Great Egret
An American Bittern was reported yesterday at the nearby King Family Vineyards, so I started out going there first. I arrived at 9:45 a.m., and as soon as I parked and got out of my car, I saw the silhouette of a bird flying away that looked to be the correct size and shape of an American Bittern. I wasn't sure that it was the Bittern until I got home and read that this bird was still there at 8:30 this morning, so I just missed a photo op. I did see a Green Heron, a Great Egret, Wood Ducks, a female Hooded Merganser, Canada Geese, Red-winged Blackbirds, and a few other species there.
Great Egret
Green Heron
My next stop was at Lickinghole Creek and Reservoir. I knew that on a nice Sunday morning, the trail would be busy and somewhat noisy with non-birders, but I hoped for the best. On the reservoir and gravel bar, I saw a Great Blue Heron, Wood Ducks, Blue-winged Teals, Mallards, a Killdeer, and a Spotted Sandpiper, as well as some woodland species along the trail.
Great Blue Heron
Wood Duck
Blue-winged Teals
Northern Cardinal
I then hiked a short way along the Crozet Connector Trail than runs from the Lickinghole Creek Trail to Crozet Park. Just a short distance along that trail, I saw my first of season (FOS) Worm-eating Warbler.
Worm-eating Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
And then I photographed a pair of very cooperative Prairie Warblers.
Prairie Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Prairie Warbler
A short time later, I saw a House Wren and a Hermit Thrush.
House Wren
Hermit Thrush
I returned to Old Trail and hiked here a bit, and ended up with 43 avian species during my three hour outing.
Yellow-rumped Warbler