Crozet, VA 10/23/12

All photos are © Marshall Faintich


The Clay-colored Sparrow hasn't been reported in Old Trail for a few days, so I decided to look for it for the fifth time. I saw lots of Goldfinches, and some Song, Field, and White-crowned Sparrows, but not the Clay-colored.


American Goldfinch


Song Sparrow


White-crowned Sparrow


Eastern Bluebird


House Finch


Yellow-rumped Warbler

I saw Janet P. there, and after about an hour or so, we both decided to see what might be at Lickinghole Creek trail and lake. There were some of the usual birds there - Belted Kingfisher, Hairy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Canada Geese, Red-winged Blackbirds, a pair of Great Blue Herons, American Robins, Fish Crow, and a few sparrows. We hiked down to the end of the lake where there are cattails and other reeds, but didn't see very much. Janet had to leave and I continued around the end of the lake.


Red-winged Blackbird

An unusual sparrow on one of the reeds caught my attention. It must have been a first winter Swamp Sparrow, but its almost all-white breast kept me guessing as to what it was.


Swamp Sparrow


Swamp Sparrow


Swamp Sparrow

On my return hike, I had a couple of close encounters with Ruby-crowned Kinglets and a Carolina Wren. The barnyard goose landed in the lake with a flock of Canada Geese, and I heard a Killdeer on the vegetation covered sand bar. When I searched for the Killdeer, I spotted three Wilson's Snipes.


Ruby-crowned Kinglet


Ruby-crowned Kinglet


Ruby-crowned Kinglet


Carolina Wren


Carolina Wren


Geese


Killdeer


Wilson's Snipes


Wilson's Snipe


Wilson's Snipe


Wilson's Snipe


Wilson's Snipe

When I got home I checked my bird feeder for Pine Siskins, and it was loaded with Pine Siskins, House Finches, and Purple Finches.


Pine Siskin


Finches


Finches



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