Rockfish Valley Trail 9/29/11

All photos are © Marshall Faintich


Could today be the third day in a row of great birding? I awoke to clear skies with only a few clouds, and when I left my house at 8:10 the sun was shining. Two miles and five minutes later the skies had clouded over, and 10 mintues later, as I approached the trail, it started to drizzle. For the next 2-1/2 hours there was intermittent drizzle with a few brief moments of sunshine. At one point I saw an entire rainbow from end to end over the trail. I wonder if there was a flock of Golden Eagles at one end of the rainbow and a flock of Golden-winged Warblers at the other end. : - )

My camera lens was too long to capture all but a small part of the rainbow.


Rainbow over the Glenthorne Loop Trail

Seeing birds was a challenge today, as I spent a lot of time covering my camera and waiting under tree cover for the drizzle to stop each time. However, I ended up with 29 species. The only warbler I saw was an American Redstart, but I heard a Northern Parula in the bog area.


Swainson's Thrush


Eastern Meadowlark


American Redstart


Black and Turkey Vultures


Field Sparrow with a white collar


Chipping Sparrow


Belted Kingfisher


I wonder what this Carolina Chickadee did with it?


Juvenile Northern Cardinal

I saw a male Scarlet Tanager in molt, but it could be a female Summer Tanager. All opinions are appreciated. As soon as I left the trail to head home, the sun came out, and the rest of the day was cool and sunny.


Scarlet Tanager

This morning's list (29 species):

Eastern Bluebird
Indigo Bunting
American Crow
Catbird
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Rock Pigeon
Swainson's Thrush
Eastern Phoebe
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Carolina Wren
Carolina Chickadee
Pileated Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
American Goldfinch
Blue Jay
Canada Goose
Belted Kingfisher
Eastern Meadowlark
Northern Parula
American Redstart
Tufted Titmouse
Turkey Vulture
Black Vulture
Northen Mockingbird
Scarlet Tanager



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