Red-shouldered Hawk
Old Trail; Crozet, VA; 11/26/16
Alice and did a short afternoon walk here in Old Trail, and we saw a cooperative Red-shouldered Hawk, but very few other birds.
Red-shouldered Hawk
Stuart's Draft, VA; 11/27/16
After reading about a large flock of Horned Larks and American Pipits in the fields along the road to the Stuart's Draft Water Treatment Plant, I decided to go looking for them on this bright, but cold morning. When I got there, I saw the usual White-crowned Sparrows, but no other species there. I could see that the gate to the WTP was closed and locked, and that did not surprise me for Thanksgiving weekend. But I saw a new sign - at the end of the fenced field before the very short drive to entrance to the WTP, there was a "No Tresspassing" sign. This was the first time I have seen that sign there, so I guess the WTP is now off-limits to birders.
White-crowned Sparrow
I continued driving around some of the Stuart's Draft farm areas, saw a couple of American Kestrels and a juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk, but not much else.
Red-shouldered Hawk
American Kestrel
Old Trail; Crozet, VA; 11/28/16
It was cold and cloudy when I hiked this morning from home here in Old Trail, and I didn't expect to see many avian species. The first bird I saw, less than 100 yards from my house, was another Red-shouldered Hawk, and this one looked to be a different bird than I had seen two days earlier.
Red-shouldered Hawk
This turned out to be quite a good birding hike for a cold and gloomy, late November morning. I ended up with 27 avian species, including six sparrow species: Song, Field, White-crowned, White-throated, Chipping, and Dark-eyed Junco.
Song Sparrow
Carolina Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Downy Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Red-tailed Hawk
Northern Cardinal
I have had good luck with Golden-crowned Kinglets this year, and encountered another very cooperative bird.
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
As I approached home near the end of my hike, I saw that the Red-shouldered Hawk was still perched in the same spot where I had seen it an hour or so earlier. There was a flurry of activity near the trail, and when I raised my camera for a better look, I saw a bird with yellow on it. It took me a few seconds to realize that is was a Dickcissel! This species is rare here at any time of the year, but especially in the winter months. Another Dickcissel has been reported in Charlottesville during the past few days.
Dickcissel
Dickcissel