Ruby-throated Hummingbird
It was foggy and hazy this morning, so I decided to see what ducks, shore, and wading birds might be on Lake Monocan and some of the ponds here. There were a couple of Canada Geese on Sawmill Creek pond # 3, and a Great Blue Heron at one of the banks of Lake Monocan, but that was it. I saw a few Chipping Sparrows, Eastern Bluebirds, Eastern Phoebes, Northern Cardinals, Tufted Titmice, White-breasted Nuthatches, and Mourning Doves, and heard Carolina Chickadees, Pileated Woodpeckers, and Red-bellied Woodpeckers in the trees. I saw a small flock of Rock Pigeons - although they nest on the Rockfish Valley Trail, this is the first time I have seen any in Stoney Creek. My last stop was the Rodes Farm pond where I heard Blue Jays and a Red-tailed Hawk, and saw American Goldfinches, more Cardinals, Bluebirds, Phoebes, and Chipping Sparrows, and saw a juvenile male Ruby-throated Hummingbird and a fall plumage Scarlet Tanager.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Scarlet Tanager
As I arrived home, the sun was starting to come out, so I headed down to the pond at the back of our house. There was a Downy Woodpecker, some Phoebes and Titmice, Goldfinches, and a first year male Cardinal. And then I got lucky. A flash of yellow caught my eye. It was a Magnolia Warbler. Other than an occasional winter Yellow-rumped Warbler, this is the only other warbler I have ever seen in our yard.
First year male Cardinal
Magnolia Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Magnolia Warbler