Birding the Norman Bird Sanctuary in Rhode Island

 Tree Swallow at the Norman Bird Sanctuary 6-15-13

While visiting Connecticut this summer my sister and her husband took me along one morning to the Norman Bird Sanctuary in Rhode Island. While they were going there to do a road race I went off through the sanctuary to count birds. I had never been here before and found it amazing. Before this day I had only counted birds in Rhode Island at Misquamicut and my Rhode Island Bird list consisted of about 20 species of birds. I had high hopes that I would significantly add to that count today.

I followed the path through a green meadow filled with swallows!

 

Tree Swallow hunting over grass.

 

While tree swallows occupied most of the nest boxes, there were a few with House Sparrows inside!

 Lupine

I loved seeing lupine in bloom!

I followed the path down through the woods with robins everywhere…

 

In this damp shade the mosquitoes swarmed!

 

 

I heard a few catbirds, titmice, and downy woodpeckers.

 

Along this trail I found Carolina Wrens and Eastern Towhees.

 

I was surprised there were not as many birds near the water, but I did hear the call of a Common yellow throat and a few Red-winged Blackbirds.

 

 But the Black-crowned Night Heron was the only heron I saw.

 

 Gray Catbird

 

 Yellow Warbler

After crossing the bridge near the pond the trail wound up through the woods over rocky ledges and back down again to  a mixed woodland. I could just see the ocean beyond the trees with seagulls wheeling overhead and runners pounding by on the road. Near a little stream I saw a Ruby-throated Hummingbird and this yellow warbler.

 Brown-headed Cowbird

In an overhead snag a cowbird called.

Ocean beyond the meadow

As the trail crossed a meadow before returning me to the original farm with the visitor’s center I saw a few sparrows and a Northern Mockingbird. A Red-tailed Hawk had a nest in a tall tree by the farm house. Once again there were birds everywhere and I thoroughly enjoyed my time here. The Norman Bird Sanctuary is an eBird Hotspot and definitely worth a visit!

 My Rhode Island Life List before and after birding at the Norman Bird Sanctuary:

(Bird species listed below bold type were seen at the same location/date.)

1. Mute Swan-Watch Hill Cove 5-12-1985
2. Great Black-backed Gull-Misquamicut Beach State Park 6-1-1996
3. Double-crested Cormorant-Misquamicut Beach State Park 9-17-2010
4. Great Blue Heron
5. Great Egret
6. Snowy Egret
7. Glossy ibis
8. Osprey
9. Piping Plover
10. Sanderling
11. Laughing Gull
12. ring-billed Gull
13. Herring Gull
14. Mourning Dove
15. European Starling-Napatree Point 9-17-2010
16. Turkey Vulture-Westerly Rhode Island 8-17-2012
17. Blue Jay
18. American Robin
19. Fish Crow-Misquamicut Beach State Park 8-17-2012
20. Semipalmated Plover
21. Barn Swallow
22. Rock Pigeon-Middletown Rhode Island 6-15-13
23. Red-winged Blackbird
24. Common Grackle
25. House Sparrow
26. Black-crowned Night Heron-Norman Bird Sanctuary 6-15-13
27. Red-tailed Hawk
28. Ruby-throated hummingbird
29. Downy Woodpecker
30. Northern flicker
31. Eastern Phoebe
32. Great Crested Flycatcher
33. American Crow
34. Tree Swallow
35. Black-capped Chickadee
36. Tufted Titmouse
37. House Wren
38. Carolina Wren
39. Gray Catbird
40. Northern Mockingbird
41. Cedar Waxwing
42. Common Yellowthroat
43. Yellow Warbler
44. Eastern Towhee
45. Field Sparrow
46. Song Sparrow
47. Northern Cardinal
48. Brown-headed Cowbird
49. American Goldfinch

In the end I spent 2 hours and 15 minutes at the Norman Bird Sanctuary and walked approximately 1.2 miles. I counted 31 species of birds here as well as 10 species I saw along the way while driving through town for a total of 35 species seen on this day. Obviously some birds were seen in town and at the sanctuary.

Links:

• Norman Bird Sanctuary
• Summer 2013 Trip
• Birding Rhode Island