Wintergreen Area 5/10/12

All photos are © Marshall Faintich


The sun finally came out, along with puffy cumulus clouds and strong winds. I started out this morning on the northernmost 14 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway, but it was so windy that although I could hear a few birds, I couldn't find them in the wind blown tree canopies. The only perched bird I saw was an Indigo Bunting. Hawks and vultures were riding the updraft caused by the NW winds hitting the western side of the Blue Ridge.


Indigo Bunting


Juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk


Juvenile Broad-winged(?) Hawk


Red-tailed Hawk

I headed down to the Rockfish Valley Trail, and saw a few common species. An adult Red-shouldered Hawk did a nice flyover for me.


Field Sparrow


Red-shouldered Hawk


Red-shouldered Hawk

When I got home, I walked to the back of my yard to check the Red-shouldered Hawk's nest - there were two newly hatched chicks! And a large Red-eared Slider turtle was laying eggs in my yard as well.


Female Red-shouldered Hawk and chick


Female Red-shouldered Hawk and chick


Red-shouldered Hawk chicks


Red-shouldered Hawk chick


Red-eared Slider

Later in the afternoon, I hiked a couple of miles here in Stoney Creek. There were Spotted Sandpipers in three of the ponds, Canada Geese were giving swimming lessons to their goslings, and the Eastern Screech Owl in my neighbor's Wood Duck box poked its head out to say hello.


Spotted Sandpiper


Spotted Sandpiper


Spotted Sandpiper


Spotted Sandpiper


Spotted Sandpiper


Spotted Sandpiper


Canada Geese


Eastern Screech Owl



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