Plainfield Township Recreation Trail ~ May 14, 2017

I led a walk along the Plainfield Township Recreation Trail today. The rain had pulled out the night before and the morning turned out to be cool with cloudy conditions giving way to intervals of sun and clouds. We headed south from the parking area along Knitters Mill Road, quickly finding Baltimore Oriole, Yellow Warbler, Warbling Vireo, and Common Yellowthroat. We found a nice group of warblers at the first stream crossing. Warblers spotted there included Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, Blackburnian, and American Redstart. We also had a probable Tennessee Warbler that never gave us a definitive look. Cedar Waxwing and Scarlet Tanager were also found there.

We eventually tore ourselves away and continued south. We walked all the way down to the second stream crossing, which is just south of Rasleytown Road, and turned around there. Along the way, we heard Ovenbird and saw Black-and-white Warbler and Eastern Bluebird among others.

Just before getting back to the first stream crossing, a Black-billed Cuckoo was spotted right next to the trail, giving everyone a really nice look.

At the same spot, a Wilson's Warbler was spotted, which everyone got fairly good looks at.

Back at the first stream crossing, a Bay-breasted Warbler was found. A Louisiana Waterthrush was briefly seen downstream from the bridge. It was definitely my best birding day so far this spring.

The trip yielded 61 species, which included 15 species of warblers.

---

Plainfield Township Recreation Trail Trip List

1) Canada Goose
2) Mallard
3) Great Blue Heron (flyover)
4) Turkey Vulture
5) Black Vulture
6) Red-tailed Hawk
7) American Kestrel (along Knitters Mill Road)
8) Rock Pigeon
9) Mourning Dove
10) Black-billed Cuckoo (close, cooperative bird)
11) Chimney Swift
12) Red-bellied Woodpecker
13) Northern Flicker
14) Downy Woodpecker
15) Pileated Woodpecker (heard only)
16) Eastern Phoebe
17) Great Crested Flycatcher
18) Blue-headed Vireo (heard only)
19) Red-eyed Vireo
20) Warbling Vireo
21) Blue Jay
22) American Crow
23) Fish Crow
24) Barn Swallow
25) Tufted Titmouse
26) Black-capped Chickadee
27) House Wren
28) Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
29) Eastern Bluebird
30) Wood Thrush
31) Veery
32) American Robin
33) Gray Catbird
34) Northern Mockingbird
35) European Starling
36) Cedar Waxwing
37) Northern Parula
38) Chestnut-sided Warbler
39) Magnolia Warbler (several)
40) Yellow-rumped Warbler
41) Black-and-white Warbler
42) Black-throated Blue Warbler
43) Blackburnian Warbler (several)
44) Black-throated Green Warbler
45) Bay-breasted Warbler (female)
46) Yellow Warbler
47) Wilson’s Warbler (male)
48) Ovenbird
49) Louisiana Waterthrush
50) Common Yellowthroat
51) American Redstart
52) Scarlet Tanager (a few)
53) Chipping Sparrow
54) Song Sparrow
55) Northern Cardinal
56) Red-winged Blackbird
57) Common Grackle
58) Brown-headed Cowbird
59) Baltimore Oriole
60) American Goldfinch
61) House Sparrow

---