THE BECKHAM
OBSERVER
BECKHAMBIRDCLUB.ORG
NOVEMBER 2015
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY
Costa Rica: The Pacific Side
Even the bird’s names are intriguing: Fiery-billed Aracari;
Laughing Falcon; Red-capped Manakin; Sicklebill; Bluethroated Goldentail. Ben and Mary Yandell provide a visual
tour of their trip to the tropical rainforests and beaches of the
Costa Rican Pacific. Part of their stay was at the famed
Bosque del Rio Tigre birding lodge on the remote Osa
Peninsula.
The November meeting will be on Tuesday,
November 10 at the Clifton Center on Payne
Street at 7:00 p.m.
Keep Reading
Page 2 – 2016 Membership Renewal and Upcoming Field
Trips
Page 3 and 4 – Birdathon Funds Distributed and
Past Field Trips
Female Rufous-tailed Jacamar
Photo by Mary Yandell
Page 5 – Update for JCBY
Page 6 – Thanksgiving
IT IS TIME TO RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP FOR 2016
In a few days you will receive a postcard to renew your membership. Please fill in the postcard
completely and return it with your renewal check (if it applies) to our post office box address or turn it
in at the meeting. Please help us out by returning the postcard and your check as soon as possible. All
members including life members must return the renewal notice. Please print legibly or even better
type your email address so that we will have a correct address. Remember when you move or change
your email address let us know at [email protected]. Please consider renewing at the
contributing level. Remember we need both the check and the postcard. The check goes to the
treasurer and the postcard goes to the membership chair. Thanks so much.
UPCOMING FIELD TRIPS
Sunday, November 1
9 a.m. - noon
OHIO RIVER, INDIANA SIDE – For gulls &waterfowl. Meet at Ashland Park
on Riverside Drive across from Widow’s Walk Ice Cream Shop.
Carol Besse
502-387-5971
Saturday, November 7
9 a.m. - noon
HAYS KENNEDY PARK/GARVIN BROWN PRESERVE - Meet in the
parking lot of Hays Kennedy Park off Upper River Road
Rand Falls
540-798-4985
Sunday November 15
9 a.m. - noon
BERNHEIM FOREST – Meet at the Garden Pavilion parking lot on the right
just past Lake Nevin.
Rob Lane
205-276-9580
Thursday, November 19
9 a.m. – noon
FREEMAN LAKE – For waterfowl. From Louisville go south on I-65 to exit
94, go right on Rte. 62, in about a mile turn right on Ring Road and go about
5 miles to Freeman Lake. Meet at the parking lot on the LEFT with the lake
in view. Bring scopes.
Bill Friel
502-203-4109
Saturday, November 21
9 a.m. - noon
BECKLEY CREEK PARK - For fall migrants and sparrows. Meet at the
“Port-a-Potty” parking lot at the south end of the Humana Grand Alee just
before the large bridge over the creek.
Andrew Melnykovych
502-608-4655
Sunday, November 22
8:30 a.m. EST - ????
MUSCATATUCK NWR/HARDY LAKE – For waterfowl and resident
species. Meet at the Visitor’s Center. Bring lunch.
Pat & Jane Bell
502-326-9610
Sunday, November 29
9 a.m. - noon
CAVE HILL CEMETERY – Meet inside the front gate on Baxter Avenue.
Bob Johnson
502-896-9638
Saturday, December 5
9 a.m. - noon
JEFFERSON MEMORIAL FOREST – Meet at the gravel parking lot of the
Horine Section. Exit Gene Snyder at National Turnpike and go south to
Fairdale Road. Turn right and follow through jog at Manslick Road to
Mitchell Hill Road. Follow brown signs to Horine Section turning left onto
Holsclaw Hill Road. Take a very sharp right into the forest and follow the
road past several houses to the large gravel parking lot.
Jamie Baker
502-403-9845
DISTRIBUTION OF 2015 BIRDATHON FUNDS
The BBC Board members distributed the funds from this year’s Birdathon to the following
organizations. The total distribution was $18,000. There was $127.74 left and it will be added to the
2016 Birdathon. A special thanks to all who contributed to the 2015 Birdathon.
•
$4000 - Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission – acquisition of approximately 21 acres
on Pine Mountain at Hi Lewis State Nature Preserve or treat hemlocks for hemlock woolly
adelgid in Letcher County – habitat for Black- throated Green Warblers
•
$4000 - Kentucky Natural Lands Trust -- land acquisition and conservation easements to protect
large forested corridors on Pine Mountain
•
$2500 - Kentucky Resources Council -- advocacy and legal services in support of environmental
health and quality and conservation of the state's natural resources
•
$ 1000 - Kentucky Conservation Committee -- advocacy and educational efforts in support of
state funding for land conservation, promoting biodiversity, and progressive energy legislation
•
$1500 - Raptor Rehabilitation of Kentucky -- funds will be used to provide free educational
programs at local schools stimulating children’s' interest in birds, nature, and ecology
•
$1000 -Louisville Nature Center -- funds free nature study programs for local school children
emphasizing the value of our natural resources. Maintain bird blind and trails.
•
$1500 - Creasy Mahan Nature Center – Restore and improve riparian area, Little Huckleberry
Creek corridor. Remove invasive plants, replant native species, improve habitat.
•
$1000 - Floyds Fork Environmental Association - provide native pollinator gardens and
Bluebird habitat along Chenoweth Run Creek.
