Walt Childs and I started on the east side of Reids Creek at 8:45 this morning. It was noticeably quieter on the trail than it has been for the past four weeks. Perhaps it was the cloudy skies and approaching rain front from the southwest, or possibly the Cooper's Hawk and pair of American Kestrels looking for prey. After three hours we only had 36 avian species, including 5 warbler species: Black-throated Blue, Magnolia, Cape May, Palm, and Common Yellowthroat. The highlight of the morning was seeing Lincoln's Sparrows - a sure sign that it is autumn on the Rockfish Valley Trail.
Magnolia Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Palm Warbler
Female Black-throated Blue Warbler
Female Black-throated Blue Warbler
Juvenile Cape May Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Field Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Catbird
Immature male American Kestrel
Eastern Phoebe