Fox Sparrow
I don't go to the Rockfish Valley Trail in Nelson County very often since moving from the Stoney Creek section of Wintergreen in 2016, but I had a couple of errands to run in Nellysford this morning, so I spent about an hour on the trail. Although it wasn't very "birdy," I did see 23 avian species. Most of them were common woodland species, but I did see a single Fox Sparrow, and there was a small flock of Cedar Waxwings going from tree to tree.
Fox Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Cedar Waxwings
Cedar Waxwing
Northern Flicker
Downy Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Song Sparrow
Tree Swallows
Red-winged Blackbird
When I was near the bog area, I saw an American Kestrel perched at the very top of a tall tree. It looked to be a young male.
American Kestrel
As I hiked along the downstream trail on my way back to my car, the American Kestrel landed on a power line with a sparrow (Song?) in its talon. I have seen hundreds, if not thousands, of American Kestrels, and have seen quite a few with a mouse or large insect as a meal, but I think that this was the first time I have ever seen one with a small bird. Of course, I have seen the other local falcons, Merlins and Peregrines, having a bird meal, so I was not surprised to see a Kestrel with one.
American Kestrel
American Kestrel
American Kestrel