I wonder if the term "dog days of August" can be applied to bird watching? Perhaps only to bird dogs?? Anyway, it was much cooler this morning when I arrived at the trail at 8:10 and stayed for 2 hours. I saw 24 species. Our resident tail-less Turkey Vulture is still around. I saw an unusual nest a few feet off the ground along the upstream trail. Almost looks like some bird carried a boot there and arranged leaves and branches around it. If anyone knows what kind of bird would build such a nest, please let me know. Perhaps a boot got lodged in this tree during last spring's flood?
The immature Bluebirds now have their blue flight feathers - made for some interesting photos. It seems like some of the summer birds have gone, and I am chomping at the bit for the fall migrants to arrive. The fall Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch formally begins on August 20.
This morning's list:
Indigo Bunting American Crow Field Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Song Sparrow Eastern Phoebe Eastern Wood-Pewee Eastern Kingbird Northern Mockingbird Northern Cardinal Turkey Vulture | Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Cedar Waxwing Catbird Rock Pigeon White-eyed Vireo Green Heron | Yellow-billed Cuckoo Chimney Swift Pileated Woodpecker Red-bellied Woodpecker Orchard Oriole |
Eastern Bluebird
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Orchard Oriole
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Northern Mockingbird
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Chimney Swift
Immature Indigo Bunting
Tail-less Turkey Vulture
Unusual nest