I’m doing another segment of the trail in the reverse direction that I usually do it. It’s an overcast, somewhat chilly, morning, but the bird activity around Allegheny County has been popping off. I’m so curious and eager to discover what migrating birds are waiting on the trail today.
Northern Cardinals dominate as I start by passing under Route 28 but then I swear I hear a Wood Thrush calling. It’s highly likely but it’s also really hard to be certain because the traffic noise on Rt 28 is so loud.
Greenery has exploded on the trail. Leaves create a wall along trail. It’s hard to see into the woods as much as I could in the winter.
I startle a cardinal off her nest! I move on quickly so she can return to her work.
Finally, the trail turns away from 28 and the sounds of traffic diminish, then disappear.
I come to a hilltop with power lines. There’s a clearing and I hear a Wood Thrush do a “bubble wand” alert. I stop and listen and then I see a branch bouncing somewhat near to me. I lean to the left and there’s the Wood Thrush! It’s right in front of me about two feet off the ground! I think we’re both surprised to see each other and it flies away before I can snap a photo. But I still have a happy mental photo of my first of year Wood Thrush.
I walk along what is probably one of the top 10 most beautiful places on the trail. I find it really hard to rank my top 10, but this spot is a gorgeous field filled with plants and trees and bushes of different heights. And it’s full of birds! I come to a place where there’s a smell that smells nostalgic and it smells fresh and floral and spring. Just the smell of it sends endorphins and happiness rushing through my brain. I wish there was a Merlin for smells.
The trail slopes downward, and I pass through a small section of forest just chock full of Wood Thrushes, then the scratchy song of a Scarlet Tanager warblers rings out! Robins, Cardinals, Red-bellied Woodpeckers - this is what a forest is supposed to sound like in the spring.
It seems like the Wood Thrushes prefer the downhill hollows where it’s moist and dark and they can fill the woods with their mysterious song.
I hear my first of year Rose-breasted Grosbeak singing in the distance before Merlin does!
There is a Hooded Warbler that finally sounds close enough where I might be able to see it or even snap a photo. These birds can be mid-canopy, but they make their nests quite low. Their song is loud so the bird could be deeper in the forest than I realize. I search for a while, but there’s no sign of it besides its ringing song.
I’m at the top of Log Cabin Hill, and there’s another Hooded, and an Ovenbird in the woods on my left close to me! I’m creeping along the trail, hoping to glimpse either one. It’s probably the slowest anyone has ever walked the Rachel Carson Trail.
Both of these birds are low canopy and ground nesting birds. I’m scanning. Nothing. But I can hear them!
Then I spy bird activity high up in a tree. I’ve got three birds in my binoculars. I’m so curious what they are then I hear scuffling off to my right is that the Hooded Warbler? I can’t look away because three birds in my binocular vision are worth more than one in the bush.
One of the birds in my binoculars is a Red-breasted Nuthatch! I realize the Hooded Warbler is now on my left. It flew across the trail. A Cardinal pops out of a bush going crazy.
I move a few steps more down the trail and both the Hooded and Ovenbird stop. I’ve probably startled them both.
I wait for a while, but they don’t start singing again so I decide it’s finally time to tackle the descent of Log Cabin Hill. I’ve only climbed up this. I’m not excited. Let’s see how it goes.
As I’m making my way down the middle part of the three parts of Log Cabin Hill, I realize that I used to have this rule where I wouldn’t count a bird as my first of year unless I saw it. I was very serious about this rule. But on today’s walk, there were several first of years that I am certain were there, but I didn’t see them. The Ovenbird is one, and the Hooded is another. I think I’ve let that rule go this year. And I’m OK with it. I’m still really cautious about not counting certain birds unless I’ve seen them but when you hear an Ovenbird, you know it.
Log Cabin Hill is steep. Parts of it are gravelly. Parts of it are slick with mud. I make my way down slowly…slowly…slowly. I have no interest in replicating that downhill cheese race, especially because there’s no cheese at the bottom of this hill.
Step by step, I continue, and then I’m done. I’m crossing the slightly less than shallow creek and walking to my car.
Just as I’m about to stop my eBird I hear the familiar are you here? I’m here! of the vireo. But it’s a little scratchy, a little less clear. My walk ends with Yellow-throated Vireos!
This was a big walk - 38 species! My first of years include Yellow-throated Vireo,Wood Thrush, Ovenbird, Hooded Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak.
RCT - Tawney to Log Cabin, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, US
Apr 28, 2026 10:44 AM - 1:28 PM
Protocol: Traveling
3.187 kilometer(s)
38 species
Mourning Dove 4
Chimney Swift 5
Red-shouldered Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 4
Downy Woodpecker 1
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 4
Eastern Phoebe 1
Yellow-throated Vireo 2
Eastern Warbling Vireo 1
Blue Jay 16
American Crow 2
Carolina Chickadee 7
Black-capped Chickadee 6
Tufted Titmouse 9
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
Carolina Wren 2
Northern Mockingbird 1
Wood Thrush 8
American Robin 16
Purple Finch 1
American Goldfinch 12
Chipping Sparrow 4
Field Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 4
Eastern Towhee 12
Red-winged Blackbird 10
Brown-headed Cowbird 6
Common Grackle 1
Ovenbird 1
Hooded Warbler 5
Yellow-rumped Warbler 6
Scarlet Tanager 1
Northern Cardinal 17
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S329023125