Spring Migrant Spotted in Luria Park: Louisiana Waterthrush

Today, April 3, in the mid-afternoon of this warm and overcast day, an early spring migrant was seen in Luria Park: Louisiana Waterthrush.

This long legged little wader was seen on the part of the creek that runs beneath the boardwalk between Raymondale and the bridge. The wetlands and creeks of Luria Park is just where this little bird likes to be. The bright white stripe over his eye was what stuck out first, but the long sturdy pinkish legs was the second thing I noticed. He is about 5-1/2 inches long and his "pot belly" means he carries his weight mostly over his long legs. The dark stripes on his white breast are broken lines rather than solid like that of the Northern Waterthrush which will migrating through later in spring.

So, the next time you are in Luria Park look carefully around the stream banks for this little wading migrant: the Louisiana Waterthrush!

(photograph taken in Luria Park.)

Why a Raymondale bird blog? Dan and Beth Fedorko have been inventorying birds for Cornell University's Backyard Bird Count (www.feederwatch.org) which runs November through April each year. This inventory keeps track of migratory patterns, possible diseases, and decline and increase in bird populations. In response to the Raymondale Environmental Stewardship Task Force, we have started this blog which is separate from the general Raymondale news blog and more personal, to share our finds and photographs. If you see any birds in the neighborhood and surrounding parkland, please send us a photo! We'll help you identify it and might even post it on the blog!