House Finch
Another great morning on the Rockfish Valley Trail. I arrived at 8:15 and headed upstream first. A 10 minute hike to the park benches and another 10 minute return to the parking area yielded 16 species of birds, and I ended up with 42 species for this morning's hike.
The Savannah Sparrows and a Grasshopper Sparrow are still hanging around the end of the first fenced field on the downstream trail. I soon encountered an American Kestrel that I would see again later in the morning.
House Finch
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Swainson's Thrush
Savannah Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Palm Warbler
Palm Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Juvenile Cedar Waxwing - note the growth of its tail feathers
First fall Red-winged Blackbird
Brown Thrasher
Juvenile Cooper's Hawk
American Kestrel
I saw the American Kestrel again near the end of my hike. It was having a light meal.
American Kestrel with the appetizer du jour
Taking a bite
A small drumstick
Burp!
That drumstick didn't have enough meat on it - you can go now.
Looking for the next course
This morning's list (42 species):
American Crow Starling Black Vulture Turkey Vulture Eastern Phoebe Eastern Wood-Pewee Eastern Bluebird Blue Jay Indigo Bunting Catbird Ruby-crowned Kinglet House Finch Brown Thrasher Field Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Grasshopper Sparrow Eastern Towhee Carolina Chickadee Carolina Wren Tufted Titmouse Northern Mockingbird Cowbird Cedar Waxwing Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Red-bellied Woodpecker Swainson's Thrush Eastern Meadowlark American Goldfinch Northern Cardinal Cooper's Hawk American Kestrel Sharp-shinned Hawk Tennessee Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Palm Warbler |