Just a reminder: I’m leading a bird and nature walk at Schenley Park this Sunday, September 25, 8:30am – 10:30am.

Meet at the Westinghouse Memorial Fountain. Then, depending on the mud, we’ll walk the Falloon Trail or the Serpentine Road keeping our eyes open for fall migrants. We’ll watch for flowers, too,.

Dress for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes. Bring binoculars and field guides if you have them.

Note: This is Pittsburgh’s Great Race Day and the course follows Forbes Avenue, so approach the park from the south.

Click here for more information and in case of cancellation. So far the weather forecast looks great!

(photo by Kate St. John)

On the morning of August 28, fifteen of us braved the humidity to explore the lower end of Panther Hollow in Schenley Park.

There were wildflowers and insects galore, plus 22 species of birds.  Highlights included Baltimore orioles, two immature rose-breasted grosbeaks and at least one ruby-throated hummingbird.

A noisy flock of blue jays alerted us to a red-tailed hawk perched on a pole above the lake while northern flickers and American robins joined the fray.  Here’s the eBird checklist.

By the end of our walk we were feeling the heat.  At 10:30am it was 82^oF.  That doesn’t sound bad but the dewpoint was 70^oF.  Dripping with sweat, many of us looked forward to a cool respite at home.

Thank you all for coming. The next outing will begin at the Westinghouse Memorial on September 25.

(photo by Kate St. John)

Just a reminder: I’m leading a bird and nature walk at Schenley Park this Sunday, August 28, 8:30am – 10:30am.

Meet at the Schenley Park Cafe and Visitor Center to see birds, late summer flowers, bugs and hummingbirds.

Dress for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes. Bring binoculars and field guides if you have them.

Click here for more information and in case of cancellation.  So far the weather forecast looks great!

(photo by Kate St. John of Asian lady beetles mating, August 2015 at Schenley Park)

Just a reminder that I’m leading a bird and nature walk on Sunday June 19, 8:30am at Bartlett Shelter on Bartlett Street near Panther Hollow Road.  I’m sure we’ll see nesting and baby birds. Click here for more information.

Those who attended my Schenley Park outing on April 24 may remember we found a northern flicker calling from a nest hole above the Visitors Center steps.  He was trying to attract a mate to his deluxe nest site under a big shelf mushroom.

Last Friday I found proof that he succeeded.  I heard a flicker calling from the same area and it was his son!

Look under the shelf mushroom in these photos. He matches the tree trunk but you can see a dark mustache on his face.

Looking forward to seeing you on June 19.  Visit the Events page before you come … in case the walk is cancelled for bad weather.

(photos by Kate St. John)

Yesterday morning, twelve of us braved the foggy chill to look for birds near the Westinghouse Fountain at Schenley Park.

My original plan was to walk on the Steve Falloon Trail but it was a sea of mud after so much rain.  Instead we walked along the Serpentine Road with a good view of the treetops.

The birds weren’t particularly active so we were happy to see these Best Birds:  blackpoll warblers, chestnut-sided warblers, an eastern wood-pewee, scarlet tanagers and Baltimore orioles.  We also saw a half-completed Baltimore oriole nest hanging from a branch high above the road.

At the end of the walk we stopped near the Schenley Park Visitors Center and on Flagstaff Hill to see two peregrine falcons (flying and perched at the Cathedral of Learning), a red-tailed hawk, and a Coopers hawk.

Thanks, everyone, for coming out on a gray day.

(photo by Kate St.John)