Rockfish Valley Trail 6/11/13

All photos are © Marshall Faintich

After six inches of rain during the past two days, the sun finally came out. I arrived at the trail around 9:10 a.m. and stayed until 11:00. The Rockfish River was out of it banks in a few spots, and the evaporating ground moisture made for a steamy hike. An occasional breeze helped to make the air a bit cooler.

I don't recall ever seeeing the trail as lush with vegetation as it is now. This made locating birds that were singing in the trees a bit difficult, but I still managed to log 30 species. I hiked the downstream and Glenthorne Loop trails. A Yellow-breasted Chat was singing at the edge of the bog area, and Common Yellowthroats were singing in multiple locations.


Common Yellowthroat


Field Sparrow


Indigo Bunting


Blue Grosbeak


First-summer male Orchard Oriole


First-summer male Orchard Oriole


Male Orchard Oriole


American Redstart


American Redstart


American Redstart


Cedar Waxwing


Cooper's Hawk carrying a meal


Eastern Meadowlark

Today's RV Trail list:

Turkey Vulture
Cooper's Hawk
Rock Pigeon
Belted Kingfisher
Eastern Kingbird
White-eyed Vireo
American Crow
Tree Swallow
NRW Swallow
Barn Swallow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Carolina Wren
Eastern Bluebird
Gray Catbird
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
American Redstart
Common Yellowthroat
Yellow-breasted Chat
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Blue Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Red-winged Blackbird
Eastern Meadowlark
Orchard Oriole
American Goldfinch


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