Rockfish Valley Trail 8/15/11

All photos are © Marshall Faintich


Last Saturday night it rained, and our rain gauge overflowed at 5 inches. There were nearby reports of as much as 11 inches. And we had another series of thunderstorms yesterday with more predicted for later today, although the bulk of the rain today is supposed to be from Washington, DC north to New England. I was curious if any birds were moving south yet; perhaps to get out of the heavy storms. I guessed that the trail might be covered with tall, wet grass, and my assumption was unfortunately correct.

However, I did manage to log 27 species, including a few Ruby-throated Hummingbirds that I have not seen on the trail as of late.

This morning's list:

Eastern Bluebird
Indigo Bunting
American Crow
Field Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
American Goldfinch
Eastern Phoebe
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Northern Cardinal
Scarlet Tanager
Turkey Vulture
Black Vulturer
Cedar Waxwing
Catbird
Rock Pigeon
Red-eyed Vireo
Green Heron
Chimney Swift
Barn Swallow
Downy Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Red-winged Blackbird
Tufted Titmouse
Carolina Wren
Red-tailed(?) Hawk
Ruby-throated Hummingbird


Red-bellied Woodpecker; Cedar Waxwing; Downy Woodpecker; Scarlet Tanager

The Rockfish Valley lies not only along an autumnal raptor migration route, but also along a Monarch butterfly migraion route. Viceroy butterflies often accompany Monarchs, and seeing a Viceroy on the trail this morning was a good sign that migratory species are on the move.


Viceroy



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