Shenandoah Valley, VA 3/11/15

All photos are © Marshall Faintich

There was an early afternoon break in the rain today. Walt Childs and I headed west over the Blue Ridge Mountains into the Shenandoah Valley to look for migrating birds. We exited I-81 at Mt. Crawford, and drove around farm fields. We saw a few birds, including four Red-tailed Hawks and one American Kestrel. Common Grackles and Starlings seemed to be everywhere we went.


Red-tailed Hawk


Common Grackle

We decided to check out the Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport to see if the Smith's Longspur might still be there. Just before we turned into the airport, we stopped when we saw lots of birds foraging in a field. There were American Robins, Common Grackles, Starlings, and at least one Red-winged Blackbird.


Red-winged Blackbird

Walt then asked me to look at a bird he was observing, and I said that I was busy looking at a different bird - we were both seeing different Rusty Blackbirds. We saw two male and two female Rusty Blackbirds there, and there were probably more of them farther in the field and in nearby trees.


Rusty Blackbird


Rusty Blackbird


Rusty Blackbird


Rusty Blackbird


Rusty Blackbird


Rusty Blackbird


Rusty Blackbirds


Rusty Blackbirds


Rusty Blackbird


Rusty Blackbird


Rusty Blackbird


Rusty Blackbird

We didn't see the Smith's Longspur today, and only one Horned Lark.


Horned Lark



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