Silver Lake Regional Park – March 21, 2026

Meeting in the parking lot at Silver Lake Regional Park our group of 21 was greeted by a clear blue sky and lovely spring weather. It was a peaceful start, but the outing took an unexpected turn.  Out in the water, a Canada Goose was spotted struggling in tangled fishing line. Without hesitation, Ed waded into the chilly water to cut the restrictive lines and free the frightened bird. Ed simply wrung out his soaked pants, and continued leading the walk, a perfect display of quiet dedication to the wildlife we came to observe.

The woods were eager to reward our patience, where eventually we saw 49 species, including two swans flying in the distance but we couldn’t identify which kind. A bright Pine Warbler provided an early thrill, perching just over our heads and singing a steady trill for several minutes. Further along, a solitary, Red-breasted Nuthatch proved a little more elusive on a high branch, but we eventually caught satisfying looks of the stark black streak across its eye. A highlight of our 2.6-mile walk was a double sighting. A beautiful Red-headed Woodpecker shared the bare trees with a busy Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, and we watched quietly as the sapsucker methodically sipped sap from the holes it had drilled into the bark.

Surrounded by the constant flitting of Northern Cardinals, the calls and displays of the Eastern Towhee, and the familiar songs of our resident Song Sparrows, the morning felt alive. The day was rewarding, highlighted by a successful rescue, new discoveries, and the quiet camaraderie of walking through the woods to marvel at the incredible bird life.

https://ebird.org/checklist/S311468230