Big Walnut Bird Club Field Trip Report- Saturday Aug 23, 2025

Attendees: Amanda Beals, Harriet Moore, Jeff Gygi, Lacey Ring-Verbik, Bob Verbik, Steve Stamper, Sherry and Mark Vance, Melissa and Rod Wilson

Summary: We met at 8am at the Owl Trail trailhead. Steve Stamper, who is on the Board of Directors for the Little Walnut Creek Conservancy District, met us to open the gate and joined us on the hike. This large wooded area is owned/managed by this Conservancy District, a local government entity separate from the Indiana DNR. We were informed that a proposed clearing of a portion of the woods for RV camp sites has been recently cancelled due to environmental damage concerns. The woods is definitely worth preservation consideration as it includes a good variety of habitats, maturing trees, and all types of wildlife.

We had an enjoyable hike for at least 2 miles through woods, pines, and grass fields, including a small pond. For the first hour, it seemed like we were doing a lot more listening than seeing, as birds were being vocal but shy. Merlin got a good workout. Insects, spiders, fungi, butterflies and damselflies helped keep things entertaining while birds were hiding. A robber fly preparing to devour a bald-faced hornet was a cool find. It’s amazing that this fly is apparently fiercer than, and a predator of, those hornets, of which hornets I’ve been chased and stung by more than once . A soaring Broad-winged Hawk and Redtail Hawk were final treats as we concluded our hike back at the parking spot.

An approximate list of bird species observed at the Owl Trail is provided below -

Acadian Flycatcher
Eastern Towhee
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Red-eyed Vireo
Eastern Wood-Pewee
White-breasted Nuthatch
Tufted Titmouse
Wood Thrush
Northern Cardinal
Gray Catbird
Wood Duck
Great Blue Heron
Carolina Wren
Red-headed Woodpecker
Field Sparrow
Common Yellowthroat
House Wren
White-eyed Vireo (pic)
Nashville Warbler
E. Wild Turkey
Bald Eagle
Cliff Swallow
Purple Martin
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Double-Crested Cormorant
Osprey
Belted Kingfisher (pic)
Turkey Vulture
Cedar Waxwing (pic)
American Goldfinch
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Red Tailed Hawk (pic)
Broad-winged Hawk (pic)

-Rod Wilson