Owner