I haven't been to Ridgeview Park since last October. It's a good birding location for early spring, as the ground vegetation seems to get green much quicker than nearby areas, and sometimes attracts early migranting species. Just after starting my hike, I heard a hawk, and then saw two of them. One flew away quickly, but the other one perched for about a minute, and I was able to get off a few photos - immature Cooper's Hawk.
Cooper's Hawk
I continued toward the river, and as soon as I got down to the small creek that runs along the river, I saw my first of season Louisana Waterthrush.
Louisana Waterthrush
Louisana Waterthrush
Louisana Waterthrush
As I continued along the trail, I saw a few more avian species.
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Downy Woodpecker
White-breasted Nuthatch
White-throated Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
I looked up and saw five Great Blue Herons perched in the trees. They took off quickly to the west, perhaps on their way to the rookery just east of Staunton.
Great Blue Heron
Some crows started making a lot of noise, and I saw a Bald Eagle take off.
Bald Eagle
I continued the hike along the south side of the river and east of the bridge, and added a few more species before heading back towards my car.
Carolina Wren
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
I ended the hike with 26 avian species. I might have heard a Red-shouldered Hawk a few times, but without seeing it, don't know if it was a hawk or a Blue Jay making the hawk call.
This morning's list:
Canada Goose
Mallard
Great Blue Heron
Cooper's Hawk
Bald Eagle
Mourning Dove
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Eastern Phoebe
Blue Jay
American Crow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Eastern Bluebird
American Robin
Louisiana Waterthrush
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Northern Cardinal
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker