Clifton Institute – 25 April, 2026

April 25th brought a cool, overcast morning to the Clifton Institute — the kind of gray day that might give a casual visitor pause, but does nothing to dampen the spirits of a dedicated birder. A large group of us gathered for one of the walk series’ most popular outings, guided by two knowledgeable Clifton Institute staff who know every corner of this remarkable property. With temperatures in the low-to-mid 50s and a light northeast breeze carrying the smell of damp grass and blooming trees, we set off along the trails. The air was alive before we’d even taken ten steps, birdsong layered so thick and constant that we heard far more than we ever managed to see.

The ponds set an early, welcoming tone. The resident Trumpeter Swans drifted across the water with their quiet authority, while Tree Swallows cut arcing loops overhead. As we moved deeper into the property, the morning built into something special. A Ruby-throated Hummingbird — the first of the year for many in the group, perched at the top of the tree, damp from the wet drizzle. Common Yellowthroats were singing from seemingly every shrub.

Then, as if on cue, both Orchard and Baltimore Orioles appeared together long enough for everyone to really drink in the differences — the Baltimore’s bright orange set against the Orchard’s warmer, brick-toned chestnut. It’s the kind of comparison you usually only make in a field guide., perched and patient, giving everyone a rare chance to really study the differences, the Baltimore’s blazing orange against the Orchard’s richer, brick-toned chestnut. Lots of Eastern Bluebirds dotted the fields, many Ruby-crowned Kinglets flitted through the understory, and a steady stream of migrating warblers, ten species in all, including the songs of a Kentucky Warbler and a Worm-eating Warbler, ringing from the canopy between sightings.

By the time we tallied 72 species and 321 individual birds, the gray sky had begun to feel less like a limitation and more like a fitting backdrop for a morning spent listening as much as looking. The Clifton Institute has a way of rewarding patience, and this walk delivered in full. A fine start to the spring migration season.

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