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:
Indigo Bunting American Crow Field Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Song Sparrow American Goldfinch Eastern Phoebe Eastern Wood-Pewee 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