Old Trail; Crozet, VA 6/20/2019
All photos are © Marshall Faintich
It was still hot and muggy this morning. The temperature was already 75 degrees at 8:00, but I was able to get an early start and was out the door with my camera at 8:15. With strong thunderstorms in the forecast for this afternoon, I opted, once again, to go birding here in Old Trail. I started off behind the lodge, and got a couple of out-of-focus photos of a flying Green Heron. I wondered if it was going to be another ho-hum, hot and unexciting, summer hike. It turns out that I couldn't be more wrong.
Green Heron
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As I hiked on the gravel path along Western Park (Ablemarle County Park totally within Old Trail), I started adding avian species to my day list. The Willow Flycatcher that had been singing for several days two weeks ago was absent. It had either moved on, or had found a mate and was nesting.
American Robin
Northern Cardinal with an itch!
Common Yellowthroat
When I got to the plateau above the wetlands, I heard a Yellow Warbler singing in the trees between the plateau and the soccer field. I got lots of distant photos of this warbler, and then it flew in my direction.
Yellow Warbler
It landed in a small tree along Old Trail Drive, and I got onto the sidewalk and walked just a few feet to this beautiful bird.
Yellow Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Yellow Warbler
I crossed the street to see if birds other than Canada Geese were in that pond, and a Red-winged Blackbird flew right to me.
Red-winged Blackbird
Red-winged Blackbird
Red-winged Blackbird
I crossed the street again, and walked down to the soccer field. A very young rabbit was next to the path, and a colorful Box Turtle was on the field.
Rabbit
Box Turtle
I hiked down to the community garden and back, and by this time I had 22 avian species on my day list. Next stop was at the golf course pond. Barn Swallows were catching flies above the pond, and there were some birds in distant trees. I had seen an Orchard Oriole there two weeks ago, and heard one there yesterday. I did see an oriole in a distant tree today. It was most likely another Orchard Oriole, but it breast appeared to be very orange. Perhaps it was a Baltimore Oriole, or just the lighting.
Barn Swallow
Barn Swallows
Oriole
And then there was more excitement. An Eastern Kingbird and a Red-winged Blackbird were chasing a Cooper's Hawk, and they flew right over my head.
Cooper's Hawk, Red-winged Blackbird, and Eastern Kingbird
Cooper's Hawk and Eastern Kingbird
Cooper's Hawk and Eastern Kingbird
Cooper's Hawk and Eastern Kingbird
Cooper's Hawk and Eastern Kingbird
Cooper's Hawk and Eastern Kingbird
Cooper's Hawk and Eastern Kingbird
Cooper's Hawk, Red-winged Blackbird, and Eastern Kingbird
Well, that was exciting! But the morning wasn't over yet. I hiked around the pond and up the trail along the golf course. I heard a familiar song. It was a Blue Grosbeak. I saw several of them last summer here in Old Trail, but this was my first one in Old Trail this summer.
Blue Grosbeak
Blue Grosbeak
Blue Grosbeak
Blue Grosbeak
I finished my morning hike along the creek near my house. In the distance, I got a quick view of one of the recently fledged Red-shouldered Hawks learning how to hunt. I finished the morning hike with 30 avian species, and that didn't include 5+ avian species I had seen in Old Trail yesterday morning. Turned out to be a pretty good bird hike.
Red-shouldered Hawk
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