On the way back to Philadelphia International Airport after a week near Cape May, New Jersey, we stopped for a final burst of birding at John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tanicum. The refuge is only one mile from the airport, yet it’s home to more than 300 species of birds throughout the year. Eighty species have been recorded nesting within refuge boundaries.
None of us were expecting the birding here to be so good, especially in the middle of the afternoon. In less than 45 minutes, we saw 19 species, including incredible looks at northern parula, black-and-white warbler, and a white-breasted nuthatch feeding young in a nest cavity.
If you want to see some great birds and you have a layover in Philly, consider checking out John Heinz NWR.
Checklist (May 11, 2012)
Wild turkey
Ruby-throated hummingbird
Downy woodpecker
Northern flicker (yellow-shafted)
Eastern phoebe
Great crested flycatcher
White-breasted nuthatch
House wren
American robin
Gray catbird
Northern parula
Yellow warbler
Black-throated blue warbler
Black-and-white warbler
American redstart
Northern cardinal
Baltimore oriole
Glad you stopped by Heinz & noticed the black & white warbler. I live nearby and thought I’d been seeing one or two but wasn’t sure!
That’s a great spot and lots of warblers in the area last week!