Middlesex-Naples Trail 4/18/26

Note: This Photo was not from this field trip

At 8:00AM, nine birders (SteveB, LindaB, KateG and guest Annie, JonG, SaralindaH, HollyN, AllynP, and LindaZ) gathered at 7862 Parish Road, Naples. We birded two sections of this trail…to the south and then to the north. We heard and saw both of our target birds: Wilson’s Snipe and Rusty Blackbird! The Wilson’s Snipe thrilled us with its distinctive winnowing and a courtship display above our heads. Rusty Blackbirds could be heard amongst a flock of Red-winged Blackbirds but thick, low vegetation kept all but four individuals well hidden.

24 species observed, 1 other taxa:

6                Canada Goose

2                duck sp.

1                Mourning Dove

1                Sandhill Crane

1                Wilson’s Snipe

6                Turkey Vulture

1                Red-tailed Hawk

3                Red-bellied Woodpecker

4                Downy Woodpecker

4                Northern Flicker

2 Eastern Phoebe

3                Blue Jay

2                American Crow

12              Black-capped Chickadee

2                Ruby-crowned Kinglet

3                Carolina Wren

6                American Robin

2                Purple Finch

3                American Goldfinch

1                White-throated Sparrow

7                Song Sparrow

6                Swamp Sparrow

20              Red-winged Blackbird

2                Brown-headed Cowbird

4                Rusty Blackbird

3                Common Grackle

Next, we drove to the West River Preserve for a stationary checklist at the scenic overlook. This Finger Lakes Land Trust property is 64 acres of restored grassland bird habitat. Because this spot is central to the Seneca origin story, signs interpret the history and cultural importance of the preserve. Several of us were familiar with nearby Clark’s Gully, but the preserve was new to all of us. (Photos and further information at this website: https://www.fllt.org/preserves/west-river-preserve/ .)

9 species observed:

3                Turkey Vulture

1                Red-tailed Hawk

1                American Kestrel

1                American Crow

1                Common Raven

1                Black-capped Chickadee

1                Eastern Bluebird

2                Field Sparrow

3                Song Sparrow