Murphy's Point OFO Trip with Mark Read

 May 11, 2025

Alan and Carol picked us up at 5:30 am for the trip to Murphy’s Point south of Perth, where we met Mark and the other birders.  Also attending from Jane’s group were Eleanor and Terry.

A Golden-winged Warbler was singing in the big tree near the parking lot – a good omen for the trip!

Mark soon heard a Blue-winged Warbler, but the scope revealed another Golden-winged singing the other’s song. But before long, we did see a pure Blue-winged Warbler, but it was directly in front of the strong sun and hard to make out.  We also saw a number of Eastern Towhees and Eastern Phoebes.  Field Sparrows were singing nearby, but did not show themselves.

We hiked along the Silver Queen Mine Trail and saw many other warblers – Black and White, Blackburnian, Yellow-rumped and Chestnut-sided.  A couple of Scarlet Tanagers were singing in the distance, always a popular sighting.

Returning to the parking lot, we saw a pair of Eastern Bluebirds, an uncommon sighting in the Park.

After a short break, we hiked the Lally Homestead Trail where we saw some more warblers and some Yellow-throated Vireos – a highlight for the day.  At the Black Creek wetland, we had a brief sighting of an American Mink and a Bald Eagle.

After another short break, Mark led us into the Day Use Area of the main Park where we did a short woodland hike.  Here we got a Great Crested Flycatcher and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker among others.

We thanked Mark for leading and looked for a place to have lunch.  We opted not to take the short very steep trail to the beach, and instead, returned to the Lally Homestead to have lunch at a picnic table.  Alan spotted a Brown-headed Cowbird across the road.  A Gray Catbird entertained us with its song, but failed to appear, as did the Brown Thrasher earlier.  We had to content ourselves with numerous Yellow Warblers.

We did another short hike along the Silver Queen Trail, but the birds were mostly on a mid-day break.

We drove home by the route we had come along Hwy 15, stopping at the Carleton Place storm   pond.  We had distant views of a Yellowlegs, Great Blue Heron and Lesser Scaups.  Carol heard a “Spotty”, and we soon saw it fairly close to us.

It was time to pack it in as we were all rather tried from the very early start.  Thank you Alan for driving – a great job!

Checklist

36 Species Observed

+1 other taxa, 105 individuals

Ruffed Grouse Number observed: 3 Breeding & Behavior Code: S Singing Bird (Possible)

Mourning Dove Number observed: 2 Breeding & Behavior Code: S7 Singing Bird Present 7+ days (Probable)

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Number observed: 1

Downy Woodpecker Number observed: 2 Breeding & Behavior Code: S7 Singing Bird Present 7+ days (Probable)

Northern Flicker Number observed: 1

Eastern Phoebe Number observed: 6 Breeding & Behavior Code: ON Occupied Nest (Confirmed)

Red-eyed Vireo Number observed: 2

Blue Jay Number observed: 4 Breeding & Behavior Code: H In Appropriate Habitat (Possible)

American Crow Number observed: 2 Breeding & Behavior Code: S7 Singing Bird Present 7+ days (Probable)

Black-capped Chickadee Number observed: 6 Breeding & Behavior Code: S7 Singing Bird Present 7+ days (Probable)

Gray Catbird Number observed: 1

Wood Thrush Number observed: 1 Breeding & Behavior Code: S Singing Bird (Possible)

American Robin Number observed: 3 Breeding & Behavior Code: S7 Singing Bird Present 7+ days (Probable)

American Goldfinch Number observed: 1

Field Sparrow Number observed: 6

White-crowned Sparrow Number observed: 3

White-throated Sparrow Number observed: 7

Song Sparrow Number observed: 2 Breeding & Behavior Code: S7 Singing Bird Present 7+ days (Probable)

Eastern Towhee Number observed: 4

Common Grackle Number observed: 2

Ovenbird Number observed: 5

Golden-winged Warbler Number observed: 4 Details One singing classic BWWA song.

Blue-winged Warbler Number observed: 2 Details Actual count. Both seen and appeared pure.

Golden-winged/Blue-winged Warbler Number observed: 3

Black-and-white Warbler Number observed: 6

Nashville Warbler Number observed: 2

Common Yellowthroat Number observed: 1

American Redstart Number observed: 3

Blackburnian Warbler Number observed: 4

Yellow Warbler Number observed: 1

Chestnut-sided Warbler Number observed: 4

Yellow-rumped Warbler Number observed: 1

Black-throated Green Warbler Number observed: 1

Scarlet Tanager Number observed: 3

Northern Cardinal Number observed: 2 Breeding & Behavior Code: S7 Singing Bird Present 7+ days (Probable)

Rose-breasted Grosbeak Number observed: 2

Indigo Bunting Number observed: 2