Phenology Visit 10/17

A revised sketch of the Centennial Thicket

Wednesday, October 17, 8:05-8:55 am

Weather: Mostly cloudy, mid 40s

Birds seen at this spot: Black-Capped Chickadee, Golden-Crowned Kinglet, White-Throated Sparrow, Downy Woodpecker, Common Raven, American Crow

Birds seen nearby: Tufted Titmouse, White-Breasted Nuthatch, Ruby-Crowned Kinglet, Brown Creeper Hermit Thrush, Gray-Cheeked/Bicknell’s Thrush (heard), Yellow-Rumped Warbler, Song Sparrow, Carolina Wren (heard), Red-Bellied Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker.

Many trees are losing their leaves.

The path is starting to become littered with fallen leaves.

When I visited Centennial Thicket this morning, I noticed that most trees were losing leaves, with Ash seeming to have barely any at all. Only Black Walnut and American Elm still retained most or all of their leaves, although both were turning yellow. Meanwhile, invasive species are continuing to be removed from the thicket. There were several volunteers removing Buckthorn and Honeysuckle on the north side of the path. They told me that these would be used to help build tents for the Feverish World event taking place this weekend at UVM.

Some of the Buckthorn and Honeysuckle removed by the volunteers.

As for birds, there has been a great shift in migrants. Now, we see the last of the migrants, including Golden and Ruby-Crowned Kinglets. Golden-Crowned are by far the most common, with some even spending the winter here.

Golden-Crowned Kinglet

Also seen were a few Yellow-Rumped Warblers, the last of the warblers to come through are area. These are found in the great flocks of chickadees seen in this month that take advantage of the fall bounty of seeds, nuts, and fruit. Some year round visitors were seen today as well, such as the resident female Hairy Woodpecker and Common Ravens.

Mrs. Hairy hard at work.

I had about 20 species in the woods today, and look forward to what next week will bring.

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