John's Plans for the Rural View

Thursday promises to be a day with birds aplenty if they don't all wing north on the good south winds. My route will traverse hill and dale with a bit of stream-side meandering thrown in for good measure. I will be afield in northwestern Clark County generally on the former acreage of the original European settlers of this area, the Black family in 1809. The watershed of Honey Creek is my target with ample woodlands (think Screech Owl, Scarlet Tanager, Wood Thrush) interspersed by hay fields (think Red-winged Blackbird, Eastern Meadowlark, Field Sparrow) and shrubby edges (think Indigo Bunting, Song Sparrow, Yellow-breasted Chat) all inclined toward the riparian corridor of Honey Creek (think Baltimore Oriole, Wood Duck, Great-blue Heron).

Coffee. I will be checking for owls early as Venus wanes in the western sky, then listen for the pre-dawn chorus of new arrivals mixed with those resident birds already on territory. Coffee. Next it will be checking out the close known individuals to fill the list. Coffee. Then on to whatever feels right, checking for morels underfoot and birds overhead. Good birding to all.