Augusta County, VA 3/16/18

All photos are © Marshall Faintich

After all the windy days during the past couple of weeks, the wind was forecasted to be calmer today, but as the sun rose and warmed the atmosphere, the winds once agin picked up. Walt Childs and I ventured out into Augusta County to look for owls and other birds we could find. We started off on our usual route on Strickley Road and made our way along mostly back roads to the Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport. Many of the smaller birds were hunkered down and staying out of the wind, but we did see lark flocks of Common Grackles, Starlings, and Red-winged Blackbirds.

Photo Unavailable
Common Grackle

Photo Unavailable
Male (L) and female (R) American Kestrels

Photo Unavailable
Wood Ducks

While driving west on Cline River Road, we saw a distant Bald eagle, and then encountered a very dark Red-tailed Hawk. It was most likely a "northern race" Red-tailed.

Photo Unavailable
Bald Eagle

Photo Unavailable
Red-tailed Hawk

Photo Unavailable
Red-tailed Hawk

Photo Unavailable
Red-tailed Hawk

Photo Unavailable
Red-tailed Hawk

We saw a Red-shouldered Hawk fly away from where we were driving on Craig Shop Road, and then another one perched on a pole at the airport.

Photo Unavailable
Red-shouldered Hawks

We decided to drive south to Swoope, and along the way saw more Red-tailed Hawks and American Kestrels.

Photo Unavailable
Red-tailed Hawk

As soon as we got to Swoope, we saw a pair of Red-tailed Hawks, and more American Kestrels.

Photo Unavailable
Red-tailed Hawk

Photo Unavailable
Male (R) and female (L) American Kestrels

There weren't many birds at Smith Lake, but an American Crow was chasing yet another Red-tailed Hawk far to the west. We saw one of the resident Bald Eagles in its nest, but didn't see its mate.

Photo Unavailable
Red-tailed Hawk

Photo Unavailable
Bald Eagle

As we drove around Swoope, we saw even more Red-tailed Hawks, some being chased by American Crows, a high-flying adult Cooper's Hawk, and a first year male Northern Harrier with its meal.

Photo Unavailable
Red-tailed Hawk

Photo Unavailable
Red-tailed Hawk

Photo Unavailable
Red-tailed Hawk

Photo Unavailable
Red-tailed Hawk

Photo Unavailable
Red-tailed Hawk

Photo Unavailable
Cooper's Hawk

Photo Unavailable
Northern Harrier

We saw several Black and Turkey Vultures, and one of the Turkey Vultures had the whitest flight feathers I have every seen on this species. Perhaps it was just the sun angle that made silvery gray look so white??

Photo Unavailable
Turkey Vulture

Photo Unavailable
Turkey Vulture

As we were on our way out of Swoope along Hewitt Road, we saw two more American Kestrels and a female Northern Harrier.

Photo Unavailable
Female American Kestrel

Photo Unavailable
Female American Kestrel

Photo Unavailable
Northern Harrier

Photo Unavailable
Northern Harrier

Photo Unavailable
Northern Harrier

Photo Unavailable
Northern Harrier

Photo Unavailable
Northern Harrier

We decided to drive along Bell's Lane north of Staunton on the return trip, where we saw a few woodland species, another first year male Northern Harrier, another American Kestrel, and one more Red-tailed Hawk.

Photo Unavailable
Carolina Wren

Photo Unavailable
Female American Kestrel

Photo Unavailable
Northern Harrier

Although we didn't see any owls, we did end up with 30+ avian species for the day, including Bald Eagles (2), Red-tailed Hawks (14), Red-shouldered Hawks (2), Cooper's Hawk (1), Northern Harriers (3), and American Kestrels (14).


E-mail comments on this report

Return to blog page home