Synopsis
Family obligations took us to a corner of the US I probably wouldn't have visited if it weren't otherwise. But we found ourselves in Philadelphia for one long weekend as we decided to add a few days to explore the area for a little bit. While in PA, we experienced a tornado warning with pouring rain and horrendous winds that toppled trees, which blocked roads and knocked out the power (and water) at our AirBnB for a couple of days. The time there wasn't a storm, the temperatures were in the 90s with 90% humidity that feel like a wet blanket that you couldn't take off. At least we enjoyed some good food (Philly cheesesteak sandwich!) and visited some great parks. There were three major areas we focused on for birding, hiking, and nature.

John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge
After a very short (compared to our longer international) red-eye flight, we landed in the pre-dawn hours at Philadelphia. A very short drive away from the airport, we spent the morning at the John Heinz NWR. A series of loop trails circled mudflats along the river, through broadleaf forest and marshes. Boardwalks led over the shallow lilypad covered ponds. People fished the river, while painted turtles sunned themselves on half submerged logs. Baltimore Orioles, Great Crested Flycatchers, and the ubiquitous Gray Catbirds sang from the trees. Great Egrets waded the shallow ponds and snapping turtles plodded through the mud. 

Forge Valley National Historical Park
This popular park is used heavily by joggers, cyclists, and walkers. We took a slow pace on the paved pathways that followed the looping road through the park. In the open meadows of milkweed, rushes, and golden grass, a small flock of male Bobolinks perched in the low brushes, seemingly on the lookout for any available mates. Grasshopper and Field Sparrows skulked the dense grass clumps, singing and flitting in the heat of the day. In some dense brush, we spotted a pair of Blue Grosbeak, while an Indigo Bunting sang nearby. From the cluster of dense, tall broadleaf forest, unseen Ovenbirds and Wood Thrushes warbled.

Ridley Creek State Park
We visited this park several times since our AirBnB was closeby. It's a large park with a working horse ranch and was very popular with picnickers, runners, and walkers. We walked some of the dirt paths that crisscrossed the park. The majority of the public stuck to the paved and groomed wide trails, while there were relatively fewer people on the small narrower trails that traversed the forest. An Acadian Flycatcher worked on a nest. Ovenbirds, Tufted Titmouse, and Red-eyed Vireos tittered and sang from the understory. While American Redstart, Northern Parula, and Prairie Warblers flitted in the high canopy. Near the bird boxes, a male Eastern Bluebird tended to its two fledglings. 

Overall, our trip to the City of Brotherly Love was enjoyable - as we kept it short and sweet.

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Pictures (click on thumbnails to enlarge)

Birds

Canada Goose	JH
Wood Duck	JH
Mallard	JH
Rock Pigeon	VF
Mourning Dove	JH, VF, RC
Chimney Swift	JH, VF, RC
Ruby-throated Hummingbird	RC
Killdeer	JH
Double-crested Cormorant	JH
Snowy Egret	JH
Green Heron	JH
Great Egret	JH
Great Blue Heron	JH
Black Vulture	RC
Turkey Vulture	JH, VF, RC
Osprey	JH, VF
Bald Eagle	JH
Broad-winged Hawk	RC
Red-tailed Hawk	VF, RC
Red-bellied Woodpecker	JH, VF, RC
Downy Woodpecker	VF, RC
Hairy Woodpecker	VF
Pileated Woodpecker	VF
Northern Flicker	JH, VF, RC
Eastern Wood-Pewee	JH, VF, RC
Acadian Flycatcher	RC
Willow Flycatcher	JH, VF
Great Crested Flycatcher	JH
Eastern Kingbird	JH, VF
Warbling Vireo	JH, VF, RC
Red-eyed Vireo	JH, VF, RC
Blue Jay	JH, VF, RC
American Crow	JH, VF, RC
Carolina Chickadee	JH, VF, RC
Tufted Titmouse	RC
Tree Swallow	JH, VF, RC
Purple Martin	RC
Northern Rough-winged Swallow	JH, VF
Barn Swallow	JH, VF, RC
White-breasted Nuthatch	JH, VF, RC
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher	JH, VF, RC
Northern House Wren	JH, VF
Marsh Wren	JH
Carolina Wren	JH, RC
European Starling	JH, VF, RC
Gray Catbird	JH, VF, RC
Brown Thrasher	JH, VF
Northern Mockingbird	VF
Eastern Bluebird	VF, RC
Veery	RC
Wood Thrush	JH, VF, RC
American Robin	JH, VF, RC
Cedar Waxwing	JH, VF, RC
House Finch	JH, VF, RC
American Goldfinch	JH, VF, RC
Grasshopper Sparrow	VF
Chipping Sparrow	VF, RC
Field Sparrow	VF
Song Sparrow	JH, VF, RC
Eastern Towhee	VF, RC
Bobolink	VF
Eastern Meadowlark	VF
Orchard Oriole	JH, VF
Baltimore Oriole	JH, VF
Red-winged Blackbird	JH, VF
Brown-headed Cowbird	JH, VF, RC
Common Grackle	JH, VF
Ovenbird	VF, RC
Common Yellowthroat	JH, VF, RC
American Redstart	JH, RC
Northern Parula	RC
Yellow Warbler	JH, VF
Pine Warbler	RC
Prairie Warbler	RC
Northern Cardinal	JH, VF, RC
Blue Grosbeak	VF
Indigo Bunting	VF, RC
Critters:
Coyote	VF
White-tailed deer

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