Eastern Bluebird
I took a few hikes here in Old Trail during this reporting period, and although I saw 30+ avian species, there wasn't a single day that I thought was "birdy." I did have a few interesting photo opportunities, and had one avian surprise.
Eastern Bluebird
Killdeers
Lesser Scaups
Lesser Scaup
Ruddy Duck
Ruddy Duck
Rock Pigeons (uncommon here in Old Trail)
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Yellow-rumped Warbler
I had to do a double-take when seeing this Red-shouldered Hawk to make sure there wasn't another hawk behind it.
Red-shouldered Hawk
A female Pileated Woodpecker was very cooperative.
Pileated Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
I saw a Red-shouldered Hawk with its afternoon meal.
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Tastes like chicken :-)
But the surprise of this week was seeing a Pine Warbler on February 21. I was taking an afternoon walk without my camera when I heard it singing from the pine trees at the southeast corner of Old Trail. I returned home and got my camera. Although this species occasionally winters in Virginia (saw some during a few winters when I lived in the Rockfish Valley section of Wintergreen), I hadn't seen one here in Old Trail since the end of last summer, so this one must have been a returning summer resident. The Virginia "Gold Book" states March 5 as the return date everywhere in Virginia, and this is the first time I have seen a summer resident Pine Warbler in February.
Pine Warbler
Pine Warbler
Pine Warbler
Pine Warbler