Walt Childs and I headed north of Crozet, Virginia, this morning to try some birding in the White Hall area. Our first stop was at Lake Albemarle, and other than a few Blue Jays, it was quiet there. We then headed down Sugar Hollow Road to the reservoir, but except for one stop where we saw a dozen species, it was also quiet.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Walt hadn't been to the Old Trail area along Lickinghole Creek where I saw lots of sparrows yesterday, so we hiked about the same path that I followed yesterday. Once again, it was loaded with birds - mostly sparrows: Song, Chipping, Field, Swamp, Lincoln's, White-throated, and White-crowned.
White-crowned Sparrow
Juvenile White-crowned Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
House Finch
There were other species there as well, and we were surprised to see a boldly colored, female Red-winged Blackbird.
Red-winged Blackbird
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Red-shouldered Hawk
Belted Kingfisher
Carolina Wren
When I arrived home here in Stoney Creek (Wintergreen), I was happy to see birds at my back yard feeder that I set up a couple of days ago. The birds had not found it this fall prior to this afternoon. There were at least 10 species around the feeder. The highlight was a flock of a dozen or more Purple Finches.
White-breasted Nuthatch
Purple Finch
Purple Finch
Purple Finch
Purple Finch
Purple Finch
Purple Finches
Eleven Purple Finches