Yellowwood State Forest Field Trip – May 13, 2023
Ten birders joined field trip leader Matthias Benko at T.C. Steele State Historic Site, our first stop of the day. Immediately after getting out of the car, several Hooded Warblers could be heard singing. In the distance a Yellow-billed Cuckoo was heard doing its harsh, rattling call. We started down the trail and quickly picked up an Ovenbird, multiple Tennessee Warblers, Black-and-white Warblers, Swainson’s Thrush, and Wood Thrush. Our total for this location was 29 species.
Our next stop was Yellowwood SF, Lucas Hollow Unit 8. There we saw and heard 10 warbler species including Cerulean, Kentucky, Prairie, and Blue-winged Warblers. Two Yellow-breasted Chat were an added bonus. Four vireo species and a Scarlet Tanager brought our total to 38 species for this location.
Our last stop was just down the road to the boat launch where a very obliging Prothonotary Warbler flew in and landed directly overhead. Our total for the day was 52 species. Special thanks goes out to Matthias for leading this great outing and to the weather for holding off the rain until the field trip was concluded.