Crozet, VA 4/16/2020

All photos are © Marshall Faintich

It turned out to be another good birding day. With temperatures in the mid-40s and some wind, it was rather brisk out, and I hoped that the wind chill would keep many people inside this morning. So I went over to Lickinghole Creek and Reservoir. I parked on Fairwinds Lane, and made my way along the creek. It wasn't very "birdy" along there, and I figured that the winds were keeping many of the little birds hunkered down.

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Northern Cardinal

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American Goldfinch

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Carolina Wren

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Dark-eyed Junco

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Immature Yellow-rumped Warbler (note the streaked throat)

But the activity changed when I got to the reservoir. First, I saw a pair of Great Blue Herons flying away, but my view was through trees and I wasn't able to get any photos. Three Mallards and a Blue-winged Teal took off.

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Mallards

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Blue-winged Teal

I heard a scream, knew what it was, and looked up. My second Osprey in two days was circling above the reservoir.

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Osprey

The Osprey brought out the Bald Eagles. One of them was standing next to the nest, while the other soared above the reservoir and the Osprey left. At one point, the Bald Eagle at the nest looked down into the nest. I wonder if there are Eaglets now?

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Bald Eagle

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Bald Eagle

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Bald Eagle

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Bald Eagle

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Bald Eagle

I continued to the dam, and then returned. I saw a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, and then stopped to photograph another Yellow-rumped Warbler. I know that this warbler species is common, but they can be "knock-out" gorgeous this time of year.

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Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

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Yellow-rumped Warbler

And then, more excitement. A Ruby-crowned Kinglet didn't want the warbler in its tree, raised its ruby crown, and scared the warbler away. The Gnatcatcher flew into that tree, and the Kinglet scared it to the next tree, and then moved to the second tree, raised its ruby crown again, and scared the Gnatcatcher away.

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Ruby-crowned Kinglet

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Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

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Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Well, this was turning out the be a good birding day. I headed back along the creek, and stopped when I saw a large Sharp-shinned Hawk hiding in a small tree. It flew to another tree, and then disappeared when another hiker walked by it.

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Sharp-shinned Hawk

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Sharp-shinned Hawk

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Sharp-shinned Hawk

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Sharp-shinned Hawk

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Sharp-shinned Hawk

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Sharp-shinned Hawk

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Sharp-shinned Hawk

I then hiked a short way along the adjacent Crozet Connector Trail where I had heard Pine Warblers the last time I was there. A very cooperative Pine Warbler flew down to check me out.

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Pine Warbler

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Pine Warbler

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Pine Warbler

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Pine Warbler

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Pine Warbler

At this point, I had 26 avian species on my morning list. I did a short hike a Mint Springs Park where I added Eastern Phoebe and Eastern Bluebird, then a short stop at King Family Vineyards where I saw more Blue-winged Teals, and added Hooded Merganser, Wood Duck, Barn Swallow, American Crow, and Starling to bring my morning list to 33 avian species. I birded a little more back home in Old Trail, and added Tree and Northern Rough-winged Swallows, House Finch, Red-shouldered Hawk, Northern Mockingbird, Black Vulture, White-throated Sparrow, and Song Sparrow to give me 41 avian species for the morning.

This morning's bird list:

Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Blue-winged Teal
Mallard
Hooded Merganser
Great Blue Heron
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Bald Eagle
Mourning Dove
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Eastern Phoebe
Blue Jay
American Crow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Carolina Chickadee
Carolina Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Eastern Bluebird
American Robin
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Pine Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
House Finch
American Goldfinch


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