3/28/12: I had a meeting at the Rockfish Valley Foundation HQ building from 11 to 1, so I headed over to the trail for a short hike after the meeting. Not too much going on in the heat of early afternoon. Highlight was a pair of Great Blue Herons in flight - the trailing one seemed to be giving instructions to the one in front. Also saw a Bluebird using the new kestrel box as a viewing perch - first operational use of the box, but not its intended use!
Great Blue Herons
Kestrel box
3/29/12: Beautiful morning to be out birding. I had 16 species in the first 15 minutes, but only added 10 more during the next hour and 15 minutes. Several large flocks of Cedar Waxwings were on the trail, with smaller flocks of Red-winged Blackbirds and Cowbirds.
Carolina Wren and Cedar Waxwing
First year Red-winged Blackbird
Kingfisher with its breakfast
Chipping Sparrow
This morning's list (25 species):
Tree Swallow Northern Cardinal American Crow Carolina Wren Field Sparrow Song Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Mourning Dove American Goldfinch Rock Pigeon Flicker Turkey Vulture Red-tailed Hawk Blue Jay Eastern Meadowlark Cowbird Eastern Phoebe Carolina Chickadee |