Common Yellowthroat
An area of low pressure moved into the mid-Atlantic region early this week and has stalled. It is not expected to move out of the area until the middle of next week. Every day has seen overcast skies and off and on rain. There was a brief but heavy rain a few minutes before I left my house this morning at 9:30, and it was still spitting when I started on my hike. I stayed here in Old Trail, and by 11:30 had logged 32 avian species, when it started to rain again. I was still missing a handful of regularly seen summer avian species, but was surprised that I had gotten to 32. The only warblers I saw were brief and distant views of a Common Yellowthroat and a Yellow Warbler.
Common Yellowthroat
Yellow Warbler
Female Orchard Oriole
Female Orchard Oriole
Near the golf course pond, I saw a juvenile Cooper's Hawk.
Juvenile Cooper's Hawk
Juvenile Cooper's Hawk
Juvenile Cooper's Hawk
Juvenile Cooper's Hawk
I wanted to see if the Blue Grosbeak I had seen a few days ago was still near Slabtown Branch Creek. Soon after starting to hike there, the Blue Grosbeak flew in close to where I was standing.
Blue Grosbeak
Blue Grosbeak
Blue Grosbeak
Blue Grosbeak
The continuing male and female Wood Ducks were still in the secluded pond, and it appears that the male is starting to molt into its eclipse (non-breeding) plumage.
Wood Ducks
When I approached Old Trail Drive on the trail, I saw one of our resident Red-shouldered Hawks perched above the retention pond there. This is a common perch for the hawk, but I saw avian behavior I had never seen before. Although I often see hawks harassed by other birds, this time, the Red-shouldered Hawk was being harassed by a tiny Blue-gray Gnatcatcher!
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
The hawk finally flew from its perch, and as soon as it was airborne, an American Crow went after it.
Red-shouldered Hawk
I continued on my hike, and got a few more photos. All the rain has forced tiny American Toads up onto dry sidewalks.
American Toad
Chipping Sparrow
Female Red-winged Blackbird
Male Red-winged Blackbird
This morning's avian list:
Wood Duck
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Cooper's Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Mourning Dove
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Eastern Phoebe
Blue Jay
American Crow
Tree Swallow
Carolina Chickadee
Carolina Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Eastern Bluebird
American Robin
Northern Mockingbird
Common Yellowthroat
Yellow Warbler
Song Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Blue Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Orchard Oriole
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow