Rockfish Valley Trail 6/26/11

All photos are © Marshall Faintich


Birding in the summer often produces meager results; however, some days are fairly good. I was on the trail from 3:30 to 5:30 this afternoon, and although it was cloudy, making photography and identifying birds deep on trees difficult, I still managed to log 28 species. Many of them were common; others were a treat to see.


Great Blue Heron


White-eyed Vireo


Cedar waxwing


Blue-gray Gnatcatcher


A rather orange House Finch and Eastern Bluebird


Female Blue Grosbeak


Male Blue Grosbeak

An Eastern Bluebird landed on a bird box that was being used by some Tree Swallows. Within a few seconds, four Tree Swallows were making dives at the Bluebird, finally driving it away.


Tree Swallows and Eastern Bluebird

I got a few photos of what appears to me to be an immature Common Yellowthroat. Any other opinions are appreciated.


Common Yellowthroat


Common Yellowthroat


Common Yellowthroat

The highlight of the hike was on the upstream trail. I have been trying for four years now to get a better photo of a Louisiana Waterthursh than I had previously taken, and I finally was successful!


Louisiana Waterthursh


Louisiana Waterthursh


Louisiana Waterthursh


Louisiana Waterthursh


Louisiana Waterthursh


Louisiana Waterthursh

Here's my species list from this afternoon:

Eastern Bluebird
Indigo Bunting
Blue Grosbeak
American Crow
Turkey Vulture
Field Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
American Goldfinch
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Eastern Kingbird
Red-winged Blackbird
Great Blue Heron
Eastern Meadowlark
Northern Mockingbird
Northern Cardinal
House Finch
Louisiana Waterthrush
Common Yellowthroat
Carolina Chickadee
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Red-eyed Vireo
White-eyed Vireo
Eastern Phoebe
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Flicker
Cedar Waxwing



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