Rockfish Valley 9/27-28/14

All photos are © Marshall Faintich

Stoney Creek (Wintergreen) 9/27/14

I went for a short hike late in the afternoon here in Stoney Creek, and saw 16 avian species. Best birds were a pair of Pine Warblers in the small pine forest at the end of my street.


Pine Warbler


Pine Warbler


Pine Warbler


Pine Warbler


Pine Warbler


Pine Warbler


Downy Woodpecker


Pileated Woodpecker

Rockfish Valley Trail 9/28/14

It was fairly quiet on the trail this morning. I ended up with 18 avian species including a Magnolia Warbler, and I got a quick glimpse of an olive-green backed bird with a gray head. It could have been one of a few warblers or vireos, but my best guess was a Nashville Warbler. I was zeroing in on a 19th species that was making an unusual call that I did not recognize, when a group of about 10 joggers ran by me on the trail and the bird went quiet. It's really a shame about the loss of habitat adjacent to the trail and the multi-use nature of the trail. Two years ago at this time of year, birders were seeing 50 to 75 avian species every day on the trail.


Warbler or Vireo


Indigo Bunting

Stoney Creek (Wintergreen) 9/28/14

I did another hike here in Stoney Creek on my return from the Rockfish Valley Trail, and another hike later in the afternoon. I saw nine species that I had not seen yesterday here in Stoney Creek, including a first of season Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Bay-breasted Warbler, and Philadelphia Vireo. The latter two species were new birds for me here in Stoney Creek. Unfortunately, I was looking directly into the sun when I saw the vireo.


Indigo Bunting


Yellow-bellied Sapsucker


Yellow-bellied Sapsucker


Yellow-bellied Sapsucker


Bay-breasted Warbler


Bay-breasted Warbler


Bay-breasted Warbler


Philadelphia Vireo


Philadelphia Vireo


Philadelphia Vireo


Northern Cardinals


Carolina Wren


Red-bellied Woodpecker and Eastern Bluebirds


Northern Flicker


Great Blue Heron


Eastern Phoebe enjoying a colorful meal


Eastern Phoebe enjoying a colorful meal


Eastern Phoebe enjoying a colorful meal

I saw a flycatcher that must be an Eastern Phoebe, and possibly a juvenile, but I have never seen one with a bold eye-ring like the one on this bird. Any other opinions as to the species would be appreciated.


Eastern Phoebe ?


Eastern Phoebe ?


Eastern Phoebe ?


Eastern Phoebe ?


Eastern Phoebe ?



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