Out checking on the bluebird trail this morning I was distracted by a singing male MOURNING WARBLER. I had no choice but to try and check him out. I went over, watched the dense underbrush for movement and location and then in an instant the little fella popped out on to a low branch and gave me a good look for a moment. So cool. Hard to say if he will stick around around for a while or not, either way the skulking low lying ways of the Mourning Warbler make it very difficult to locate, being familiar with the song is very helpful. The bird was on the north side of the Multi-use trail loop that goes through the fields and shrubby growth at the Southeast end of the park. From the nature center parking lot, walk out towards the highway and enter the trail to the left (east) then when it forks in .3 mi take the left branch and head out about a half mile to the field area that runs along Blacklick Creek. The Trees that are just before this lower easternmost field are where the bird was seen on the north side (left) of the path. Other fun birds out there were YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, WILLOW FLYCATCHER, YELLOW-THROATED WARBLERS (by the creek), CHESTNUT SIDED WARBLER, AMERICAN REDSTART, YELLOW WARBLER, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, INDIGO BUNTING, etc. If you go early enough you can head down by the creek just under I-70 and look for the Beavers that are up to their lumberjack ways down there, you'll at least see their handywork. Other birds in the wooded parts of the park around the Buttonbush Trail and Nature center included MAGNOLIA WARBLER, CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER, WOOD THRUSH, SWAINSON'S THRUSH, AMERICAN REDSTART, BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, BAY-BREASTED WARBLER, NORTHERN PARULA, BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER, SCARLET TANAGER, BALTIMORE ORIOLE, RED-EYED VIREO, EASTERN WOOD PEWEE, ACADIAN FLYCATCHER and others like our famous Barred Owls and Pileated Woodpeckers. Good luck if you try for these gems. We are also seing about 30 species of birds a day at the center feeders. Stop in for bird updates and tips.
Good Birding,
Ben Warner - Naturalist at Blacklick Woods Metro Park.
BLACKLICK WOODS 
6975 E. Livingston Ave.
Reynoldsburg, OH 43068
(eastern Franklin & northwestern Fairfield counties)
 


 



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