Purple Martin
It's been almost a month since Walt Childs and I birded along our southern route in Rockbridge County before heading up to Swoope. We made a quick stop in Stuart's Draft to check out some Purple Martin houses, and saw a few other species on our way to McCormick's Mill in Raphine.
Purple Martin
We hiked the short trail at McCormick's Mill, and were surprised to see that the pond had been drained, although we did see a fair number of avian species there, not counting the always present, barnyard, White-fronted Geese. By the time we left, our trip list was up to 28 avian species.
Mallard
Starling
Eastern Towhee
Tufted Titmouse checking out a bug
Northern Cardinal
Brown Thrasher
House Sparrows
Brown Creeper
Eastern Meadowlark
Killdeer
We made a quick stop at Willow Lake. The escaped Black Swan was still there, along with some Canada Geese, a couple of Mallards, two Double-crested Cormorants, and a few American Coots, American Wigeons, Ruddy Ducks, and Gadwalls.
Double-crested Cormorants
American Wigeons and Gadwall
Black Swan
We continued west, and when we arrived at the intersection of Raphine Road and Brownsburg Turnpike, we saw a pair of American Kestrels. One was a female, and the other a male, and probably a young male because of its light breast and nape.
American Kestrels
American Kestrels
American Kestrel
American Kestrel
American Kestrel
We continued down New Providence Road, and around to Dutch Hollow Road before continung north to Swoope. We saw very few birds here compared with other trips on those roads. We only saw two Red-tailed Hawks and a few woodland species.
Red-tailed Hawk
White-throated Sparrow
Great Blue Heron
As we got to the Swoope area, we detoured from Glebe School Road, and took Shuey Road to Trimbles Mill Road. That turned out to be a good choice, as we saw a distant, sub-adult (Basic I) Bald Eagle.
Bald Eagle
Bald Eagle
Once in Swoope, we stopped at Smith Lake where we have permission to enter the private property, and saw a small flock of Green-winged Teals, a few Tree Swallows, Red-winged Blackbirds, Song Sparrows, and an unattributed sandpiper.
Green-winged Teals
Tree Swallow
We looped around on North Mountain Road and located the new Bald Eagle's nest that was built after the tree with their nest near Smith Lake came down. One of the eagles was busy moving around in the nest. I couldn't tell if it was re-arranging nesting materials or feeding little ones.
Bald Eagle
We ended the trip in Swoope watching our third Belted Kingfisher of the day. This male was carrying a fish that it had caught in the same location where we saw a female Kingfisher on March 27.
Belted Kingfisher
Our avian trip list for this day totaled 48 species (including the Black Swan but not the Greater White-fronted Geese).
Canada Goose
Black Swan
Gadwall
American Wigeon
Mallard
Green-winged Teal
Ruddy Duck
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
American Coot
Killdeer
u/a Sandpiper
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
American Kestrel
Eastern Phoebe
Blue Jay
American Crow
Fish Crow
Purple Martin
Tree Swallow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Brown Creeper
Eastern Bluebird
American Robin
Brown Thrasher
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Northern Cardinal
Eastern Meadowlark
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
House Sparrow