Carolina Wren
We've had quite a bit of rain/ice this past week, but I wanted to get over to Lickinghole Basin/Crozet Connector Trail to look for the Northern Flicker with red feathers. I knew that the trail there would be muddy, but hoped with overnight temperatures in the 20s, and with 32 degrees when I set out, the trails would be frozen and not have a lot of "walker-talkers." Soon after my arrival, I did see that most of the trails were either icy or frosty, and each step of mine made a loud crunch, warning birds of my presence. But it wasn't too bad, and really didn't get muddy and crowded for about a hour until the sun warmed the trail and the air. I ended up with 29 avian species in about two hours. While I saw a Flicker and two Red-bellied Woodpeckers, the only woodpeckers I was able to photograph were a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, and two Pileated Woodpeckers. Missing this morning were both vulture species and both hawk species. I did get quick looks at a flying Great Blue Heron and later a flying Bald Eagle.
Carolina Wren
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Eastern Phoebe
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Female Pileated Woodpecker
Female Pileated Woodpecker
Female Pileated Woodpecker
Male Pileated Woodpecker
A large tree had come down and was completely blocking the trail along the basin. I was able to get around it by hiking in a muddy area along the basin, and notified the Crozet Trail Crew.