Crozet, VA, 7/10-12/18

All photos are © Marshall Faintich

After spending 12 days in the somewhat cooler and considerably drier air of the Canadian maritime provinces, the hot and muggy air of the summer dog days in Virginia seemed even harder to tolerate. I did short hikes here in Old Trail on July 10 and July 12, and logged 20+ avian species. On July 11, I did some birding at higher and cooler elevations on the Blue Ridge Parkway were I logged only 11 avian species, including only one warbler - Hooded, that I heard and saw flying, but wasn't able to photograph. The best birds of these outing were a male and female Orchard Oriole next to the Old Trail golf course pond. The female was atop some vegetation looking down when the male popped up with a praying mantis in its bill.

Photo Unavailable
Female Orchard Oriole

Photo Unavailable
Male Orchard Oriole

Photo Unavailable
Male Orchard Oriole

The most common birds I could find were Indigo Buntings, American Goldfinches, Northern Cardinals, and Canada Geese. A Great Blue Heron decided to move to a different location rather than debate the issue with the geese.

Photo Unavailable
Great Blue Heron and Canada Goose

Photo Unavailable
American Goldfinch

Photo Unavailable
Indigo Bunting

Photo Unavailable
Blue Jay

Photo Unavailable
Northern Cardinal

Insects were much more cooperative as photography subjects.

Photo Unavailable
Dragonfly

Photo Unavailable
Damselfly

Photo Unavailable
Damselfly

Photo Unavailable
Damselfly

Photo Unavailable
Damselfly

Photo Unavailable
Monarch Butterfly


E-mail comments on this report

Return to blog page home