Interesting American Robin
I had a little bit of time this afternoon, and did a short hike. I saw about 15 avian species, but one of the birds really caught my attention. It was foraging with a small flock of American Robins, Northern Cardinals, and Norhern Mockingbirds. I immediately recognized it as a Thrush, but it sure looked different to me. I thought that is was probably another American Robin, but if so, it was different from any other Robin I had ever seen. I posted the only two photos of it that I was able to take, on both the Virginia birding list server and the American Birding Association's "What's this Bird?" site. I got numerous responses. Everyone thought that it was an American Robin, but a few birders said that it was a hatch year American Robin that's still molting and has a shadow of the juvenile facial pattern remaining. Two birders suggested that it might be a hybrid American Robin x Varied Thrush. Another birder wrote that he had seen maybe 2 or 3 like this one while banding them in fall/winter.
Interesting American Robin
Interesting American Robin
I went back out this morning to see if I could re-locate yesterday's Robin, but I didn't see any Robins at all this morning. I did see, however, 23 avian species on my hike.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Swamp Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Field Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Northern Mockingbird
Eastern Bluebird
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Cedar Waxwing
Red-shouldered Hawk
Of course, I really like to get photos of new and/or rare birds, but I also enjoying watching a learning about avian behavior. I watched a Northern Cardinal feeding on seeds that were highly spiked. I hope it had a strong digestive system!
Northern Cardinal
Northern Cardinal
Northern Cardinal
I also had fun watching a House Sparrow bathe in a puddle.
House Sparrow
House Sparrow
House Sparrow
House Sparrow
House Sparrow
House Sparrow
I saw the Black Swan again in the pond along golf course hole #1.
Black Swan