Handlan Chapter Field Trip Reports
2023 Field Trip Reports:
3/30/23: Great morning at Ridenour Lake yesterday morning with nine from the Handlan Club along with about 50 anglers hoping for a golden trout (they were stocked earlier this week). And sure enough, the Great Blue Heron caught one of them (at least I thought it’s fish looked gold)— I just hope the bird gets a free lifetime WV fishing license. We were amid a flutter of Golden Crown Kinglets (and Kevin also saw a Ruby Crown), plus lots of White Throated Sparrows. Heard our first Blue Headed Vireo and a couple Yellow-throated Warblers, and last bird seen was a lone Northern Rough-winged Swallow. Look for directions for next Thursday’s outing to Kanawha State Forest, listening for waterthrushes. Laura
3/23/23: Thanks to the 12 who joined me at Meadowood Park last Thursday for a great morning, especially considering the windy weather that was approaching us for Friday and Saturday. We added 3 fine-looking Black Vultures to the species list in eBird for this hotspot, bringing the total to 90 species, of which 11 have been added this last year by club members. (Only 11 more species to get the total over 100!). It was also great to see two Ospreys carrying nesting materials, hear my FOS Brown Thrasher, and watch several Tree Swallows flashing over the Coal River. Welcome back!
2/25/23: Nine folks came to bird in Ward Hollow, the restricted Dow lands in S. Charleston. Tough group, especially considering the cold rain. Despite fogged glasses, bins and scopes, we had a good collection of water birds, AND we were blessed with a Fox Sparrow, first one for me in a couple years. Also, Wood Frog eggs! Thanks to Chuck Wirts for organizing.
3/23/23: Thanks to the 12 who joined me at Meadowood Park last Thursday for a great morning, especially considering the windy weather that was approaching us for Friday and Saturday. We added 3 fine-looking Black Vultures to the species list in eBird for this hotspot, bringing the total to 90 species, of which 11 have been added this last year by club members. (Only 11 more species to get the total over 100!). It was also great to see two Ospreys carrying nesting materials, hear my FOS Brown Thrasher, and watch several Tree Swallows flashing over the Coal River. Welcome back!
2/25/23: Nine folks came to bird in Ward Hollow, the restricted Dow lands in S. Charleston. Tough group, especially considering the cold rain. Despite fogged glasses, bins and scopes, we had a good collection of water birds, AND we were blessed with a Fox Sparrow, first one for me in a couple years. Also, Wood Frog eggs! Thanks to Chuck Wirts for organizing.