West Hartford’s Westmoor Park offers bird walks every Wednesday with an expert from the Connecticut Audobon Society.

Palm Warbler. Submitted photo

By Ronni Newton

Spring is a great time for getting outside to enjoy nature, and one activity that adults and children alike will enjoy is birding – which can be done right in West Hartford at Westmoor Park, with the guidance of expert Larry Lunden.

Lunden, a member of the board of directors of the Connecticut Audobon Society, leads the walks every Wednesday. Director of Human and Leisure Service Helen Rubino-Turco said that a wide variety of migrating birds are now arriving at Westmoor Park. “So far, they have been spectacular,” she said.

“A beautiful palm warbler and a cheery ruby crowned kinglet greeted us last week, along with permanent residents such as the wood duck, red-tailed hawks and a bubbly house wren,” Rubino-Turco said.

Registration is required and the walks are open to adults as well as to children who are accompanied by a registered adult. The cost is $3 for West Hartford residents and $4 for non-residents.

Three more walks remain in the series, and those interested can register through West Hartford Leisure Services. Click here for more information.

The following birds were observed on the April 29 walk:

Canada Goose  5
Wood Duck  3
Turkey Vulture  8
Killdeer  1
Mourning Dove  5
Red-bellied Woodpecker  4
Downy Woodpecker  5
Hairy Woodpecker  1
Northern Flicker  3
Blue Jay  4
Tree Swallow  2
Barn Swallow  7
Black-capped Chickadee  5
Tufted Titmouse  5
White-breasted Nuthatch  3
House Wren  1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher  1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  2
Eastern Bluebird  2
Hermit Thrush  1
American Robin  10
Northern Mockingbird  1
Black-and-white Warbler  1
Palm Warbler  7
Yellow-rumped Warbler  6
Chipping Sparrow  4
Song Sparrow  7
White-throated Sparrow  2
Northern Cardinal  4
Red-winged Blackbird  10
Common Grackle  2
Brown-headed Cowbird  4
House Finch  2
American Goldfinch  4
House Sparrow  10

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