Crozet, VA 12/7-8/16

All photos are © Marshall Faintich

Old Trail; Crozet, VA; 12/7/16

It rained all day yesterday, and I had time this morning to take a short hike under sunny skies, although it was a bit chilly. I only saw a few species, and some of them were drying out from yesterday's rain.

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Turkey Vulture

When I got to the golf course pond, I saw a Great Blue Heron at the far shore, and swimming near it was a Black Swan. This bird must have been the escaped swan that I have seen several times in the past at Lickinghole Creek Reservoir.

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Black Swan

Lickinghole Creek Reservoir; Crozet, VA; 12/8/16

The skies were completely cloud covered today, and there was a good northwesterly breeze that made it feel fairly cold. I decided to try Lickinghole Creek and Reservoir, and ended up with 21 avian species there, although none of them were very special. There was a good sized flock of Mallards, and four Gadwalls.

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Mallard

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Gadwalls

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Pileated Woodpecker

Beaver Creek Reservoir; Crozet, VA; 12/8/16

I wasn't far from the Beaver Creek Reservoir, so I drove there even though there are very few if any birds to see there. When I scanned all of the reservoir that I could see from the parking lot, I did spot a female Common Merganser. It swam for a while, and then took flight with a running start on take-off.

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Female Common Merganser

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Female Common Merganser

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Female Common Merganser

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Female Common Merganser

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Female Common Merganser


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