A Bird Walk Around Willow Greens Farm
Every morning over breakfast we look out at the Terrace Garden and name the various birds who come to call. During the winter months Cardinals, Blue Jays, and Mourning Doves were our daily companions, their visits so predictable that our attention waned. Spring brings many more species back to the area, and once again we find ourselves spending breakfast in full bird-spotting mode. The birds in the graphic are all regular visitors; so far only the Indigo Bunting has failed to appear. We also have Nuthatches, Red-winged Blackbirds, Gray Catbirds, several types of sparrow, and a lone Brown Thrasher. In summer we’ll celebrate the return of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds.
We love these common songbirds, but not all birds are as gregarious or interested in what our feeders have to offer. Let’s take a virtual guided bird walk around Willow Greens Farm and see what we can find.
The Terrace Garden runs the length of the house, and is protected from view by a cluster of American Boxwood, which may actually date back to Timothy Taylor’s time. Not only is it an amazing specimen, but it makes a perfect habitat for nesting birds (and rabbits!).
Walking past the boxwoods early in the morning, I usually hear Cardinals repeating a single rhythmic chirp. The area surrounding the Boxwoods is also the only place we’ve seen one of my favorite birds, a Northern Flicker. The Flicker always heads toward the front of the house to hang out near that Kousa Dogwood at the far left of the photo.
Between the house and the barn is a stretch of lawn with a little bit of tree cover and some perennials along one side. It’s not much to look at, to be honest, but that’s a project for another time. Birds aren’t easy to spot here, but they make themselves known. Every morning when I take Alys on her first walk of the day, I’m greeted by a Carolina Wren singing its heart out.
This area is also popular with the Crows, and it was in this spot I first learned there are actually two species here: the American Crow and the Fish Crow, which look identical but sound completely different (curious? Just click on those links). Red-shouldered hawks can often be spotted soaring overhead; we had hopes of a pair nesting here but it seems they’ve moved on. And let’s not forget the Black Vultures, which delighted us with their nest last year. This spring the couple made a return visit and even took up temporary residence in the top floor of the barn, until (wisely) deciding it was not an ideal nesting location. We parted on amiable terms.
Just beyond the barn is the meadow. Eastern Bluebirds love the wide open space and clear flight path. We once saw a Wild Turkey hot-footing it across the meadow, but for the most part birds prefer the invasive weeds vegetation around its perimeter. Again, they can be hard to spot. But a couple weeks ago we experienced the true joy of birding: coming across a species you’ve never observed before.
We were working under a stand of trees behind the barn when suddenly, just overhead a bird erupted in song. We stopped what we were doing and tried in vain to find the bird. Their call was answered by another, all the way across the meadow. They went back and forth like this for a while, long enough to fire up Merlin’s Sound ID and identify an Eastern Meadowlark—a new addition to my life list!
Since then, I’ve tried to listen more actively to birdsong while going about my work outside. I’m getting better at identifying those common songbirds by sound. And who knows, maybe one day I’ll find another “lifer.” But for now, I’ll leave you with the beauty of the Eastern Meadowlark:
Thanks for this bird tour! That was a delight!
While I was listening to your crow links, our regular crow visitors were calling outside! I have wren envy: haven't heard one in years. We share several regular feeder visitors with you but indigo buntings aren't common here. I had one for two years in a row for a very brief 1-2 day visit, perhaps blown off course further north than he wanted. Gorgeous bird! Early morning bird songs just fill the old heart, don't they?