Red-shouldered Hawks (February 10, 2019)
Last February 10, I posted photos of our two resident Red-shouldered Hawks (Old Trail, Crozet, VA) mating near the golf course pond (photo below), and advised residents to be on the look-out for little ones to show up around the beginning of May, and their fledging from the nest about a month later. I was apprised of their nest location by one of our Old Trail neighbors, and was invited to view the nest from his deck. Here's some photos of the four little ones from this morning. At one point, mama showed up with food. Looks like the nest is getting crowded and the little ones will be leaving the nest soon.
Red-shouldered Hawks (February 10, 2019)
Red-shouldered Hawks
Red-shouldered Hawks
Red-shouldered Hawks
Red-shouldered Hawks
Red-shouldered Hawks
Red-shouldered Hawks
Red-shouldered Hawks
Red-shouldered Hawks
From there, I headed over to Lickinghole Creek and Reservoir. I wanted to check out the grassy field along the adjacent Crozet Connector Trail for Prairie Warblers, where I had seen them last summer, but none today. As soon as I got out of my car, I saw a Common Yellowthroat and two more Red-shouldered Hawks.
Common Yellowthroat
Common Yellowthroat
Common Yellowthroat
Red-shouldered Hawks
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
I didn't see any other warblers, but may have heard a Blackpoll Warbler singing along the creek as I hiked to the reservoir. The tree cover was so dense that I couldn't locate the singing bird. There were a few Solitary and Spotted Sandpipers on the gravel bar, but the shore vegetation was so thick that viewing them was difficult. I saw a few other avian species while I was there.
Spotted and Solitary Sandpipers
Indigo Bunting