Much is happening along the Kirkland Trail. The May 1 update focused on late April wildflowers, but a surge of incoming migrant birds, especially warblers, has appeared during the first week of May, so this update focuses on birds. Most abundant are yellow warblers and common yellowthroats, along with red-winged blackbirds, song sparrows, goldfinches, cardinals, and catbirds. The distinctive songs of warblers can be heard along most of the trail, including the “wichety wichety wichety” of yellowthroats, which are the “official” birds of the pandemic – they wear a mask and stay at a social distance! I’m including these photos from the trail in the past few days to show you what you can see for yourselves.
Keep an eye on the pond at marker #10; recent sightings at the pond have included green heron, spotted sandpiper, belted kingfisher, mallards, and (always) Canada geese. Tree swallows and barn swallows fly over the fields around Dugway. Rose-breasted grosbeaks are in the area, and indigo buntings will soon be along the trail. Pheasants, chipmunks, rabbits, and painted turtles live there too.
