Rockbridge and Albemarle Counties, VA 2/23-26/2020

All photos are © Marshall Faintich

Rockbridge County; February 23

It was a sunny day, and Walt Childs and I went south and west into Rockbridge County in the Shenandoah Valley. Although we didn't see a lot of birds, we ended up with 23 avian species, including a few Red-tailed Hawks and American Kestrels. The best birds were a male and a female Common Merganser.

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Downy Woodpecker

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Red-tailed Hawk

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Red-tailed Hawk

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American Kestrel

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American Kestrel

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American Kestrel

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Female Common Merganser

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Male Common Merganser

Old Trail; Albemarle County; February 24

It was very overcast, and I did a short hike here in Old Trail, and ended up with 20 avian species. I didn't see the female Common Merganser at the golf course pond, and noticed that the property management had cut down almost all of the vegetation right up to the edge of the pond, and most of the way around it. I wondered if the Common Merganser was gone for good this winter, or had just moved to another location while they were doing the cutting?

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Song Sparrow

Old Trail; Albemarle County; February 26

Once again, there was heavy overcast with very light drizzle. I hiked a bit and ended up with 24 avian species. It was good to see the female Common Merganser back in the golf course pond.

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Female Common Merganser

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Female Common Merganser

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Field Sparrow

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Downy Woodpecker

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Northern Cardinal, House Finches, and Red-bellied Woodpecker

When I turned a corner on the trail, one of our Red-shouldered Hawks and I surprised each other. It was on a low branch right next to my shoulder, and it took off. A few minutes later, I saw that it was being harrassed by a couple of crows, so I walked over to the birds, shooed the crows away, and the Red-shouldered Hawk seemed to appreciate my effort, and sat there while I took photos.

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Red-shouldered Hawk


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