Pileated Woodpecker
Late summer weather has returned to the mid-Atlantic area. When I arrived at the trail at 8:45, it was already muggy, getting hot, and the still air combined to fog my new glasses every few minutes, in spite of the anti-fog coating for which I paid extra. There was very little avian activity on the trail, and I logged only 20 species in 1-1/2 hours. The only birds that were active were woodpeckers, catbirds, and Carolina Wrens.
Pileated Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpeckers
Gray Catbird
Carolina Wren
The only excitement came shortly before I headed for home. A small flock of Mourning Doves were perched in the tree just west of the first wooden bridge. All at once they took off, and were being chased by a juvenile Sharp-shinned Hawk. Migrating Sharpies have been numerous the past few days up at the Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch. Perhaps little birds were hunkered down, and this is why there was very little activity on the trail?
Mourning Dove
Sharp-shinned Hawk