THE BECKHAM BECKHAMBIRDCLUB.ORG OCTOBER 2015 LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY. Upcoming Field Trips

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1 THE BECKHAM OBSERVER BECKHAMBIRDCLUB.ORG OCTOBER 2015 LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY Island of Borneo The October meeting will be on Tuesday, October 13 at the Clifton Center on Payne Street at 7:00 p.m. It is a joint meeting of Beckman Bird Club and the Louisville Audubon Society. Matt Lahm, Assistant Curator of Conservation Education at the Louisville Zoo, will present a program on his recent travels to the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia. He will discuss the island's rich, tropical natural history and current conservation issues through the lens of the region's bird species. Matt's scenic slideshow will also touch on other charismatic island inhabitants he encountered, such as primates and marine species, and showcase the incredible mountains, rainforests and ocean ecosystems he explored. Upcoming Field Trips The field trip schedule is included in this newsletter. It is for the months of October through December. As a reminder as we approach the winter months be sure to check birdky for any cancellations due to rain, snow, etc. It may be dry where you live but pouring down rain at the field trip location. This fall step out of the bounds of Louisville or Jefferson County and take a trip to a different place to bird. A good place to start is this weekend s field trip to Cove Spring Park that is located in the northern city limits of Frankfort. With its three miles of trails and elevated walkways it is an easy area to bird. It has wetlands, streams, springs, waterfalls, forested ravines and other natural features that makes it a great place for migrating birds. It is being led by Tanner Shepherd, an up and coming young birder.

2 PAST FIELD TRIPS Falls of the Ohio, August 22 Fourteen members and seven guests found a handful of common shorebirds, including Least, Semipalmated, Spotted Sandpipers and Greater Yellowlegs. Highlights included a Sanderling perched on the retaining wall. The lingering Laughing Gull was found with fishing line and a lead weight hanging from its bill though the bird seemed to be in good health. A Caspian Tern was seen flying up the river. The group located 39 species. Pope Lick Park, August 29 Temperature: degrees Sunny with a few clouds A very slow morning with few migrants. Only two warbler species were seen - Prairie Warbler and Redstart. An Olive-sided Flycatcher was a nice fine and was seen by all the observers. Two Summer Tanagers, one Baltimore Oriole, and a Blue Grosbeak were additions to our list. Thirty-seven was the total number of species and there were 24 observers. Cherokee Park/Nettelroth, August 30 Very few birds were present, possibly the lowest bird count ever for a BBC field trip 21 species. The seven members and one guest seemed to enjoy the nice walk in the woods and company anyway. Shawnee Park Riverwalk, September 6 The morning started a little slow for the 10 members at the Riverwalk. However, things picked up with 7 species of warblers including a Mourning and a Golden-winged. Flycatchers were in abundance with a Great-crested, Least and 5 Empids. Another highlight was an early female Rose-breasted Grosbeak. The tally for the outing was 40 species. Mount St. Francis, September 9 This field trip was officially cancelled due to the weather. However, 4 members did not get the word and showed up with rain gear. They were able to bird for 20 minutes before the rain came, soaking everyone. However, they did locate 21 species including 14 Cedar Waxwings. The group decided to take the field trip to Harrison County, Indiana to look for the two Swallow-tailed Kites that had been seen in the area. They managed to locate both birds after a 45 minute wait. It was a life bird for 3 of the members. Beckley Creek Breakfast with Birds, September 12 Arriving early on this brisk late summer day, the 26 participants would breakfast on fruit, donuts and bagels, coffee and juice. Then it was off to walk one of the trails at the Grand Allee Wetlands area of the Parklands. The trail follows Floyds Fork Creek passing through a nice wooded area and through adjoining fields. Wildflowers were abundant and many Monarch Butterflies were seen flitting over the fields. This trail is a great place to find Red-headed Woodpeckers and seven were seen. Yellowthroated and Red-eyed Vireos were highlights of the trail along with 10 species of warblers. Palm Warblers seem to love the grasslands and the observers would locate twelve. Two other nice finds were 2 Blue Grosbeaks and one Dickcissel. It was great fun to meet with fellow birders, enjoy a meal,

