Rocky Hill Meadows Bird Walk – 9/20/2025
On Saturday, September 20th, fifteen bird watchers gathered at Ferry Park in Rocky Hill for the start of a bird walk into the Rocky Hill Meadows. This walk is focused primarily on the comings and goings of southbound shorebirds, especially Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Baird’s Sandpiper and American Golden-Plover, species which prefer and share similar drier habitats.
The trip got off on the right foot with fantastic looks at an adult Red-shouldered Hawk perched high, on the top snag of a dying tree. Also noted at the time was a Purple Finch calling overhead.
To reach the meadows, one has to pass through a small dense woodland, and then over a stream. From here, the road skirts a row of mature trees that border extensive farmland. It was at this juncture where we located a number of actively feeding migrant birds. Black-and-white Warbler, American Redstart, Northern Parula, Eastern Wood-Pewee and Scarlet Tanager were all observed.
Birders also noticed a lot of bird movement around the fruiting vines of Virginia Creeper. Eastern Bluebirds, American Robins and Gray Catbirds fed feverishly on their berries, as did a few Red-eyed Vireos. Sharp eyes also detected the presence of an uncommonly seen Philadelphia Vireo!
The woodlands were also great for spotting woodpeckers. Our group recorded five species, Red-bellied, Downy, Hairy, Pileated, and Northern Flicker.
The dirt road leading out into the meadows is nicely bordered on both sides by weedy plants and short shrubs. Birds that were flushed up into the tops of these plants allowed close up views at both Savannah Sparrow and Palm Warblers.
Another bird that allowed us close up views was a Northern Harrier, which flew off the ground and circled us on a number of occasions. What a treat!
As the temperatures began to rise, so did the sightings of different kinds of hawks. Both Cooper’s and Sharp-shinned Hawks kept our attention as they relentlessly harassed American Crows in a distant tree line. Meanwhile, an Osprey circled overhead, and a Peregrine Falcon was spied in pursuit of a flock of blackbirds.
Our journey into the heart of meadows continued for another mile or so. As luck would have it, a flock of three American Golden-Plover were incredibly found resting, right near the edge of freshly cut sod, one of the target species of our trip. American Golden-Plover’s nest in northern Canada and winter in southern South America. For many on our walk, the plover was a life bird!
From this point, we retraced our steps and headed back toward Ferry Park. Along the way, we added American Kestrel, American Pipit, a flyover Greater Yellowlegs and Pectoral Sandpiper.
Our trip tallied a total of 52 bird species.
Respectively submitted,
Paul Cianfaglione, trip leader
