Unidentified Sparrow
Walt Childs and I headed west over the Blue Ridge and then south in the Shenandoah Valley. Our usual birding route in that direction often yields some good raptors, and we certainly weren't disappointed on today's trip. We started birding on Guthrie Road in Stuart's Draft. As soon as we turned off of Route 308, we saw a sparrow perched in the bright sunlight on a diagonal support wire. My first impression was that it was a Vesper Sparrow. When I stopped the car, this sparrow flew farther away and into a tree where several other birds were perched. I think that the following photos are of the same sparrow, but am not sure. Note the bold white eye-ring and short steaking on its upper breast. It could be a Vesper Sparrow, juvenile Grasshopper Sparrow, or ???
Unidentified Sparrow
There were several other avian species nearby.
Yellow-rumped Warblers
We continued along Guthrie Road, and just before Route 340, Walt spotted this distant, sub-adult (IV) Bald Eagle.
Bald Eagle
Well, we hadn't gone very far, and already had a Bald Eagle. We wondered what the rest of this outing would bring. Our next stop was at McCormick's Mill in Raphine. We saw lots of smaller birds there.
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Eastern Bluebird
Eastern Bluebirds
Field Sparrow
We stopped at Wilow Lake where we saw Canada Geese, Mallards, a Great Blue Heron, a Belted Kingfisher, one Gadwall, and one Ruddy Duck. Our trip list was now at 33 avian species. We continued west on Raphine Road, and turned north on Brownsburg Turnpike. Almost immediately after turning, we saw two Bald Eagles perched in a tree - one adult and one sub-adult (I). A third adult Bald Eagle flew in from the west, the immature Bald Eagle followed, and then the perched adult Bald Eagle took flight. Wow! We already had four Bald Eagles! We saw another eagle there, but it might have been one of these three. We also saw our first of a few American Kestrels for this trip.
Bald Eagle
Bald Eagle
Bald Eagle
Bald Eagle
American Kestrel
We turned onto New Providence Road to look for hawks. We saw several new smaller avian species such as Palm Warbler, White-crowned and White-throated Sparrows, and a fox ran across one of the fields.
Fox
Then we heard crows. They were chasing an adult Red-tailed Hawk.
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
The crows drove off the hawk, but it soon returned along with a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk that was carrying a meal. It is difficult to see what this young hawk was carrying, but it looks like a small bird.
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
We continued southwest just past McElwee Road. At this point, we normally head northwest and end up in Swoope for birding there and where we have permission to go onto private property to bird at Smith Lake. But the Smth Lake property owner is in mourning, and out of respect for her and her family, we decided to return to McElwee Road and head southwest to Brownsburg Turnpike. That proved to be a very interesting choice. Part way down this road, we saw an adult male "Gray Ghost" Northern Harrier heading north. Wait, there was two of them! I have seen adult male and female, and juvenile Northern Harriers many times, but rarely more than one at a time, and the only times I have seen two together were an adult female and a juvenile.
Adult male "Gray Ghost" Northern Harrier
Adult male "Gray Ghost" Northern Harrier
Adult male "Gray Ghost" Northern Harriers
Farther down the road, we saw another Northern Harrier. But we were not done yet. We reached Brownsburg Turnpike and headed north. Soon thereafter, we saw a disheveled, juvenile Red-tailed Hawk perched on a power line on the east side of the road.
Red-tailed Hawk
When we stopped to get a photo of this hawk, we saw a female Northern Harrier a bit farther down the road, and flying over a field on the west side of the road.
Female Northern Harrier
The female Northern Harrier must have seen us, and then made a bee-line for the hawk.
Female Northern Harrier
Female Northern Harrier
We didn't know what that hawk had done to upset the harrier, but she went after the hawk with a vengeance. The hawk took off, and we watched the aerial battle for several minutes as they rose in altitude, and finally left the area.
Red-tailed Hawk
Female Northern Harrier and Red-tailed Hawk
Female Northern Harrier and Red-tailed Hawk
Female Northern Harrier and Red-tailed Hawk
Female Northern Harrier and Red-tailed Hawk
Female Northern Harrier and Red-tailed Hawk
Female Northern Harrier and Red-tailed Hawk
Female Northern Harrier and Red-tailed Hawk
Female Northern Harrier and Red-tailed Hawk
Female Northern Harrier and Red-tailed Hawk
It was only 2 p.m., we had seen 40+ avian species for the day, and we might have seen even more raptors, but a warning light went on in my car, and we headed for the auto mechanic's shop.