On plains farmlands, deserts, open woodlands and golf greens across North America, the handsome and broad winged Red-Tailed Hawk is known for its distinctive chestnut-colored tail and well-defined dark belly bands, which helps serve as an element of camouflage. A farmer's friend, this rodent-eating hawk can be seen from the raised tee, which offers panoramic vistas. It has a distant-sounding call - Keee-yrrrr... Keee-yrrr!

Book Now

In flight, the Goldeneye's wings sound like they're whistling. Common and Barrow Goldeneyes can be seen at the lake where they feed on plants, insects, mollusks and crustaceans. They build their nests in tree cavities near ponds and lakes as well. The male Common Goldeneye is whitish with a puffy, glossy green head and a black back. The male Barrow Goldeneye is slightly larger and has a glossy purple head.

Book Now

Sometimes called "flag birds", Red-Headed Woodpeckers are striking in appearance. With an entirely red head, a solid black back and large white wing patches, their strong personalities match their bright coloration. Able to catch insects in mid-air, they eat everything from spiders, earthworms and birds' eggs to mice, nuts, berries, and corn. Some even favor tree bark. Red-Headed Woodpeckers can be found inhabiting the pure sand of White Ash.

Book Now

By the gorge and to the left of the tee is where the long-tailed, long-winged Killdeer may be found feeding on insects, earthworms and snails. Named for its identifiably loud kill-deeah call, adults have two dark bands on their breast; chicks have only one band. They leave the nest soon after hatching to become independent in about 25 days.

A close look in crevices by the gorge may reveal aggressive Kingfishers. Noted for their large head, long bill and ragged bushy crest they are blue-gray and white in color; the female has a rusty breast band. Mainly fish eaters, they also feed on salamanders, frogs, and insects. Watch them dive from perches above the water or hover and then plunge headfirst in pursuit of an innocent fish.

Found in any wet habitat-lakes, marshes and the pond in front of the green, the male Mallard can be recognized by its uncrested glossy green head, white neck ring, yellowish bill, and pale body. The sandy brown female has an orange mottled bill and is noted for its loud, boisterous quack. In the wild, mallards eat snails, aquatic insects, grasshoppers, fish eggs-almost anything they happen to find.

With a broad body, large head, and ear tufts resembling horns, the Great Horned Owl is keen of eye, acute of ear and silent on the wing. Seen in the hemlocks on both sides of the seventh hole, this owl is adept at nighttime hunting. The male's voice has a resonant rhythm of four or five hoots. Hoo hoo-oo, hoo, hoo; the female, six to eight hoots.

It is said that spring really arrives in the northern states when Robins fly back from the south and are seen bouncing sturdily across lawns and golf courses. One of the most familiar birds, these worm eaters are recognizable by their brick-red breast and dark gray back. Their voices are patterned in several short warbled phrases, a pause and then another set of warbled phrases.

Due to their happy and bubbling chirps and trills, many birders in the eastern U.S. build elaborate, multi-chambered birdhouses specifically to attract colonies of these happy-sounding birds. Identifiable by their pointed tails, short bills and the uniformly bluish-black color of the male, Purple Martins are often seen near water and by the creek on the right.

Chunky and brown, Eastern Meadowlarks are recognizable by their bright yellow breast, which is crossed by a black 'V'. and their walk: meadowlarks flick their tail open and shut as they walk. Known for their clear, high-pitched whistles, their songs are usually three to five notes long and have a lonely, wistful sound. Look for them by the marsh between the tee and the green.

Although small, House Wrens are energetic, spirited and aggressive. Slender and grayish-brown, they feast on a diet of insects and spiders and generally remain close to human dwellings; hence their name. They're also found in open woodlands, gardens, and parks. Especially conspicuous in summer, their loud bubbling song rises in a musical burst only to descend at the end.

Seen along the shores of small lakes, streams, ponds and creeks, Spotted Sandpipers feed on insects, small fish and crustaceans. The Sandpiper with its shortneck and longtail walks with a bobbing motion. The female's white breast and belly has black spots in summer, but none in fall or winter. Its voice is a clear, single pweet or repeated pweet-pweet.

In flight, the Goldeneye's wings sound like they're whistling. Common and Barrow Goldeneyes can be seen at the lake where they feed on plants, insects, mollusks and crustaceans. They build their nests in tree cavities near ponds and lakes as well. The male Common Goldeneye is whitish with a puffy, glossy green head and a black back. The male Barrow Goldeneye is slightly larger and has a glossy purple head.

The only small hawk to have a reddish back and blue-gray wings, the Robin-sized Kestrel seems too beautiful and much too small to be a raptor. A consummate mouser, Kestrels can be seen hovering in the open field, or perched on wires looking for prey. Its voice is a rapid klee, klee, klee, or killy, killy, killy - higher and weaker than other raptors.

Primarily forest dwellers, Wood Thrushes can be found in the spruce grove to the left of the tee. Largest of all Spotted Thrushes, they are plump with large bills and short tails. The back of their necks are orange-brown; the bold black spots on their breast make them easy to identify. Their rich, flutelike song is said to be one of nature's most beautiful sounds.

Generally solitary and nocturnal, the Great Blue Heron hunts fish and other animals while wading slowly in quiet waters of marshes, lakes, shores and the deadwood swamp to the right of the tee. A lean, blue-gray bird with long legs, a long neck and a dagger-like bill, it may stand as high as four feet tall. Its voice is a series of deep harsh croaks frahnk, frahnk, frahnk.

A hybrid of the eastern Baltimore and western Bullock's Orioles, Northern Orioles favor tall shade trees like old elm, big sycamores and the ironwoods to the left of the tee. Male Orioles are recognizable by their orange and black coloring; females have a softer olive brown and muted orange-yellow coloring. Northern Orioles have loud, musical voices and they weave hanging nests and help control insects on the course.

The national emblem of the U.S. since 1782, the Bald Eagle is usually found in large numbers near water where prey is abundant. As skilled hunters they feed on fish, water birds captured in mid-flight, rabbits on the run and carrion. With a dark brown body and a massive yellow bill. the adult is distinguished by its white head and tail. Its wingspan could be seven to eight feet.