May 28 - Bashakill State WMA and Sterling Forest State Park

Ann and I spent the morning and early afternoon birding around Bashakill. It was a lovely late spring morning, if a bit cloudy. There are two active Bald Eagle nests in the area, each with two large young. One is visible from the Haven Road causeway and the other is in the same place it has been for some years now visible from the main boat launch. Other nice breeders seen and/or heard included Acadian Flycatcher, Prairie Warbler, and Indigo Bunting. We also saw a large Snapping Turtle walking across the edge of a field into the woods.

In the afternoon we stopped at Sterling Forest State Park in Orange County on the way back to the city. We were hoping to pick up Golden-winged Warbler. When we arrived at the end of Ironwood Road, we heard Common Raven calling from the ridge. Two other birders were just driving away, but they told us where they had heard and seen a Golden-winged. We headed to the spot and Ann immediately heard the Golden-winged singing. We tried for a while, but could not locate the bird. We continued up the trail, because it had sounded like the bird went that way. We were rewarded with two Broad-winged Hawks circling and calling overhead, but no Golden-winged. A Painted Turtle sitting on the side of the trail was our second turtle of the day. Finally, we headed back since we still had the drive back to the city and did not want to get caught in Sunday afternoon traffic. As we approached the original spot we heard the Golden-winged singing again. Finally, I spotted it perched up high in a tree. It gave us nice binocular views, but I was only able to get some distant pictures.

Golden-winged Warbler 05/28/2017 Sterling Forest State Park

It was a great end to a great two days of birding.

Below are our bird lists for Bashakill and Sterling Forest.

Bashakill
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Bald Eagle
Mourning Dove
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Acadian Flycatcher
Willow Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
Yellow-throated Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
American Crow
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
House Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Veery
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Black-and-white Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Chipping Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Scarlet Tanager
Indigo Bunting
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Baltimore Oriole
American Goldfinch

Sterling Forest 
Green Heron
Turkey Vulture
Broad-winged Hawk
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Pileated Woodpecker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Common Raven
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Tufted Titmouse
American Robin
Golden-winged Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Yellow Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Northern Cardinal
Indigo Bunting
Brown-headed Cowbird
Baltimore Oriole