Red-shouldered Hawk
The temperatures had moderated a bit, and I did some hiking here in Old Trail. Best bird was our resident Red-shouldered Hawk, and I saw this bird twice on my hike.
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
House Finch
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Northern Cardinal
Walt Childs and I went west into the Shenandoah Valley to look for raptors and whatever other birds might be there. It was cold again, but the low 20s felt a lot better than the single digit temperatures of the previous week. We started off on Strickley Road where we saw a small flock of Horned Larks.
Horned Lark
We made our way towards the Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport, and then south to Swoope. We saw a few smaller birds, but it was the raptors that stole the show: Red-tailed Hawks (8); American Kestrels (3). The highlight was a very cooperative Merlin that we saw along Cline River Road.
Song Sparrow
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawks
American Kestrel
American Kestrel
Merlin
Merlin
Merlin
Merlin
Merlin
Merlin
When we got to Swoope, we saw the pair of resident Bald Eagles perched together.
Bald Eagles
It was a good birding trip for a winter day.