•
$1500 - Woods and Waters Land Trust – establish conservation protection through easements of
old growth forest, including Kelber Wildlife Management Area and working with landowners
along Kentucky River and Elkhorn Creek.
PAST FIELD TRIPS
Anchorage Trail, September 19 – A Barred Owl called while 8 members gathered to
begin our walk. A very pleasant morning yielded 42 species, starting off with a
Wilson's Warbler busily foraging. The normally productive "horse trail" was totally
quiet until we reached the "triangle" where American Redstarts and Magnolia Warblers
were active. A Nashville Warbler fed in some brambles long enough for all to have a good look. A
lone Cedar Waxwing was spotted high on a snag. A pair of Pied-billed Grebes was found on the pond.
The highlight was a very active pocket of warblers including Blue-winged, Black-and-white,
Nashville, American Redstarts, Magnolia, and Chestnut-sided.
Cave Hill Cemetery, September 27 - Birding was very slow and uneventful for the seven members.
Highlights included Red-eyed, Philadelphia and Warbling Vireos, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Chimney
Swifts foraging the tops of the trees and shrubs, Swainson’s Thrush, and a Sharp-shinned Hawk.
Cove Spring Park, October 3 - The morning was cold and cloudy with periodic showers. Many of the
places we went had no activity, but there were a few pockets of birds foraging. This included one spot
where several species of warblers seemingly came out of nowhere, which likely had been brought
down due to the rain. We saw 8 species of warblers. Other highlights included several Rose-breasted
Grosbeaks and great looks at a Winter Wren. By the end of the day we had recorded 31 species.
Cherokee Park, October 4 -Two members and the field trip leader had an uneventful outing.
Highlights were nine Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, 12 Gray Catbirds and a handful of migrant warblers
and vireos. In all they tallied 31 species.
Bernheim Forest, October 8 - Eleven observers, eight members and three guests, found 44 species on a
great fall day. A bold Black-throated Green Warbler lingered within 8-10 feet of the group giving nice
views for everyone. The group had a total of seven warblers and numerous Cedar Waxwings. The
final bird was a Great Egret, a nice finish to the day.
Anchorage Trail, October 10 - Seven club members and two guests birded the Anchorage Trail on this
beautiful early fall morning. Migrant warblers were relatively sparse but included several Blackthroated Green and Yellow-rumped and a single Magnolia. Other highlights were Scarlet and Summer
Tanagers, Swainson’s and Gray-cheeked Thrushes, several Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, a relatively late
Blue Grosbeak, and a very cooperative Winter Wren. There was also a couple of nice sparrow flocks
that included Swamp, Chipping, White-throated, Song and a single Lincoln’s (seen by one member of
the group). The trip yielded a total of 45 species.
Sloughs WMA, October 17 - Nine members and one guest birded the Sauerheber Unit of Sloughs
Wildlife Management Area. The day began VERY cold and breezy, but turned nicer by mid-morning,
although the wind continued to hinder efforts to flush up marsh birds. Some levee work and problems
with pumps also resulted in very little water being present on the management area, so waterfowl and
shorebirds were almost lacking. Highlights of the list of 57 species included 2 adult Bald Eagles, 2
Dunlin, at least 5 Soras, 70 Tree Swallows, a Marsh Wren, an Orange-crowned Warbler, 2 Le Conte's
Sparrows, and a couple of late Dickcissels.
Beckley Creek Park in the Parklands, October 18 - There was a heavy frost and cold temperatures as 8
observers arrived at the Parklands. The frost-covered grasses and goldenrod were things of beauty and
stopped us in our tracks to take time out of birding to enjoy this great wonder of the natural world. But
before long we were back to the business at hand as the birds were quite active with sparrows in high
numbers in the grasslands especially Song and Swamp. A definite highlight of the morning was the
sighting of a Bobolink. Palm Warblers were found at several stops. Late migrants included a Yellowthroated Warbler and a Scarlet Tanager. Blue-headed Vireo and Indigo Buntings were nice finds. Total
number of species was 46.
JEFFERSON COUNTY BIG YEAR UPDATE
With only two months to go the group is out searching for new birds as
well as trying to pick up birds that were missed earlier in the year. Without
a doubt the bird of this past month was a White-faced Ibis found by
Brainard Palmer-Ball on October 21 at the Melco MSD retention basin. It
was a first record bird for Jefferson County. Even the workers who were busy clearing brush and trees
and debris from the basin were interested in seeing this really unique bird.
Other birds of interest this month include a charming little Sedge Wren that was also seen at Melco. It
had taken up residence in one of the rushes, but we were able to coax it into view for all to see.
Two exciting birds turned up at Hays Kennedy Park along River Road. On October 5 a Red-necked
Phalarope appeared along the edge of the water canal that flows through the park. It was unfortunate
that we learned about the bird very late in the evening and only three participants were able to see it. It
could not be relocated the following day. Along the edge of that same canal a Nelson’s Sparrow was
found by Jamie Baker and despite our shoes sinking into muddy ooze along the shore many birders got
really good looks at this beautiful sparrow.
As we go to press the total number of species seen is 247. We’re hoping to reach at least 250. If you
see an unusual bird that you think might not be on our list such as a Clay-colored Sparrow, a Snow
Bunting, Red-breasted Nuthatch, crossbills, an Eared Grebe or a Rough-legged Hawk to name only a
few, give one of us a heads up and we will be there before you put your cell phone away.
Thanks to Jamie Baker for the photo of
the White-faced Ibis.