This morning was overcast and chilly when 17 of us explored the west end of Schenley Park beginning at Anderson Playground.

We saw a peregrine fly around the Cathedral of Learning (the eggs are hatching today!) and a red-tailed hawk bring food to his nest. Our Best Bird was a Louisiana waterthrush walking in the wetland under fallen logs.

When the birds were quiet we examined pawpaw flowers.

Unofrtunately we did not see this eastern screech-owl near the pawpaws. He was there yesterday when I scouted the park … but not today. Alas. 🙁

Here’s our list, 28 species :

• Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)
• Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)
• Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
• Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
• Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius)
• Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)
• Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)
• Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates villosus)
• Peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus)
• Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)
• Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)
• American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)
• Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis)
• Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)
• Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis). heard
• Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula)
• European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
• American Robin (Turdus migratorius)
• American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)
• Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)
• White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)
• Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)
• Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus)
• Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)
• Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)
• Louisiana Waterthrush (Parkesia motacilla)
• Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)
• Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)

(photos by Kate St. John)