Clifty Falls State Park - birds and hiking

  • By Bruce Glick
  • August 5, 2015
  • 717
                        
Gone Birding August 10, 2015 Bargain Hunter, Holmes & Wayne Clifty Falls State Park – birds and hiking Since moving to Indiana almost two years ago, we haven’t really explored the state, at least not far from home. Last weekend we headed south to Clifty Falls State Park, located along the Ohio River at the town of Madison, Indiana. I was hoping to check out the birds in the park, which is well-known for having lots of rugged hiking trails, steep ravines, and waterfalls. The waterfalls didn’t have much water this time of year but would be impressive in the spring or after a heavy rain. The hiking was great. The birds were interesting, similar in a way to Mohican State Park. After having only Black-capped Chickadees in Goshen, it was back to Carolina Chickadees. August is a quiet time of year for birds, but there were still a few species singing, including Wood Thrush, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Scarlet Tanager, Acadian Flycatcher, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Eastern Towhee and Indigo Bunting. We also heard a Summer Tanager calling and eventually had good looks at a young male. Woodpeckers were plentiful, with good numbers of Hairy and Pileated, plus the expected numbers of Downy, Red-bellied and Northern Flicker. I didn’t see or hear any Red-headed Woodpeckers. Both Red-eyed and Yellow-throated Vireos were still around but not singing much. Several times I saw a Broad-winged Hawk moving through the trees. From our room at Clifty Inn we had a nice view of the Ohio River far below. Barges moved by from time to time but few other boats were on the river. Both Turkey Vultures and Black Vultures soared above the river and along the hills on both sides of the river. One lone Bald Eagle showed up. Outside our window was a large tree which had a number of dead branches at the top. Different birds kept showing up on these bare branches. A Northern Mockingbird called it home for 10 minutes or so, replaced by two Cedar Waxwings which kept calling and eventually headed off, perhaps to chase insects as these berry-eating birds do this time of year. Other birds included Robin, Blue Jay, Cardinal, Song Sparrow, Pewee, and several woodpeckers also took their turns on the tree. An Indigo Bunting sang heartily from the very top branch. We spent one evening walking around the town of Madison. There are lots of shops for tourists and a mile-long river-front to explore. There is also a bridge over the Ohio River to Kentucky, one of the few bridges that cross the wide river in southern Indiana. While waiting for my wife Helen, who had joined a tour of an old mansion in town, I was sitting on a park bench relaxing when a small bird came floating down through a very tall tree. The bird crash-landed very close to me, right on the center line of the street. Even though it wasn’t a busy street, a large pickup came by right at that time, missing the bird by less than a foot. The bird never moved. I then walked over to the center line and picked up the young House Finch, which decided it didn’t like being handled. The bird complained loudly and squirmed out of my hand, flying awkwardly at first but gaining skill and confidence at it headed away from me. You never know what kind of new experience with a bird might be waiting for you, even while relaxing on a park bench by the Ohio River. Good birding! Bruce Glick birderbruce@yahoo.com 330-317-7798


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