House Finch
While I was waiting for Walt Childs to meet me at my house in Crozet, I saw 5 avian species come to my bird feeder. Two of the species, House Finch and House Sparrow, were not seen by us today in Augusta County, and are not included in the list at the end of this report.
House Finch
Walt and I were on the lookout for warblers, as a few have moved into the area for the summer, while others are migrating through, and Yellow-rumped Warblers haven't left the lower elevations yet for cooler breeding areas. Our first stop was at Ridgeview Park in Waynesboro. We saw a few species in Waynesboro on our way to the park, and had 24 avian species on our day list by the time we left the park, but the only warbler species we saw there was Yellow-rumped.
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Purple Finch
Carolina Wren
The highlight of the park stop, and for me, the highlight of the day, was seeing four fox kits with mama at the west end of the soccer field.
Five foxes
Five foxes
Our next stop was at the Augusta Springs Wetlands at the base of the Allegheny Mountains. We added a few more species there, but it was really quiet.
Tree Swallow
Yellow-rumped Warbler
We decided to try going up the mountain on nearby Hite Hollow Road, at least as high as the deciduous trees that had leaves that were open. It was really quiet there as well, although we got a great look down into the Shenandoah Valley.
View from Hite Hollow Road
We did see a few species, and heard two warbler species singing: Louisian Waterthrush and Black-throated Green, but couldn't see the warblers.
White-breasted Nuthatch
Wild Turkey
Our last stop was in Swoope. We drove the North Mountain Road to get a look at the new Bald Eagle nest, and saw a few more species on our way to Smith Lake.
Bald Eagle and nest
Eastern Meadowlark
Eastern Meadowlark
Red-tailed Hawk
Eastern Kingbird
Brown Thrasher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
There weren't any ducks in Smith Lake, but I saw three shorebirds. One of the them was a Greater Yellowlegs, and another was a Solitary Sandpiper.
Greater Yellowlegs
Solitary Sandpiper
I think that the third shorebird was also a Solitary Sandpiper, but its body shape really threw me. I've never seen one with its head retracted. If anyone thinks that it might be a different species, please let me know.
Solitary Sandpiper(?)
Solitary Sandpiper(?)
Solitary Sandpiper(?)
Solitary Sandpiper(?)
Solitary Sandpiper(?)
We saw a few more species on the way out of Swoope, including our 50th avian species of the trip (my 52nd of the day).
Northern Harrier
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
White-crowned Sparrow
Belted Kingfisher
Belted Kingfisher
Augusta County list (50 avian species):
Canada Goose
Mallard
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Mourning Dove
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Blue Jay
American Crow
Tufted Titmouse
Carolina Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Northern Cardinal
Common Grackle
Red-winged Blackbird
Tree Swallow
Carolina Chickadee
Red-tailed Hawk
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Eastern Bluebird
Belted Kingfisher
Blue-headed Vireo
Louisiana Waterthrush
White-breasted Nuthatch
Black-throated Green Warbler
Wild Turkey
Bald Eagle
Eastern Meadowlark
Song Sparrow
Rock Pigeon
Brown Thrasher
Northern Flicker
Barn Swallow
Eastern Kingbird
Lesser Yellowlegs
Solitary Sandpiper
Savannah Sparrow
Northern Harrier
White-crowned Sparrow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Purple Finch