Rockfish Valley Trail 7/14/12

All photos are © Marshall Faintich


It was an interesting morning on the trail. I spent about two hours there, mostly on Glenthorne Loop. The east side of Reids Creek is still impassable from downed trees, and will most likely remain that way unless the property owners clear multiple large trees blocking the path along the river.

I ended up logging 29 species. The Tree Swallows were gone, and as hard as I tried to make a Turkey Vulture appear so that it would be an even 30 species, it didn't happen. But the trail was filled with many female birds and a lot of immature birds showing their pre-adult plumages.

Highlights of the hike were the Orchard and Baltimore Orioles.


Immature Eastern Meadowlark


Immature Common Yellowthroat


Female or immature American Redstart


First year male Northern Cardinal


Immature male Indigo Bunting


Immature male Indigo Bunting


Immature Chipping Sparrow


Immature Field Sparrows


Immature Blue-gray Gnatcatcher


Red-eyed Vireo


Female Orchard Orioles


First summer male Orchard Oriole


Female Baltimore Oriole


Female Baltimore Oriole


Female Baltimore Oriole

This morning's RV Trail list (29 species):

Eastern Bluebird
Baltimore Oriole
Orchard Oriole
Northern Cardinal
Carolina Wren
American Goldfinch
Red-eyed Vireo
White-eyed Vireo
Indigo Bunting
Barn Swallow
Field Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Flicker
Catbird
Cowbird
Great Blue Heron
Starling
Scarlet Tanager
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Red-winged Blackbird
American Crow
Eastern Kingbird
Eastern Phoebe
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Eastern Meadowlark
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Rock Pigeon



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