Who gets up this early to look at birds? - Exton Park

Met my Brian's the other morning at 6:30 am to bird. The first thing I said to Brian Rachich when getting out of the car "What kind of whack job gets up this early to look at birds?" He proudly retorts "We do!"

Yes, we do.

Our other friend George reported hearing a Sora the previous day. This time of year they aren't giving their full blown mating call. Just a short, "weep" sound. Not a very exciting thing to search for but it "counts" as a Sora so we all wanted it. Which leads me to an awesome fact my friend BQ told me.

Fun fact: Birds sing more in the spring because their gonads are larger. In the fall they shrink so they don't sing as much.

I giggle at this fact like a 10 year old boy. The word "gonad" is funny on it's own but this fact makes it even better.

We hung out quietly waiting for the small gonad "weep" call of the Sora in the fall. In the spring, when their gonads are massive, they give a loud sound that many people think sounds like a dolphin. I guess breeding makes men do crazy stuff. After some intense listening we hear it in about 15 minutes. Pretty amazing that it was so reliable. But that's it. Just a distant "weep". It was very anticlimactic. But it still counts as "Sora". I almost feel guilty about it. I didn't see it. I didn't hear it's full, enlarged gonad song. Just a "weep". But it's unmistakable especially in this area where they are seen semi-regularly.

Sora - photo by George Tallman

Still we have a muted celebration and move on.

I've birded Exton Park several times in the last couple of weeks and it's been amazing. It's such a diverse ecosystem in a small area. It includes marshy, swampy areas, a stream, young stands of trees and 2 acre pond and open shrubby fields. Part of the park even has thick mature deciduous forests. I've seen Cape May Warbler, Palm Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Marsh Wren, and many others.

One of the more exciting sightings was during a Birds and Brews walk with some friends at Exton Park. We go birding then we have beers at Victory Brewery.

My friend George again finds this rare bird called the American Bittern. This bird has been on decline in the area and it is exceedingly hard to see. Note the photo below. Can you see the bittern? It will sway in the wind with the reeds to stay hidden. Take a look at the 3 photos below and you can get a sense of how hidden they can be.

Bittern pretends to be a reed

Can you find the bittern?

Bittern next to a Great Blue Heron

It's interesting to see the contrast next to the obvious Great Blue Heron. 

Warbler migration is almost over..stay tuned for waterfowl and winter residents of Chester county. Sometimes the birds can carry you over during the blah winter months.