3 and tally 53 species of birds. Join us next year for Breakfast with the Birds. Thanks to Pam Spaulding for the pictures of happy birders. Mammoth Cave National Park, September 23 On a cool day registering 48 to 64 degrees lots of migrants were seen throughout the park. Four species of vireos and 12 species of warblers were seen by the 7 observers. Swainson's Thrushes were found at every stop. A nice group of Cedar Waxwings was located near the Visitors' Center. Two Rosebreasted Grosbeaks were first of season birds for the observers. The most outstanding find however was not a bird, but a Timber Rattlesnake meandering across the road and crawling slowly into the leaf littered ground. Since it put on quite a show all the participants were taking its picture. It is probably the most photographed snake in the park.

4 You are invited to the planned Waterfront Botanical Gardens regeneration Fair Saturday, Oct. 10, 2-6 pm. Free ($10 suggested donation) Family-friendly event, 2-5 pm, with a special performance of Johnny Appleseed by the Walden Theatre/Blue Apple Players at 5 pm. Music, food trucks, demonstrations and kids activities. Topics include bees, butterflies, birds, composting, rain water gardens, spinning hemp, weed walk, water filtration, and plant activities. Parking available on Frankfort Ave. This is a pet-free event. Sponsored by Atria Senior Living, Butchertown Grocery, Owsley Brown III, Louisville Gas & Electric, Republic Bank Foundation, Dropseed Nursery, Kentucky to the World, Limbwalker Tree Service Music by Blue Zen Grass. Demonstrations and Activities: Bee Demonstration with the Kentuckiana Bee Society Bird Walk with Rob Lane and the Beckham Bird Club, 2:15, 3 pm. Ages 10 and up. Bring binoculars and wear appropriate footwear. Beneficial Insects and Butterflies with Blair Leano-Helvey of Idlewild Butterfly Farm Rain Water Garden by Dropseed Nursery Compost Tea for fertilizing trees with Limbwalker Tree Service Mushroom infused logs with Greg Ellis. Car parking available on Frankfort Ave. This is a YesFEST! event..and pet free! There are many other events and activities too numerous to list. Go to waterfrontgardens.org and click on regeneration fair for more details. HELP IS NEEDED AT THE REGENERATION FAIR Rob needs volunteers to be available to sit at the table and answer questions about BBC and birds. Please contact him at or at shrikeguy@yahoo.com. Any time you can give would be appreciated.

5 BLUEBIRD REPORT Bob and Judy Peak have completed their 2015 report about the bluebirds that they monitor in the Land Between the Lakes National Recreational Area and Lake Barkley State Resort Park. For the past 25 years the Peaks have maintained bluebird trails in western Kentucky. If you would like to receive a free electronic copy (Word) of their report please send them a message at mtman1@yahoo.com. Bob has spoken to BBC and just recently to KOS. THE JEFFERSON COUNTY BIG YEAR UPDATE As we enter the last quarter of the year it is getting harder and harder to add new birds to our JCBY list. The total count stands at 244 species. Three new birds were added in September American Golden Plover, Ruddy Turnstone and Sedge Wren. With fall migration in high swing many participants have added new species to their own individual lists. Marsh Wrens were found at Brainard s farm and at the Grand Allee Wetlands at Beckley Creek. Lincoln s Sparrows which were scarce in the spring have been found at several locations. As we get ready to send the Observer out the top individual score is 239. Birds that still may appear this month include Virginia Rail, Phalaropes, Rufous Hummingbird and Red-breasted Nuthatch, Grasshopper, LeConte s and Nelson s Sparrows. Call us right away if you see an unusual bird. Let s get our total count up to 250 or more! Lincoln Sparrow by Pam Spaulding.