Birding and Bourbon - May 6-13, 2023 - Part 1
May 23, 2023 16:25:23 GMT -8
ed, kestrel, and 3 more like this
Post by Randy on May 23, 2023 16:25:23 GMT -8
My twin brother Rob and I have pretty much identical interests - one of which is birding, and another is enjoying good whisky. In about 2015 we did a trip to Nome, Alaska, and in 2020 we had planned an amazing trip to Kentucky for birding and bourbon tasting. Sadly, COVID happened and this trip was cancelled. Finally we managed to rebook and this trip happened a couple weeks ago.
We flew into Nashville in order to avoid the Kentucky Derby in Louisville, which was on May 6. We birded a local park along the river before heading out of Nashville on May 7. There were a few good birds but one species that we did not see the rest of the trip was black-crowned night heron:
Black-crowned Night-Heron at Lock Two Park by Randy Walker
Black-crowned Night-Heron at Lock Two Park by Randy Walker
Carolina wrens were everywhere on the trip:
Carolina Wren at Lock Two Park by Randy Walker
As were Northern Cardinals:
Northern Cardinal at Lock Two Park by Randy Walker
This was the only rainy day fortunately and it was predominately a travel day. We hit up a couple distilleries later in the day in Kentucky (Limestone Branch and Maker's Mark).
When we arrived in Frankfort that evening we stopped at a local forested park, where we got our first eastern warbler of the trip - Bay-Breasted:
Bay-breasted Warbler at Leslie Morris Park at Fort Hill--Miller Trail by Randy Walker
Bay-breasted Warbler at Leslie Morris Park at Fort Hill--Miller Trail by Randy Walker
May 8 involved a trip about 1.5 hours east of Frankfort, KY where we were staying, to head to the Red River Gorge. The main unique target here was Swainson's warbler. This seems to be pretty much the northwestern edge of its range. One was reported the day before at a rest stop in the area so we tried there first. Fortunately it was singing immediately as we got out of the car. I wasn't able to get a photo but Rob got a couple good ones. I can't post since it's from my brother's list but if interested you can check out the eBird list:
ebird.org/checklist/S136607086
We headed to the Red River Gorge park and the warblers started to roll in like crazy - Hooded, Black-and-White, Worm-eating, Prairie... Here are some photos:
Hooded Warbler at Red River Gorge (Powell Co.)--Nada Tunnel Rd. by Randy Walker
American Redstart at Junction Of North Fork Road And Nada Tunnel Road by Randy Walker
Worm-eating Warbler at Auxier Ridge Trail by Randy Walker
Prairie Warbler at Auxier Ridge Trail by Randy Walker
Black-and-white Warbler at Auxier Ridge Trail by Randy Walker
We also had some Vireos:
White-eyed Vireo at Junction Of North Fork Road And Nada Tunnel Road by Randy Walker
Red-eyed Vireo at Junction Of North Fork Road And Nada Tunnel Road by Randy Walker
And Great-Crested Flycatcher:
Great Crested Flycatcher at Auxier Ridge Trail by Randy Walker
We added a yellow-throated vireo before heading back to Frankfort.
We finished the day at a wooded area near Frankfort. Here's an Eastern Wood-pewee:
Eastern Wood-Pewee at KY Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources Headquarters by Randy Walker
The highlights of the day were definitely Swainson's Warbler, Kentucky Warbler, and Cerulean Warbler - the latter two we were unable to get photos of.
We flew into Nashville in order to avoid the Kentucky Derby in Louisville, which was on May 6. We birded a local park along the river before heading out of Nashville on May 7. There were a few good birds but one species that we did not see the rest of the trip was black-crowned night heron:
Black-crowned Night-Heron at Lock Two Park by Randy Walker
Black-crowned Night-Heron at Lock Two Park by Randy Walker
Carolina wrens were everywhere on the trip:
Carolina Wren at Lock Two Park by Randy Walker
As were Northern Cardinals:
Northern Cardinal at Lock Two Park by Randy Walker
This was the only rainy day fortunately and it was predominately a travel day. We hit up a couple distilleries later in the day in Kentucky (Limestone Branch and Maker's Mark).
When we arrived in Frankfort that evening we stopped at a local forested park, where we got our first eastern warbler of the trip - Bay-Breasted:
Bay-breasted Warbler at Leslie Morris Park at Fort Hill--Miller Trail by Randy Walker
Bay-breasted Warbler at Leslie Morris Park at Fort Hill--Miller Trail by Randy Walker
May 8 involved a trip about 1.5 hours east of Frankfort, KY where we were staying, to head to the Red River Gorge. The main unique target here was Swainson's warbler. This seems to be pretty much the northwestern edge of its range. One was reported the day before at a rest stop in the area so we tried there first. Fortunately it was singing immediately as we got out of the car. I wasn't able to get a photo but Rob got a couple good ones. I can't post since it's from my brother's list but if interested you can check out the eBird list:
ebird.org/checklist/S136607086
We headed to the Red River Gorge park and the warblers started to roll in like crazy - Hooded, Black-and-White, Worm-eating, Prairie... Here are some photos:
Hooded Warbler at Red River Gorge (Powell Co.)--Nada Tunnel Rd. by Randy Walker
American Redstart at Junction Of North Fork Road And Nada Tunnel Road by Randy Walker
Worm-eating Warbler at Auxier Ridge Trail by Randy Walker
Prairie Warbler at Auxier Ridge Trail by Randy Walker
Black-and-white Warbler at Auxier Ridge Trail by Randy Walker
We also had some Vireos:
White-eyed Vireo at Junction Of North Fork Road And Nada Tunnel Road by Randy Walker
Red-eyed Vireo at Junction Of North Fork Road And Nada Tunnel Road by Randy Walker
And Great-Crested Flycatcher:
Great Crested Flycatcher at Auxier Ridge Trail by Randy Walker
We added a yellow-throated vireo before heading back to Frankfort.
We finished the day at a wooded area near Frankfort. Here's an Eastern Wood-pewee:
Eastern Wood-Pewee at KY Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources Headquarters by Randy Walker
The highlights of the day were definitely Swainson's Warbler, Kentucky Warbler, and Cerulean Warbler - the latter two we were unable to get photos of.