We had six inches of snow followed by 1/10 inch of ice on top of it two days ago (Sunday). Even though the temperatures have gotten a little bit above freezing, the ice-topped snow remains. I did a late morning hike here in Old Trail, but avoided a lot of my normal birding routes, as walking down icy slopes to get to the trails was too dangerous, and I had to do a lot of birding from the plowed streets. Chipping Sparrows are abundant here from spring through autumn, but are rare winter birds in Virginia. However, we seem to have a small flock of them here in Old Trail every winter, and I saw several of them this morning as part of the 21 avian species I saw today. Most of the golf course pond was still frozen.
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Song Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Field Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Chipping and Field Sparrows
Chipping Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Chipping Sparrows
Northern Cardinal
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Red-shouldered Hawk
Hermit Thrush
Carolina Wren
Eastern Phoebe
Eastern Bluebird
Eastern Bluebird
Eastern Bluebird
Eastern Bluebird
This morning's list:
Red-shouldered Hawk
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Eastern Phoebe
Blue Jay
American Crow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Carolina Wren
Eastern Bluebird
Hermit Thrush
Northern Mockingbird
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow