The mid-Atlantic states are stuck between two stationary fronts. Once again, at 8:30 this morning there was a mostly cloudy sky with patchy fog, high humidity, and on/off light rain sprinkles. By 10:00 the rain sprinkles turned into steady drizzle, and I headed home, but not before logging 24 species on the trail, 18 of which I logged in the first 30 minutes.
Yellow Bird Thicket situated on the Glenthorne Loop trail just north of the bog area lived up to its name. In the thicket there was a Yellow-breasted Chat, a Common Yellowthroat, American Goldfinches, and a White-eyed Vireo, in addition to several Catbirds, Cardinals, Field Sparrows, and a Swainson's Thrush. In the brush along Reids Creek next to the thicket there was a Magnolia Warbler.
Catbird, Yellow-breasted Chat, Swainson's Thrush
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White-eyed Vireo
Magnolia Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
At the southern end on the Glenthorne Loop Trail there were a pair of Red-tailed Hawks. One of them did a U-turn and flew right past me.
Red-tailed Hawks
Red-tailed Hawk
The Rockfish Valley Trail continued to show me some colorful spiders. This Banded Argiope was spinning its web at the edge of the bog area.
Banded Argiope
On the return hike to my car, I saw a Red-winged Blackbird in the brush near the Rockfish River on the downstream trail. A usual place for this species, but I haven't seen one on the trail for more than a month.
This morning's list:
Indigo Bunting American Crow Catbird Chipping Sparrow Field Sparrow Northern Cardinal Rock Pigeon Eastern Wood-Pewee Carolina Wren Red-tailed Hawk Pileated Woodpecker Red-bellied Woodpecker Red-winged Blackbird Swainson's Thrush Ruby-throated Hummingbird American Goldfinch Blue Jay Common Yellowthroat Magnolia Warbler Yellow-brested Chat White-eyed Vireo |