Field Sparrow
Before posting my report and photos from this morning's outing, I wanted to share a few photos from yesterday morning. I went back to look for the Grasshopper Sparrows I saw near the soccer field in Western Park the day before. I didn't see this species, but got a few other sparrow photos. Some birders don't pay a lot of attention to sparrows, either because they're "too difficult" to identify, or they're not interesting enough. But I find sparrows very interesting to study. Field Sparrows are one of my favorites, as they always appear so delicate, and the number of Field Sparrows is in decline. It was good to see them collecting nesting materials.
Field Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Field Sparrow
We had heavy rain overnight, with thunderstorms forecasted for this afternoon and evening. But there was a bit of a break in the morning. The Blue Ridge Mountains were in heavy fog, and there was a misty drizzle here in Crozet on the east side. I decided to try Ridgeview Park in Waynesboro on the west side of the mountains. This park always seems to "green up" early in the spring, and I hoped that some migrating avian species might have settled there to wait out the rain. It was still drizzling when I arrived at the park, but was starting to let up, even though it was very overcast. I didn't see many birds at first, but saw that the Virginia bluebells were starting to bloom.
Virginia bluebells
Virginia bluebells
After hiking a bit, avian activity started to pick up. There were several Yellow-rumped Warblers and a few woodland species. A Red-shouldered Hawk flew through the woods - most likely the same one I saw there eight days ago.
Female Yellow-rumped Warbler
Male Yellow-rumped Warbler
Male Yellow-rumped Warbler
Male Yellow-rumped Warbler
Eastern Towhee
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Mallards
I hiked through the woods and into the soccer field, and decided to back-track on that path. When I turned around, I saw a fox in the woods. I had seen foxes several times in previous years in Ridgeview Park, but never got a decent photo of one there.
Fox
After birding in along the wooded trail for a while, I decided to go back to the soccer field and hike along the South River. As I approached the field, I saw a small bird up in one of the trees. It was my first of year Palm Warbler.
Palm Warbler
Palm Warbler
Palm Warbler
While I was photographing the Palm Warbler, I saw a high-flying bird. It was my first of year Chimney Swift.
Chimney Swift
I continued east along the river, and added three more species, bringing my morning list, at that point, to 22 avian species.
Cedar Waxwing
Cedar Waxwing
I hiked back to my car, parked near one of the woodland entrances to Ridgeview Park. One of the nearby residences has some Purple Martin houses. I didn't see any Purple Martins, but House Sparrows and Starlings were using the boxes, bringing my morning total to 24 avian species. One of the Starlings had carried an extremely long piece of dried vegetation as nesting material, and I watched the Starling enter the box and pull it in.
Starling
Starling
Waynesboro (Ridgeview Park) avian species:
Canada Goose
Mallard
Turkey Vulture
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Blue Jay
American Crow
Carolina Chickadee
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Chimney Swift
Eastern Bluebird
American Robin
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Palm Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Northern Cardinal
House Sparrow