Walt Childs and I did some birding in Augusta and Rockingham Counties between Route 340 and I-81 (E-W), and Route 682 and I-64 (N-S). Although we didn't see lots of birds (32 avian species), we had a good outing. Highlights were 15 American Kestrels, 11 Red-tailed Hawks, and 2 Cooper's Hawks.
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Horned Lark
White-crowned Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Male American Kestrel
Male American Kestrel
Male American Kestrel
Female American Kestrel
One of the America Kestrels had a bug meal, and was eating it in flight.
Male American Kestrel
The Red-tailed Hawks varied in plumage from typical to very dark, although I do not think that the darkest one was a western race hawk, but perhaps had some western genes in its DNA.
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Near the end of the outing, we saw three Red-tailed Hawks in the perched together and then circling above a large field.
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk