The remnants of hurricane Isaac continue to bring Gulf moisture along with bands of heavy rain and southerly winds interspersed with still, muggy, hazy air. Last night's heavy rain produced a misty fog this morning. After a few minutes of hiking through wet grass and misty haze, I was soaked, but I was still able to log 33 species on the trail this morning in about 2 hours.
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I hiked most of the Glenthorne Loop, downstream, and upstream trails. Highlights of the hike included an American Kestrel, a pair of Least Flycatchers, a female Baltimore Oriole, and another Oriole that will be discussed later.
American Kestrel
Least Flycatcher
Brown Thrashers
Flicker
Blue Grosbeaks
Scarlet Tanager
Common Yellowthroat
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Female Baltimore Oriole
An oriole landed at the top of the tree across from the first wooden bridge. I think that it was much too red to be a Baltimore Oriole.
Oriole
At first I thought perhaps it was a Summer Tanager, but after looking at its bill, I ruled out a Tanager. It could be an Orchard Oriole, but if it were a first summer male molting into its adult chestnut and black plumage, its head and throat should be turning black as well. Compare the photo above to one below that I took last year of a first summer male orchard Oriole getting it adult plumage. All opinions on today's Oriole would be appreciated.
1st summer male Orchard Oriole
This morning's RV Trail list (33 species):
Carolina Wren American Goldfinch Indigo Bunting Carolina Chickadee Field Sparrow Tufted Titmouse Brown Thrasher Blue Grosbeak American Crow Starling Downy Woodpecker Pileated Woodpecker Catbird Red-eyed Vireo White-eyed Vireo Blue Jay Common Yellowthroat Baltimore Oriole ? Oriole Cedar Waxwing Eastern Phoebe Least Flycatcher Eastern Wood-Pewee Scarlet Tanager Ruby-throated Hummingbird Rock Pigeon Belted Kingfisher Great Blue Heron Northen Cardinal American Kestrel |