This Song Sparrow may have bitten off more than it could chew
The Rockfish Valley Trail is only a 10 minute drive from my house, so it's a good spot for me to hike when I don't want to make a a long drive to go birding. I went for a short hike on the trail, and logged 17 avian species. There were quite a few sparrows out, but the tall grasses made them difficult to see and photograph.
This Song Sparrow may have bitten off more than it could chew
Field Sparrow
Red-tailed Hawk
White-throated Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Walt Childs and I made the two hour drive to the Blue Grass Valley. This is an excellent place for seeing Bald and Golden Eagles in the winter, along with several hawk species. Interestingly, Turkey Vultures are there in the summer, but are absent in the winter. It was a long drive to see only 27 avian species that included a single Red-tailed Hawk and two American Kestrels, but no other hawks or eagles. When we saw Turkey Vultures there, Walt commented that the summer Blue Grass Valley lease agreement for the Turkey Vultures must not have expired yet for the year :-)
|
Hairy Woodpecker
White-breasted Nuthatch
Pine Siskins and American Goldfinches
American Kestrel
Belted Kingfisher
We saw a large flock of Common Grackles, and the bright sunlight was reflected from their feathers in brilliant greens, blues, purples, and browns.
Common Grackles
Common Grackles
Common Grackles
Blue Grass Valley Bird List (11/3/15):
Turkey Vulture Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel Mourning Dove Rock Pigeon Belted Kingfisher Red-bellied Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Common Raven American Crow Blue Jay White-breasted Nuthatch Eastern Bluebird Northern Mockingbird White-throated Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Common Grackle American Goldfinch House Finch Pine Siskin |
We stopped along Bells Lane and at the Day's Inn pond near Staunton in the Shenandoah Valley (Augusta County) on the way home, and added four more avian species to the day's list: Song Sparrow, Wood Duck, Green-winged Teal, and Northern Cardinal, and saw our second Red-tailed Hawk of the day.
Wood Ducks and Green-winged Teals
Red-tailed Hawk
I went over to the trail this morning, and logged 20 avian species there.
Swamp Sparrow
Carolina Wren
Song Sparrow
Eastern Bluebird
Blue Jay
Rockfish Valley Trail Bird List (11/4/15):
Turkey Vulture Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Pileated Woodpecker Blue Jay White-breasted Nuthatch Carolina Wren Eastern Bluebird Cedar Waxwing Northern Cardinal Eastern Towhee White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Eastern Meadowlark American Goldfinch |
When I got back home to Stoney Creek (Wintergreen), I took a short hike from the end of my street and added seven more avian species to this morning's list: Pied-billed Grebe, Hairy Woodpecker, Red-shouldered Hawk, Tufted Titmouse, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Carolina Chickadee, and Ruby-crowned Kinglet, giving me the same day total as yesterday, but I didn't have to drive 160 miles round-trip!
Hairy Woodpecker
Belted Kingfisher
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers
Pied-billed Grebe
Pied-billed Grebe
Pied-billed Grebe
