Rockfish Valley Trail 10/20/11

All photos are © Marshall Faintich


It was a beautiful morning on the trail - mostly sunny skies and cool temperatures. The cold front that came through the area yesterday cleared out the air, and many of the smaller birds were eager to forage in the brush and did not mind the brisk winds.

As soon as I started downstream, I saw a Savannah Sparrow, a Palm Warbler, and a few other species. The first winter Red-winged Blackbirds showed interesting patterns in their plumage.


Savannah Sparrow


Palm Warbler


Eastern Towhee


First winter Red-winged Blackbirds


First winter Red-winged Blackbird

Just past the picnic table, I watched a small flock of at least four Tennessee Warblers, and around the turn on Glenthorne Loop I saw the first of many Yellow-rumped Warblers.


Tennessee Warblers


Tennessee Warbler


Tennessee Warbler


Yellow-rumped Warblers

Near the second wooden bridge on the Glenthorne Loop trail, I saw a female Black-throated Blue Warbler. This warbler was in about the same location where I saw a warbler two days ago, and I called that one a Tennessee Warbler, but I think that this is the same bird, and BTB is the correct species.


Female Black-throated Blue Warbler


Female Black-throated Blue Warbler

The bog area had lots of birds in it. I got a fleeting glimpse of an American Redstart (either a female or first year male), and was treated to a Blue-headed Vireo and a White-crowned Sparrow.


White-throated Sparrow


American Redstart


Blue-headed Vireo


White-crowned Sparrow


White-crowned Sparrow


White-crowned Sparrow


White-crowned Sparrow

I ended my hike returning on the downstream trail, and a Great Blue Heron made my species count go to 30 for the morning.


Great Blue Heron

This morning's list (30 species):

Rock Pigeon
American Crow
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Eastern Phoebe
Eastern Bluebird
Blue Jay
Northern Mockingbird
Blue-headed Vireo
Great Blue Heron
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Red-winged Blackbird
Carolina Wren
Eastern Meadowlark
Flicker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
American Goldfinch
Northern Cardinal
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Tennessee Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Palm Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
American Redstart


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