March 18 Field Trip: Machicomoco State Park

On Saturday, March 18, Nancy Barnhart led nine other birders at Machicomoco State Park. The overnight rain sputtered to a stop soon after the group arrived at the park. Habitat in the park is varied, as there are grassy fields, woods, and marshes along the open York River, and the bird life is varied as a result. The group spotted several Horned Grebes on the river, with one just starting to molt into breeding plumage. The expected Field Sparrows didn’t disappoint, and our group saw several at close range performing “full-body singing.” The parking lot was particularly productive, with a Palm Warbler mixed in with a large flock of Yellow-rumped Warblers and Chipping Sparrows. Killdeer walked on the adjacent field, while Bald Eagles flew along its edges. A treat was a flock of American Pipits, which stayed low in the grass a few hundred feet from the parking lot – sometimes you have to work to see the birds! In all, the group identified 51 species, with the complete list available via the following link: https://ebird.org/checklist/S131204186.