We had more than an inch of rain yesterday and over the night. There was still some light drizzle when I left my house this morning around 9:00, but it had stopped by the time I got to Lickinghole Creek and Reservoir 10 minutes later. The trail was very wet and somewhat muddy, and in some places the trail was covered with standing water. I hiked along the creek and most of the way around the reservoir to the dam. There were Wood Ducks, Blue-winged Teals, and Canada Geese in the reservoir, along with two Spotted Sandpipers and my FOS Solitary Sandpiper. A Pine Warbler was singing high up in the conifers, and I saw my FOS Common Yellowthroat in the vegetation along the reservoir.
Wood Duck
Wood Duck and Canada Goose
Spotted Sandpiper
Spotted and Solitary Sandpipers
Common Yellowthroat
An Osprey and a Belted Kingfisher flew over the reservoir. I saw a blackbird high up in one of the trees, and my best guess is that it was a Rusty Blackbird because of its white eyes, but its paler belly makes it a little confusing.
Osprey
Rusty(?) Blackbird
I saw a male Northern Cardinal in the process of molting. It's breeding season, and I doubt if this guy will be able to get a date looking like this.
Northern Cardinal
I hiked back and then hiked a bit along the Crozet Connector Trail. I saw a very vocal Louisiana Waterthrush, three Brown Thrashers, and several other species.
Louisiana Waterthrush
Louisiana Waterthrush
Brown Thrasher
On my return along the Crozet Connector Trail and in the large field near the wooden bridge and on the south side of the creek, I saw the Prairie Warblers that I saw there a few days ago. I hope that they stick around and breed there. I ended my morning hike with 35 avian species.
Prairie Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Prairie Warbler